International Development Cooperation (IDC) is within the portfolio of the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The Development Unit within the Ministry is responsible for the implementation of the development policy.  The main aims are to:

• Establish a Work Plan for Malta’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA)
• Liaise with civil society representatives in matters relating to overseas development
• Raise awareness through development education
• Coordinate inter-ministerial cooperation to ensure complementarity and coherence
• Draw up contracts between the Ministry and other development partners

Within the Political DG, the Global Issues Directorate is in charge of IDC affairs.  However, the Global Issues Directorate currently only employs two persons (with no director in place), whilst another two officers are dealing with IDC at the Maltese permanent representation to the EU.

A main task of the Global Issues Directorate includes enhancing relations with international organisations. ODA is also a major area of focus for the Global Issues Directorate in the light of Malta’s responsibility to assist the least-developed countries (LDCs).

The main policy document is Malta’s “Overseas Development Policy” published in 2007 after many years of advocacy from both the Maltese national NGDO platform SKOP (Solidarjetà u Koperazzjoni) and the platform’s founding organisation KOPIN.  

Malta’s also draws inspiration from policy documents such as the ‘European Consensus on Development’ and the ‘European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid’. These policy documents spell out the priority themes and sectors that encompass a holistic view of the development process and draws on specific areas of focus.

Malta’s development policy has the overarching aim of combating poverty by extending humanitarian and development assistance and by promoting values of solidarity. The government’s development policy derives from the values of solidarity, respect for human life, freedom and dignity and promotes a holistic view of the development process. In 2008, Malta’s ODA constituted 0.11% of GNI. This increased to 0.19% of GNI in 2009.

Geographically, Maltese development policy focuses on:

• The Mediterranean, particularly Palestine
• Sub-Saharan Africa, especially the Horn of Africa and the Sudan
• The Small Island States
• The Commonwealth

Malta’s government is neither represented officially in any of the Horn of Africa countries, nor has it particular expertise to provide development assistance in these war-torn and poverty-stricken countries.  

Thematically, the main aim of Malta’s development policy is to contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to which Malta is officially committed. Direct funding is given to development programmes and projects which meet priority basic needs in countries which rank low in terms of human development indicators.  Priority sectors include:

• Information and Communication Technologies
• Democratisation and Good Governance
• Migration and Asylum
• Education, Training and Human Capacity Development
• Health
• Gender Equality
• Climate Change
• Water and Sanitation
• Trade and Investment

Aid from Malta has always been allocated on a one-off and ad hoc basis. Malta’s multilateral aid is channelled mostly through the United Nations system and Commonwealth organisations.

There is no special focus on SRHR and HIV/AIDS, except the commitment to the MDGs

Malta’s development policy recognises the significant role that NGOs play within the framework of international development cooperation.  This policy sets forth the establishment of a framework for structured dialogue with the NGOs in contributing to development cooperation.  The government ensures that funding is given to development programmes and projects which meet priority needs in the least developing countries especially those which rank low in terms of human development indicators.

The MFA intends to continue and maintain a strong coordinating role in organizing humanitarian and development assistance to assist the poorest countries, particularly in Africa as to achieve economic and social progress in these communities.  One way of accomplishing this task is by providing the necessary support to local NGOs dedicated to humanitarian and development assistance.

The Maltese NGDO Development Platform ‘SKOP’, established in 2001, is the coordinating body of 10 NGOs involved in humanitarian and development aid projects. The Maltese government does not financially support NGOs.

The MFA annually issues calls for proposals aimed at local NGOs involved in humanitarian and development assistance. Project proposals have to qualify as ODA and these will be partly financed by the Ministry within the limits of its ODA financial provisions. During 2009, 13 projects were funded through ODA funds. The Ministry allocates 70% of its ODA budget to local NGOs in co-financing their programmes, although it does not issue a breakdown of its ODA spending.

In 2008 and 2010, the Maltese MFA issued a call for proposal for ‘On-the-ground projects in the global South’, for which NGDOs can apply. The  2010 call for proposal’s geographic priority was Africa. Thematically, preference is given to projects focusing on health and education.  The deadline for submission of project proposals was the 28th February 2010.

In 2010, the Ministry allocated a total of €330,000 to nine NGDO ground projects in the South, out of an estimated total of approximately €8 million ODA in total (4%).  The maximum grant given to these projects, applied for through the MFA’s call was €30,000. No specific application procedures/guidelines are provided. It is recommended that organisations interested in future calls contact either directly the MFA or SKOP for further information.¹

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