On January 26, the Government presented the final draft of the Fifth Cooperation Master Plan to the various stakeholders that make up the Cooperation Council.
After a detailed analysis of the document, the Coordinator of Development Organizations (CONGDE) believes it condemns Spanish cooperation to the anguish of life. This perpetuates a short-sighted policy, lacking ambition, capabilities, and resources. Spain will thus remain at the bottom of the donor community and will be unable to meet the challenges of the 2030 Agenda, a long-term international action plan.
Therefore, it is essential that this proposal be modified before being approved by the Council of Ministers.
Below we detail the most critical elements of the latest draft submitted by the Administration:
- Without long-term vision
It focuses only on the current legislative period, even though it is part of the 2030 Agenda.
No dialogue process or the necessary tools to ensure the continuity and sustainability of strategic actions are proposed in subsequent master plans.
And all this, despite the fact that its purpose of serving as an instrument for designing and implementing the international dimension of the future Sustainable Development Strategy is tentatively reflected. However, the exact nature of this is not explained.
- A still inconsistent strategic framework
There are improvements compared to the first draft, but inconsistencies remain. Formally, the plan is based on combating poverty and inequality, building resilience, and supporting global public goods, but this is not fully reflected in the selection of objectives, targets, lines of action, strategies, instruments, or partner countries.
- Without means or resources
In our assessment of the first draft, we stated that the mention of a vague, future increase in resources demonstrated a lack of clarity and commitment. Nothing has changed. In this second proposal, the Administration has also not included a financial report.
- Relative support for civil society
It has improved its role as a partner in public policies and an agent of change, especially in the fight against inequality in middle-income countries, but neither the goals nor the instruments are specified.
- A plan that is allergic to the human rights approach and that improves the effectiveness of aid
There are some changes in the approach to migration. A human rights and personal security approach is incorporated in some sections, but not throughout the entire text. The European obsession with migration and border control remains very much present.
The role of the private sector is growing. Minor nuances have been incorporated related to the incorporation of SMEs, the social economy, and fair trade, but the central focus is the internationalization of large corporations. The scant interest in ensuring that the private sector acts in accordance with human rights and sustainability standards, fair taxation, and transparency is striking.
- Doubts about policy coherence for sustainable development
Policy coherence for sustainable development is essential for advancing the 2030 Agenda. This has been strengthened in this second version, but the mechanisms and strategies to ensure its implementation are not established. For example, impact assessments in key areas and conflict resolution instruments between different Spanish policies when there are contradictions regarding respect for human rights or sustainable development in third countries (arms sales, tax havens, environmental degradation).
Nor is it indicated that this mechanism must be at the highest level.
For further information, you can read:
Document Complete PDF of the assessment of the 2nd draft of the 5th Master Plan
Document Complete PDF of the assessment of the first draft of the Fifth Master Plan
Text source: https://coordinadoraongd.org/
Photographs: Juan Ciudad ONGD.
