Netherlands
Mr Chair,
The Netherlands has committed 0.8% of its GDP to development cooperation. This makes the
Netherlands a major donor. The overall objective of the Netherlands development cooperation
policy is meeting the MDG's, while following the path of sustainable development. In this
context the Netherlands development cooperation policy in Africa focuses on 4 priorities for
intensified cooperation.
These are: peace and development; economic development and equity; enhancing
empowerment of women and access to sustainable energy. I wil briet1y elaborate on these
today and tomorrow.
With regard to peace and development enhanced attention wil be paid to tìagile states, while
retaining the objective of good governance to ensure poverty alleviation. In combating and
preventing cont1cts, the Netherlands applies an integrated approach of diplomacy,
development and defènce (triple d) aiming at increased ownership, responsibility to respect,
and effectiveness and legitimacy of govenunents in the execution of their main tasks. The
Netherlands also acknowledges the importance of sustainable management of ecosystems and
of regional cooperation for stability and cont1ict prevention in fragile states. An additional
amount of ? 25 milion annually have been allocated to fì-agile states for a period of 5 years.
With regard to empowerment of girls and women the Netherlands attaches a high priority to
MDG's 3 and 5 as these are lagging behind most. Empowerment of women is cmcial for their
participation in all sectors and at all levels of society. In this respect the Netherlands is putting
a higher emphasis on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women. An additional
aimua130 and 15 mln Euro have been allocated for the achievement ofMDG3 and MDG5.
The third priority concems growth and equity: Globalisation aiid global growth have changed
the lives of many, but have not reduced substantially the ditferences in weltàre within or
between countries. Integration of African countries in the regional and global economy is
cmciaL. In this context the Netherlands wil continue to dedicate itself to a quick wrap up of
the Doha-rOlmd. In order to obtain equal distribution of welfàre within countries, The
Netherlands wil focus on the most vulnerable groups to enhance their labour participation.
Stronger growth and enhancement of the productivity in particular in the agricultural sector,
access to markets, regional integration, and innovations are elements of the Netherlands
cooperation strategy with AÜica. Additional funds of? 35 million have been allocated
aimually for the purpose of growth and equal distribution
Mr Chair,
In tomorrow's session, I wil highlight the Netherlands commitment to regional integration
and protection of the natural resource base. For more infonnation about some best practices of
the Netherlands development cooperation activities in Africa, I refer to the Netherlands repOli
to the - CSD and the cases that are attached to this statement.
Thank you Mr Chair.
Case study: Progress for MDGs on gender
1. Problem or issue addressed: Gender inequality, fèmale health and cont1icts
2. Name of the program: Pact of Schokland
3. Timeframe: 2007-2015
4. Status: Ongoing
5. NJain o~jectives: Improving access and quality of health care, education and employment
for women. Aim at gender equality, involve women in (post- )cont1ict situations and
combat violence against women.
The Dutch cabinet, social organisations, companies, institutions, labour unions, churches and
individual citizens came together on the 30th of June 2007 to sign the Pact of Schokland. They
all want to make a concrete and active effort to make progress towards achieving the MDGs
in 2015.
As it is now, MDG3 (equal rights for men and women) will not be met and this has a great
impact on the achievement of the other goals. This is why the government of the Netherlands
aims to put in extra effort through cooperation with outside actors. Together with several
NGOs and businesses, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Schokland pact about
the MDG3 Fund, to support activities which wil lead to more gender equality and
empowennent of women. Focus wil be on improvement of women's and girls' property and
inheritance rights, elimination of gender inequality in employment, increasing women's share
of seats in national parliaments and local government bodies and combating violence against
girls and women. Women and girls in cont1ct situations, marginalized women and
adolescents are the groups mostly targeted by the fund. In practice this pact of Schokland is
aimed at combining ideas, knowledge, time and means of different organizations and
institutions all targeted towards achieving MDG3. Also, a budget of 50 milion Euros is
available for financing concrete projects aimed at improving chances and rights of women in
the four focus areas and for the tlu'ee target groups.
Other MDGs with a gender aspect, most notably MDG 3,4,5 and 6, are also targeted by
other pacts of Schokland. The first of these is about the fèmale condom and aims at giving
women the opportunity to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies and STDs, like
HIV. It is thought that by making the female condom more acceptable, affordable and
available in developing countries, the number of unsaIè abortions, deaths of women in labour
or women infected by STDs would decline rapidly. Right now the female condom is not
available or promoted and this Schokland pact tries to change this tlu'ough creating a
sustainable market solution and focussing on (sex) education.
Another pact on women, which is called "Dutch national action plan 1325: Women, peace
and security", is focussed on women in (post-)conflict situations and builds on the UN
Security Council Resolution 1325. The idea behind the pact is that although women are
mostly seen as victims of conflict situations, they can also play an important role in the
avoidance, origin, contaimnent and solving of them. Right now, women are hardly involved in
the decision making process during or after a conflict, which hampers sustainable changes and
improvements in the reconstruction of (post-)cont1ict countries.
The last pact of Schokland which is related to gender is the pact on women and violence.
The signatories recognize that cooperation with partners in the Netherlands and in the rest of
the world is needed to combat violence against women. Most importantly the pact aims at
suppOliing the development and execution of national action plans and the tackling of
cultural, religious and traditional practices which support violence against women. In 2008
partnerships with three developing counties will start and each year lU1til 2010 three more will
also be included.
Case study: Health insurance Africa
1. Problem or issue addressed: Access to and quality of health care in Afhca
2. Name of the program: Pact of Schokland: Healthcare insurance for AÜica
3. Timeframe: 2007-2015
4. Status: Ongoing
5. Main o~jectives: Improving healthcare, poveiiy alleviation
Although the achievement ofthe MDGs by 2015 in most cases is no longer possible, the
Dutch govel1ent aims at making progress for all eight goals. On the one hand this is done
through own initiatives and policies, but there are also several joint ventures with businesses,
NGOs, organisations, institutions and individuals, of which some fàll within the Pact of
Schokland. This pact has been created to stimulate initiatives from society which contribute to
the MDGs and compromises two thousand pacts of individuals and 36 pacts between diftèrent
organisations, labour unions, companies and the Dutch govemment. Two of the 36 publicprivate
paiinerships deal with health care and insurance in Africa. One of them is called
Health Insurance Fund and is executed by the Dutch NGO Phanii Access. An essay written
about this program has recently won an award by the World Bank/International Finance
Corporation and the Financial Times.
The Health Insurance Fund builds on the assumption that there is a necessity to rethink the
way in which health care is delivered in Africa. African public systems have been unable to
et1iciently deliver health care. As a result, almost 60 percent of health care, often obtained in
the private sector, is paid by patients out-of-pocket, causing many to fàll into a poverty trap.
Private equity investments in the health care supply chain do not take place because the risk is
considered too high. This has resulted in doctors being unable to invest in their clinics,
extremely inet1cient distribution systems, lack of equipment and a lack of capital for
insurance companies to invest in administrative capacity. Pha111 Access argues for a health
care refonii in which the govenU11ent and the private sector work together, and in which the
development of pre-paid private insurance coverage for low income people plays a major role.
This program, as created in the Pact of Schokland, links donor funds to AÜican Health
Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), insurance companies, or third party administrators
through performance based contracts. These organizations are responsible for the execution of
the Fund's insurance programs, and contract a network of public and private providers where
scheme members can get their health services. Payment of insurers and providers is related to
performance, measured as the medical care delivered and the number of people enrolled in the
schemes. Prices and profit margins of the insurers are contractually fixed. The insurance
package consists of primary and limited secondary care, including HIV / AIDS treatment and
care, and medication and the programs are always complementary to regular public sector
health. The programs create stable healthcare demand by subsidizing insurance premiums for
target groups of African workers that enrol with the HMOs, such as farniers and people with
micro loans. It concerns groups with at least some income, who must pay paii of the (reduced)
premium themselves. A significant wilingness to pay for such insurance schemes can be
expected, because quality, capacity and et1ciency of insurance and health care will improve
greatly. The new model of health care will spur a virtuous circle, resulting in an increased
amount of funds for health, more et1cient delivery, improved quality care, and a higher
wilingness to pay for health care. During the first fèw years the new model wil be tried out
in at least four African countries and basic insurance policies will be developed to reach
hundreds of thousands.
Case study: Dutch regional policy Great Lakes Region
1. Problem or issue addressed: Security and link with sustainable development
2. Name of the program: Dutch regional policy Great Lakes Region
3. Timeframe: 1998-
4. Status: Ongoing
5. NJain objectives: Through creation of peace and stability in the region, laying the
foundation for sustainable development in the whole region
The Netherlands has established a regional policy for the Great Lakes Region in 1998 with a
focus on peace and security, stability, good governance and management of natural resources.
The Netherlands wants to maintain the momentum created by the diftèrent peace processes
and agreements of the last few years in the region between govenU11ents and other groups.
Through the creation of preconditions for development and, if possible, the removal of causes
of cont1ct, peace and stability could become reality in the (near) future. The Netherlands
therefore takes an integrated approach (detènce, diplomacy and development) with special
attention and programs for regional management of natural resources and sustainable energy.
For Rwanda en Uganda policy is targeted towards good governance, capacity building and
economic development. In relation to Rwanda specific attention has been given to the
rebuilding of the constitutional state and the judicial system. For Uganda the focus has been
on the sectors education, rural development, local governance and the judiciary. In relation to
the DRC and Burundi the Netherlands takes a more cautious approach, because of the
ongoing unrest in both countries and the lack of good governance. In Burundi, Dutch policy is
nevertheless targeted towards social and economic development, but mostly towards suppoii
of the peace negotiations, reform of police and arniy, disarmament, demobilisation and
emergency aid. Within the DRC the Netherlands focuses on women's rights, humanitarian
aid, demobilisation, security sector refonn, forests and sustainable energy.
This policy is executed through cooperating with and working within the framework of
international organizations, such as the United Nations and World Bank, tlu'ough fìnancing
mechanisms. One example of this is the collaboration between the World Bank and 13
donors, amongst whom the Netherlands is the largest contributor, in relation to the program
"Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Project (MDRP). MDRP supports a
regional planning and financing IÌamework for the demobilization an reintegration (D&R) of
an estimated 415,000 combatants in countries involved in, or aftèctecl by, conflict in the Great
Lakes Region. The aim is to contribute to the overall security environment and to regional
peace building and stabilization processes in the region. This can provide the groundwork for
sustainable development. The program's underlying principles are paiinership, national
ownership and integration of enviromnental, social and economical considerations in every
project. Extra attention is also given to vulnerable groups as children, women and disabled
people. MDR- is already about halfway to achieving its original aim and a positive effect on
other aspects of development can be discemed.
A recent Dutch evaluation has shown that Dutch policy for the Great Lakes Region has been
relatively successfuL. Especially the integration of defence, diplomacy and development were
commended, just as the cooperation with other donors and international players in the region.
The Netherlands has committed 0.8% of its GDP to development cooperation. This makes the
Netherlands a major donor. The overall objective of the Netherlands development cooperation
policy is meeting the MDG's, while following the path of sustainable development. In this
context the Netherlands development cooperation policy in Africa focuses on 4 priorities for
intensified cooperation.
These are: peace and development; economic development and equity; enhancing
empowerment of women and access to sustainable energy. I wil briet1y elaborate on these
today and tomorrow.
With regard to peace and development enhanced attention wil be paid to tìagile states, while
retaining the objective of good governance to ensure poverty alleviation. In combating and
preventing cont1cts, the Netherlands applies an integrated approach of diplomacy,
development and defènce (triple d) aiming at increased ownership, responsibility to respect,
and effectiveness and legitimacy of govenunents in the execution of their main tasks. The
Netherlands also acknowledges the importance of sustainable management of ecosystems and
of regional cooperation for stability and cont1ict prevention in fragile states. An additional
amount of ? 25 milion annually have been allocated to fì-agile states for a period of 5 years.
With regard to empowerment of girls and women the Netherlands attaches a high priority to
MDG's 3 and 5 as these are lagging behind most. Empowerment of women is cmcial for their
participation in all sectors and at all levels of society. In this respect the Netherlands is putting
a higher emphasis on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women. An additional
aimua130 and 15 mln Euro have been allocated for the achievement ofMDG3 and MDG5.
The third priority concems growth and equity: Globalisation aiid global growth have changed
the lives of many, but have not reduced substantially the ditferences in weltàre within or
between countries. Integration of African countries in the regional and global economy is
cmciaL. In this context the Netherlands wil continue to dedicate itself to a quick wrap up of
the Doha-rOlmd. In order to obtain equal distribution of welfàre within countries, The
Netherlands wil focus on the most vulnerable groups to enhance their labour participation.
Stronger growth and enhancement of the productivity in particular in the agricultural sector,
access to markets, regional integration, and innovations are elements of the Netherlands
cooperation strategy with AÜica. Additional funds of? 35 million have been allocated
aimually for the purpose of growth and equal distribution
Mr Chair,
In tomorrow's session, I wil highlight the Netherlands commitment to regional integration
and protection of the natural resource base. For more infonnation about some best practices of
the Netherlands development cooperation activities in Africa, I refer to the Netherlands repOli
to the - CSD and the cases that are attached to this statement.
Thank you Mr Chair.
Case study: Progress for MDGs on gender
1. Problem or issue addressed: Gender inequality, fèmale health and cont1icts
2. Name of the program: Pact of Schokland
3. Timeframe: 2007-2015
4. Status: Ongoing
5. NJain o~jectives: Improving access and quality of health care, education and employment
for women. Aim at gender equality, involve women in (post- )cont1ict situations and
combat violence against women.
The Dutch cabinet, social organisations, companies, institutions, labour unions, churches and
individual citizens came together on the 30th of June 2007 to sign the Pact of Schokland. They
all want to make a concrete and active effort to make progress towards achieving the MDGs
in 2015.
As it is now, MDG3 (equal rights for men and women) will not be met and this has a great
impact on the achievement of the other goals. This is why the government of the Netherlands
aims to put in extra effort through cooperation with outside actors. Together with several
NGOs and businesses, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Schokland pact about
the MDG3 Fund, to support activities which wil lead to more gender equality and
empowennent of women. Focus wil be on improvement of women's and girls' property and
inheritance rights, elimination of gender inequality in employment, increasing women's share
of seats in national parliaments and local government bodies and combating violence against
girls and women. Women and girls in cont1ct situations, marginalized women and
adolescents are the groups mostly targeted by the fund. In practice this pact of Schokland is
aimed at combining ideas, knowledge, time and means of different organizations and
institutions all targeted towards achieving MDG3. Also, a budget of 50 milion Euros is
available for financing concrete projects aimed at improving chances and rights of women in
the four focus areas and for the tlu'ee target groups.
Other MDGs with a gender aspect, most notably MDG 3,4,5 and 6, are also targeted by
other pacts of Schokland. The first of these is about the fèmale condom and aims at giving
women the opportunity to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies and STDs, like
HIV. It is thought that by making the female condom more acceptable, affordable and
available in developing countries, the number of unsaIè abortions, deaths of women in labour
or women infected by STDs would decline rapidly. Right now the female condom is not
available or promoted and this Schokland pact tries to change this tlu'ough creating a
sustainable market solution and focussing on (sex) education.
Another pact on women, which is called "Dutch national action plan 1325: Women, peace
and security", is focussed on women in (post-)conflict situations and builds on the UN
Security Council Resolution 1325. The idea behind the pact is that although women are
mostly seen as victims of conflict situations, they can also play an important role in the
avoidance, origin, contaimnent and solving of them. Right now, women are hardly involved in
the decision making process during or after a conflict, which hampers sustainable changes and
improvements in the reconstruction of (post-)cont1ict countries.
The last pact of Schokland which is related to gender is the pact on women and violence.
The signatories recognize that cooperation with partners in the Netherlands and in the rest of
the world is needed to combat violence against women. Most importantly the pact aims at
suppOliing the development and execution of national action plans and the tackling of
cultural, religious and traditional practices which support violence against women. In 2008
partnerships with three developing counties will start and each year lU1til 2010 three more will
also be included.
Case study: Health insurance Africa
1. Problem or issue addressed: Access to and quality of health care in Afhca
2. Name of the program: Pact of Schokland: Healthcare insurance for AÜica
3. Timeframe: 2007-2015
4. Status: Ongoing
5. Main o~jectives: Improving healthcare, poveiiy alleviation
Although the achievement ofthe MDGs by 2015 in most cases is no longer possible, the
Dutch govel1ent aims at making progress for all eight goals. On the one hand this is done
through own initiatives and policies, but there are also several joint ventures with businesses,
NGOs, organisations, institutions and individuals, of which some fàll within the Pact of
Schokland. This pact has been created to stimulate initiatives from society which contribute to
the MDGs and compromises two thousand pacts of individuals and 36 pacts between diftèrent
organisations, labour unions, companies and the Dutch govemment. Two of the 36 publicprivate
paiinerships deal with health care and insurance in Africa. One of them is called
Health Insurance Fund and is executed by the Dutch NGO Phanii Access. An essay written
about this program has recently won an award by the World Bank/International Finance
Corporation and the Financial Times.
The Health Insurance Fund builds on the assumption that there is a necessity to rethink the
way in which health care is delivered in Africa. African public systems have been unable to
et1iciently deliver health care. As a result, almost 60 percent of health care, often obtained in
the private sector, is paid by patients out-of-pocket, causing many to fàll into a poverty trap.
Private equity investments in the health care supply chain do not take place because the risk is
considered too high. This has resulted in doctors being unable to invest in their clinics,
extremely inet1cient distribution systems, lack of equipment and a lack of capital for
insurance companies to invest in administrative capacity. Pha111 Access argues for a health
care refonii in which the govenU11ent and the private sector work together, and in which the
development of pre-paid private insurance coverage for low income people plays a major role.
This program, as created in the Pact of Schokland, links donor funds to AÜican Health
Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), insurance companies, or third party administrators
through performance based contracts. These organizations are responsible for the execution of
the Fund's insurance programs, and contract a network of public and private providers where
scheme members can get their health services. Payment of insurers and providers is related to
performance, measured as the medical care delivered and the number of people enrolled in the
schemes. Prices and profit margins of the insurers are contractually fixed. The insurance
package consists of primary and limited secondary care, including HIV / AIDS treatment and
care, and medication and the programs are always complementary to regular public sector
health. The programs create stable healthcare demand by subsidizing insurance premiums for
target groups of African workers that enrol with the HMOs, such as farniers and people with
micro loans. It concerns groups with at least some income, who must pay paii of the (reduced)
premium themselves. A significant wilingness to pay for such insurance schemes can be
expected, because quality, capacity and et1ciency of insurance and health care will improve
greatly. The new model of health care will spur a virtuous circle, resulting in an increased
amount of funds for health, more et1cient delivery, improved quality care, and a higher
wilingness to pay for health care. During the first fèw years the new model wil be tried out
in at least four African countries and basic insurance policies will be developed to reach
hundreds of thousands.
Case study: Dutch regional policy Great Lakes Region
1. Problem or issue addressed: Security and link with sustainable development
2. Name of the program: Dutch regional policy Great Lakes Region
3. Timeframe: 1998-
4. Status: Ongoing
5. NJain objectives: Through creation of peace and stability in the region, laying the
foundation for sustainable development in the whole region
The Netherlands has established a regional policy for the Great Lakes Region in 1998 with a
focus on peace and security, stability, good governance and management of natural resources.
The Netherlands wants to maintain the momentum created by the diftèrent peace processes
and agreements of the last few years in the region between govenU11ents and other groups.
Through the creation of preconditions for development and, if possible, the removal of causes
of cont1ct, peace and stability could become reality in the (near) future. The Netherlands
therefore takes an integrated approach (detènce, diplomacy and development) with special
attention and programs for regional management of natural resources and sustainable energy.
For Rwanda en Uganda policy is targeted towards good governance, capacity building and
economic development. In relation to Rwanda specific attention has been given to the
rebuilding of the constitutional state and the judicial system. For Uganda the focus has been
on the sectors education, rural development, local governance and the judiciary. In relation to
the DRC and Burundi the Netherlands takes a more cautious approach, because of the
ongoing unrest in both countries and the lack of good governance. In Burundi, Dutch policy is
nevertheless targeted towards social and economic development, but mostly towards suppoii
of the peace negotiations, reform of police and arniy, disarmament, demobilisation and
emergency aid. Within the DRC the Netherlands focuses on women's rights, humanitarian
aid, demobilisation, security sector refonn, forests and sustainable energy.
This policy is executed through cooperating with and working within the framework of
international organizations, such as the United Nations and World Bank, tlu'ough fìnancing
mechanisms. One example of this is the collaboration between the World Bank and 13
donors, amongst whom the Netherlands is the largest contributor, in relation to the program
"Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Project (MDRP). MDRP supports a
regional planning and financing IÌamework for the demobilization an reintegration (D&R) of
an estimated 415,000 combatants in countries involved in, or aftèctecl by, conflict in the Great
Lakes Region. The aim is to contribute to the overall security environment and to regional
peace building and stabilization processes in the region. This can provide the groundwork for
sustainable development. The program's underlying principles are paiinership, national
ownership and integration of enviromnental, social and economical considerations in every
project. Extra attention is also given to vulnerable groups as children, women and disabled
people. MDR- is already about halfway to achieving its original aim and a positive effect on
other aspects of development can be discemed.
A recent Dutch evaluation has shown that Dutch policy for the Great Lakes Region has been
relatively successfuL. Especially the integration of defence, diplomacy and development were
commended, just as the cooperation with other donors and international players in the region.
Stakeholders