In 2005, Belgium spent € 1.58 billion on ODA, which corresponds to 0.53% of its GNI. Bilateral means accounted for 64%, while 36% was multilateral.

• Basic health care
• Education and training
• Agriculture and food security
• Basic infrastructure
• Conflict prevention and the consolidation of society.

Added to these are four cross-cutting themes:

• Gender
• Environment
• Welfare economics
• Children’s rights

NGOs can apply for financial support under the following funding programmes:

Consolidation of society: This programme allows for direct financing of NGOs from partner countries of the official Belgian co-operation.

Programme co-funding (new): From 2008 onwards, Belgian NGOs can apply to the DGDC for co-funding of six-year programmes based on a strategic framework agreement.

Project co-funding (new): From 2007 onwards, Belgian NGOs can apply for project co-funding on the basis of a six-year strategic framework agreement submitted to the DGDC.

Programme co-funding (old): Until 2010, Belgian NGOs can apply for co-funding of annual action plans on the basis of a five-year programme which has been elaborated by the applicant NGO and submitted to and approved by the DGDC.

Belgian Survival Fund: This fund exclusively co-finances projects in sub-Saharan Africa proposed by three types of partners: international organisations, authorised Belgian development co-operation NGOs and national and local authorities, and NGOs of recipient countries. It exclusively funds long-term programmes that aim at increasing the food security of families.

Special programmes: The special programmes are implemented by special actors which all operate on a non-profit basis. They propose different types of support.

Conflict prevention and peace consolidation: Requests for financing of projects under the peace-building budget line can be introduced by Belgian, foreign or international organisations. The projects subsidised complement the initiatives that cannot be supported for reasons of status or procedure through geographical, multilateral or other co-operation channels.