Direct from MINBUZA.
In 2010, the Dutch government decided to reduce budgets for development cooperation. Budget cuts had to be realised by reducing the number of countries receiving aid. In addition, the ministry intended to enhance the effectiveness of support by focusing on sectors where the Netherlands would have the highest value added. The minister decided to reduce expenditure to social sectors (especially health, not including SRHR, and education) and to focus more on productive sectors. In November 2012 the government announced new budget cuts as part of a package that aimed at reducing the Dutch budget deficit.
In December 2012, a resolution from Parliament (TK 2012-2013, 33 400-V, no. 45) requested the ministry to analyse the effects of the budget cuts in bilateral aid for developing countries. In a letter to Parliament (TK 2013-2014, 32 605, no. 134) the minister announced that IOB would evaluate the effects of the discontinuation of development cooperation partnership.
The evaluation seeks to comply with the request of Parliament, and a positive reaction of the minister, to evaluate the effects of the budget cuts in bilateral aid and complete withdrawal for the countries and programmes involved. The evaluation will focus on the effects of the Dutch phasing out on exit countries, including the impact on programmes and (larger) projects. In addition, the evaluation will assess the impact of budgetary reductions in the health and education sectors.
