The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is responsible for elaborating and implementing Lithuanian development cooperation policy. Since early 2007, the focal point within the MFA is the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Department, which consists of three divisions: Development Cooperation Policy and Planning, Democracy Promotion, and Programmes and Projects Implementation. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for allocating financial contributions to the budgets of international financial institutions. Development cooperation activities may also be implemented by other public authorities in coordination with the MFA.

In 2007, by the order of the Foreign Minister, a ‘Commission for Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programmes and Projects’ was established. High ranking MFA officials are responsible for the implementation of the development cooperation and regional foreign policy. The Commission makes decisions regarding the aims and objectives of cooperation with foreign countries, and the financing of development cooperation programmes and projects. Applications for projects are submitted according to the ‘Description of Implementation Procedures of the Development Cooperation and Democracy Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme’.   

The main policy document is the ‘Government Decision on the Guidelines for Lithuanian Development Cooperation Policy for 2006-2010’. This document explicitly states Lithuania’s commitment is to work towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to support the Paris Declaration and the European Consensus on Development.  

As a new donor, Lithuania is committed to gradually increasing its ODA. In 2008, Lithuanian ODA amounted to 141 million LTL (€41 million) (0.13% of GNI) and Lithuania aims to increase its ODA to 0.17 % of GNI by 2010 and 0.33% by 2015. In 2009, Lithuania’s bilateral aid budget was 10 million LTL (€2.9 million) and their bilateral assistance was purely project-based. The possibility of participating in donor collaborations of budgetary support programmes or sector approaches is not being currently considered.

Priority sectors include:

• Promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance and the rule of law
• Sustainable development
• Education
• Protection of cultural heritage

Lithuania’s priority countries also feature as part of the EC’s Neighbourhood Policy and receive 50% of Lithuania’s funds. These are:

• Afghanistan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan; but assistance is also provided to countries recovering from conflicts such as Afghanistan or Iraq. The 2006-2010 also may include providing bilateral aid to the poorest countries in Africa.  

The majority of Lithuania’s aid is channelled through multilateral agencies: contributions to the EC general budget, as well as to international organisations such as (WIPO, FAO, ILO) and UN Agencies (OCHA, UNESCO).

Afghanistan is at the centre of Lithuania’s development cooperation which is often criticised by development NGOs. Here, Lithuanian development cooperation policy focuses on reducing child mortality and maternal health. Promoting gender quality and empowering women have also been included as priority sectors. Informal women’s associations (self-help groups) have been established in order to strengthen women’s role in society.  Multilaterally, Lithuania neither contributes to UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNAIDS nor to the GFATM. However, in 2006, Lithuania co-financed the project “Study tour of Belarusian experts to Lithuania: Exchange of practice on effective measures of HIV prevention among IDUs”.

Cooperation with NGOs is frequently mentioned within the 2006-2010 Guidelines, including both the importance of demonstrating support for NGOs and enhancing their capacity within development cooperation policy. The Guidelines also emphasise the importance of forming a strong partnership between Lithuanian and foreign NGOs.¹  

However, the Lithuanian Government seems to prefer financing projects which are implemented by state institutions. Some bilateral aid is channelled through NGOs and in 2007, 23% of Lithuanian bilateral aid was implemented by NGOs. The MFA issues open calls for proposals for development cooperation projects to be implemented by Lithuanian NGOs, but this is done on an ad-hoc basis and without any concrete framework programme.

The MFA provide trainings and workshops to strengthen NGO’s capacity and awareness about development cooperation. An umbrella organisation called ‘the Lithuanian NDGO Platform’²  has been set-up, but unfortunately there are still no NGOs dedicated entirely to development cooperation. In 2007, a roundtable entitled “Lithuanian development cooperation. Role of NGO‘s and participation of our society” was initiated by the MFA in cooperation with the Lithuanian NGDO platform to discuss the role of NGOs in the implementation of development cooperation policy.

Awareness of development aid is generally limited, both amongst NGOs and the general public. Civil Society struggle to establish themselves as strong actors for raising Development Awareness (DE/AR). This is due to lack of funding and also because the MFA regards UNDP Lithuania as the main awareness-raising actor. However LIDEA - the Lithuanian development education network - works to raise awareness of development cooperation and the MDGs.

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¹ More information on partnerships can be found in the Strategies for Resource Mobilisation section of this Guide.

² Contact information can be found in the NGO Platform Contact Information section of this Guide.

 

Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lithuanian Development Cooperation.

Open Society Institute and Soros Foundation Network.

TRIALOG Information Service (TIS).