What we do

As the aid system mutates into new forms of international cooperation, innovative tools and approaches are needed to manage the change. This will require well-informed dialogue, balanced and reciprocal partnerships, negotiations between actors with competing interests, institutional innovation and joint learning. These are precisely the areas in which ECDPM is consistently recognised as a leader. ECDPM applies these strengths to contribute to the ongoing transformation of European and international cooperation.

Our thematic priorities To target our efforts, we organise our work around four thematic priorities: Reconciling values and interests in the external action of the European Union and other international players We accompany the European Union’s efforts towards an integrated, development friendly and coherent external action policy: Improving the functioning of the EU institutional architecture for external action Modernisation of EU development policy Elaboration of credible EU policies for promoting governance, democracy and human rights Renewal of European strategies and agreements, particularly those with Africa and the ACP Group Linking security and development Promoting economic governance and trade for inclusive and sustainable growth We support the formation of a global economic system that fosters social equity, poverty alleviation and sustainable development: Economic governance, with special attention on sustainable management of natural resources The role of the private sector in development Domestic resource mobilisation and accountability Regional integration Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and “aid for trade” The role of the BRICS and other emerging players and the implications for EU-Africa relations Supporting dynamics of social change related to democracy and governance in developing countries, particularly in Africa We support initiatives within developing-country societies for inclusive, transparent and democratic systems of governance: African Union efforts to consolidate continental agendas on governance, trade and development Strengthening the role of civil society in strategic policy processes Fostering cooperation between African and European institutions Addressing food security as a global public good through information, and support to regional integration, markets and agriculture We support food security efforts at local, national, regional and institutional level: Enhancement of public-private dialogue on food security The governance dimensions of food security, including management of natural resources and effective functioning of local markets Promoting EU policy coherence as it affects food security ECDPM’s mission and principles of engagement, established more than 25 years ago, remain fundamentally relevant: our non-partisan approach, our clear strategic focus on a limited set of policy areas, our dual role as an independent knowledge broker and process facilitator, our extensive relations with key actors in Europe and in developing countries, our expertise in linking policy and practice, and our investment in a strong results-based framework to clearly measure outcomes.

For more information ECDPM’s 2012-2016 strategy ECDPM’s 2012-2016 strategy results framework ECDPM Work Plan 2013-2014

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