Structuring local to global CSOs engagement and dialogue on EU development cooperation

With its members, SOLIDAR International Network is active in development cooperation programmes as well as in humanitarian assistance in 50 countries all around the world.

We are recognised as a key international partner in achieving sustainable and inclusive development in many fields.

In 2015, SOLIDAR signed a Framework Partnership Agreement with the EU* and, in December 2018, the grant Agreement “Organising International Solidarity: Structuring Local to Global CSOs Engagement on Development Cooperation Issues” (OIS). 

Through this strategic partnership, SOLIDAR will continue to develop the “SOLIDAR brand” with donors and the EU community in Brussels and in the field, facilitate improved access to policy processes for its members, partners and allies, while also facilitating strengthened contacts between member organisations in various countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

By developing the capacity of SOLIDAR International Cooperation Network[1] as a contributors to all phases of policy making processes on development issues at EU, Regional and International levels, we want to 

1) Promote a sustainable development model that serves the many and not the few, that has the full realization of human and environmental rights as its main objective;

2) Ensure the progressive realization of economic and social rights, namely decent work, social protection and freedom of association.

Key themes:

• Enabling space for CSO (including Freedom of Association)
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Economic and Social Rights 
• Decent Work
• Social Protection (income, health, and education)

Where do we work? See here

Do you want to know more? Contact Barbara Caracciolo | Isabel Fajardo | Alba Gonzalez | Marzia Paba

* Since its 2012 Communication entitled “The roots of democracy and sustainable development: Europe’s engagement with Civil Society in external relations”[2], the European Union adopted a policy shift to support civil society not only as provider of aid but also as a pivotal actor of governance acknowledging the role of CSOs' to build stronger democratic processes, accountability systems and to achieve better development outcomes. The need for a strategic engagement with CSOs has become more stringent for the EU in the light of the adoption, in 2015, of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs. Indeed, as acknowledged by the EU “the implementation of the SDGs will depend on a Global Partnership for Sustainable development with the active engagement of … civil society...”.  In order to implement this policy shift, the European Commission established, amongst other things, Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) with CSO.

[1] SOLIDAR secretariat based in Brussels, SOLIDAR members’ headquarters (HQs), SOLIDAR members’ field-staff, and SOLIDAR members’ in-country partners.

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM%3A2012%3A0492%3AFIN%3AEN%3APDF