4 March 2010, CIDSE & Caritas Europa Press release –

BRUSSELS - Today in the European Parliament, the two networks of Catholic development

agencies, CIDSE & Caritas Europa, presented a unique set of recommendations to the

European Commission (EC) in an attempt to improve cooperation between the Commission

and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). After discussion with Commission officials, CIDSE &

Caritas prepared a joint statement on the challenges the networks and their partners in Africa,

Asia and Latin America encounter in working with the Commission on development aid. They

say it is vital to act now to ensure that the Commission supports CSOs in their fight against

poverty.

“The current financial crisis, which is heavily affecting developing countries, forces us to renew our

commitment to development cooperation and to invest in new innovative partnerships. The effective

use of available funds, while taking into account new issues like climate change, is critical if we are to

have an impact on poverty eradication,” said René Grotenhuis, CIDSE President and Director of

Cordaid/Caritas Netherlands. “Today, we have made another important step in strengthening our

cooperation with the European Commission, whose support we need to defeat poverty.”

The event, hosted by MEPs Thijs Berman, Bart Staes and Anna Záborská, and with a key note

address by Koos Richelle, Director General of the EuropeAid Cooperation Office, concluded a three

day forum with over 60 participants from Northern and Southern CSOs, as well as EC officials.

The forum addressed a range of serious challenges that need attention, both within CSOs and the

Commission, especially in relation to the question of how development funding translates into results.

Richelle stressed that the aid effectiveness agenda is not only meant for official donors, but for CSOs

also. However, Pierre Efoe Aholouvi, Executive Director of Caritas Man, Ivory Coast, emphasised

that “Much can still be learned about improving development outcomes and prospects. Accountability

needs to go beyond the measurement of the ‘right’ use of funds. The EC must reconsider how it funds

development projects; rules which govern the distribution of funds are overcomplicated, which means

they are out of reach for many grassroots organisations in the South. It’s a shame that these funds

don’t often reach their intended target, the world’s poorest communities.”

ENDS

Contact:

-Roeland Scholtalbers, CIDSE Media & Communication Officer; +32 (0) 477 068 384, scholtalbers@cidse.org

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Annalisa Mazzella, Caritas Europa Advocacy and Communication Officer; +32 (0) 2 235 03 94, amazzella@caritaseuropa.

org