News

On 27 February, the annual Development Cooperation Conference took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. The event focused on Lithuania’s development cooperation policy and results.

At the opening of the Conference, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Neris Germanas stressed that development cooperation was an important component of foreign policy that should be given more attention. Funding for development cooperation is not in line with our international commitments to continuously increase the official development assistance (ODA) and to raise ODA to 0.33 % of gross national income (GNI) by 2030. In 2018, ODA amounted to only 0.12 % of Lithuania’s GNI and has not increased in recent years. Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister stressed the need to assess the situation and to foresee changes strengthening development cooperation.

The Conference focused on the importance of development cooperation. Participants discussed development cooperation activities in which Lithuania was involved and shared their opinions on the image of Lithuania as a progressive country, which set an example for other countries. Development cooperation is also beneficial for the donor country. It contributes to addressing socio-economic challenges, adds value to the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and academic community. In addition, it improves companies’ ability to work in a global market, as well as helps to make the neighborhood a safer and freer place.

Professor Jurgis Kazimieras Staniškis, one of the fifteen members of an independent group of scientists appointed by the United Nations to draft the Global Sustainable Development Report, noted that achieving individual-level wellbeing embedded the essence of the Agenda 2030, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The country cannot achieve these objectives alone. It is therefore necessary to act together in a global manner.