The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is the Czech Republic’s central public administration authority in the field of foreign policy. It is responsible for conceptualising and coordinating development cooperation. Since 2008, development projects are gradually transferred from the competence of other ministries to the MFA. The MFA is coordinating new projects in the field of health, education and social development.

The Czech Development Agency (CDA) was established by a decision of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2008. The newly established Agency is responsible mainly for tendering procedures (not grants). In bilateral international development cooperation (IDC), the CDA is to gradually become an implementation agency, whereas multilateral IDC will remain solely with the competence of the MFA.

The Development Cooperation Council was also established in 2008 and is an interdepartmental coordinating body for Czech ODA associating all involved Ministries.

The Czech Republic recognises the principle of solidarity among people and countries and assumes its part of responsibility in addressing global issues. One expression of this attitude is development cooperation, which constitutes an integral part of the Czech foreign policy. In accordance with the principles of the EU and in defence of its own interests, the Czech Republic provides its own development cooperation on a bilateral as well as multilateral basis. 

The 2004 ‘Guidelines on the Czech Republic's Development Cooperation’ is the reference document which defines each goal and objective. The main objectives of the Czech Republic's development cooperation include:

• Reduction of poverty
• Social development and health improvement
• Economic and industrial development
• Gradual integration of partner countries into the world economy
• Agricultural development
• Development and strengthening of democracy
• Human rights and good governance
• Introduction of legal principles
• Migration management
• Sustainable development with special emphasis on its environmental aspects
• Post-conflict renewal

The Czech Republic fully supports the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Czech Republic has started a gradual shift from individual short-term projects to long-term sectoral programmes of cooperation. In June 2005, the Government approved the Czech Republic's plan to channel its development cooperation in the long run to eight priority countries and the country strategy papers (2006-2010) for these priority countries were approved:  the Republic of Angola, the Republic of Zambia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mongolia, the Republic of Yemen, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro.

In 2008, 37% of Czech ODA was bilateral, i.e. 1.3 billion CZK (€54 million), out of that, bilateral projects amounted to 742 million CZK (€29 million). Most funds for bilateral development cooperation are distributed through specific projects. Development projects usually have the form of technical assistance. Individual projects are managed by corresponding Czech ministries and implemented by state organisations, private companies, NGOs, or universities. In 2008 multilateral assistance (including funds channelled into the EU development cooperation policies) amounted to 63% of the total ODA, i.e.  2.3 billion CZK (€91 million).

The Czech Republic considers multilateral foreign aid to be an important part of the Czech foreign aid programme. Apart from the mandatory contributions arising from international organisation membership (e.g. UN organisations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Czech Republic also makes selective contributions on a voluntary basis, mostly for specified purposes, through various agencies. Within the UN system the Czech Republic gives priority to so-called 'trust funds' to allow the Czech Republic to join international development projects which may also serve Czech interests and priorities.

The concept of the Czech Republic foreign aid programme for 2002-2007 fully supports the MDGs. This includes the fight against HIV/AIDS. SRHR and HIV/AIDS are listed among the general development priorities within the health sector, but there is no targeted strategy concerning these issues. In 2008, the Czech Republic provided the UNFPA fund with a voluntary contribution of 4 million (€179,224) for its activities. The Czech Republic did not contribute to UNIFEM nor UNAIDS in 2008.

The Czech system for funding NGOs operating in the field of development cooperation is becoming more centralized. NGOs can receive funding from the CDA through public tenders and the MFA is responsible for grant schemes for development projects (mainly focused on domestic issues, capacity building, development education etc.). The share of ODA channelled through NGOs is approx. 25% of all funds allocated for bilateral ODA.

There has been increased emphasis amongst the new Member States to raise awareness for development cooperation. The national NGDO platform Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS) is particular active in advocating for increased capacity building and development effectiveness of Czech civil society organisations.¹ Czech NGOs also create partnership with NGOs in developing countries.

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¹ Contact information can be found in the NGO Platform Contact Information section of this Guide.

 

 

Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Czech Development Agency (CDA)

Trialog Development NGOs in the Enlarged EU

Martin Náprstek, Presentation on the ‚Development Cooperation of the Czech Republic‘, July 22th 2009


Fors, Czech Development Platform

International Development Cooperation of the Czech Republic

UNFPA, Annual Report (2008) http://www.unfpa.org/about/report/2008/en/pdf/UNFPA_Annual_Report_2008.pdf