Wikipedia

CONCORD

For other uses, see Concord.

CONCORD, also referred to as CONCORD Europe,[3][4] is the European confederation of non-governmental organisations working on sustainable development and international development cooperation.

CONCORD Europe
Confédération européenne des ONG d'urgence et de dévelopement[1]
FormationJuly 10, 1980; 44 years ago (1980-07-10)[1]
TypeInternational non-profit association (aisbl)
Registration no.0420.549.636
Purposeadvocacy
Location
Membership (2024)
57
Official language
English
Director
Tanya Cox
President
Rilli Lappalainen
Budget (2022)
€1,754,000[2]
Expenses (2022)€1,754,000[2]
FundingStructural EU grant, membership fees, Gates Foundation, and others[2]
Staff (2024)
21
Websiteconcordeurope.org

It was established in its current form in 2003 and is the main NGO interlocutor with the EU institutions on development policy. As of 2024 it was made up of 57 member organisations, which are national NGO platforms and international NGO networks, representing more than 2,600 NGOs.

The stated goal of the Confederation is to enhance the impact of European development NGOs by combining expertise and accountability. Since 2003, CONCORD has reviewed and protested the EU's policies and practices relation to overseas aid and its commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, policy coherence for development and funding issues.[5][6]

CONCORD maintains a secretariat based in Brussels, Belgium.[7]

History

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The organisation was registered in Belgium in 1980 but established by development NGOs from across Europe in its current form in 2003.[1] CONCORD is an acronym for CONfederation for COoperation of Relief and Development NGOs.[8][9] This name is no longer used and CONCORD is now describing itself as "European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation".

EU Development Policy

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The EU and its member states are the world's biggest donors of official development assistance.[10] A major area of work for EU development policy operates within the Cotonou agreement which establishes a relationship between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific states related to development policy.[11] EU action in the field of development is based on the European Consensus on Development, signed on 20 December 2005, whereby EU Member States, the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission agreed to a common EU vision of development.

EU partnerships and dialogue with developing countries promote respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, peace, democracy, good governance, and gender equality, the rule of law, solidarity and justice through global education. The European Community's contribution is focused on certain areas of intervention, responding to the needs of partner countries.

Publications

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CONCORD publishes AidWatch, an annual report on the EU's aid policy. In 2011, the AidWatch report criticised EU members states for increasingly tying overseas development aid to specific domestic and foreign policy goals, inflating aid by 5billion Euros.[12]

CONCORD also publishes a report every 2 years on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), a legal provision under the EU Lisbon Treaty. PCD aims to ensure that the external impacts of other EU policies do not undermine the aims and objectives of EU development cooperation.[13]

In 2010, CONCORD published its Narrative on Development. The report outlines that European Union Development policies should not pursue unilateral European interests. Legally, they are to support sustainable and human development in developing countries.[14]

Partners

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At global level, CONCORD is actively involved in the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness, the Beyond 2015 campaign, The Humanitarian Forum[15] international network of NGOs and BetterAid.[16] Through these collaborations CONCORD engages with similar NGO networks from South America, Asia and Africa.[17] It's also a partner of Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) and Mesa[18]

Members

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As of June 2024, CONCORD counts 57 member organisations, among which 26 national platforms and 24 other NGO networks:[19]

Type Country Member organisation
National Platform   Austria Globale Verantwortung
National Platform   Belgium CONCORD Belgium
National Platform   Bulgaria Българска Платформа за Международно развитие (BPID)
National Platform   Croatia CROSOL
National Platform   Czech Republic FoRS
National Platform   Denmark Global Focus
National Platform   Estonia AKÜ
National Platform   France Coordination sud
National Platform   Finland Fingo
National Platform   Germany VENRO
National Platform   Greece Hellenic Platform for Development
National Platform   Hungary HAND
National Platform   Ireland Dóchas
National Platform   Italy Concord Italia
National Platform   Latvia LAPAS
National Platform   Luxembourg Cercle de coopération
National Platform   Malta SKOP
National Platform   Netherlands Partos
National Platform   Poland Grupa Zagranica
National Platform   Portugal Plataforma Portuguesa das Organizações Não-Governamentais para o Desenvolvimento (ONGD)
National Platform   Romania FOND
National Platform   Slovakia Ambrela
National Platform   Slovenia SLOGA
National Platform   Spain Coordinadora ONG
National Platform   Sweden CONCORD Sweden
National Platform   United Kingdom British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND)
Network — ACT Alliance EU
Network — Action Aid
Network — ADRA EU
Network — Alliance2015
Network — CARE International
Network —
Network — Caritas Europa
Network — ChildFund Alliance
Network — CIDSE
Network — EU-CORD
Network — Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)
Network — Habitat for Humanity
Network — Humanity & Inclusion
Network — IPPF European Network
Network — Light for the World
Network — Oxfam International
Network — Plan International
Network — Save the Children International
Network — Solidar
Network — SOS Children's Villages International
Network — Terre des hommes
Network — Women Engage for Common Future
Network — Wetlands International Europe
Network — World Vision International
Network — World Wide Fund for Nature
Associate member — European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA)
Associate member — Center for the Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology (CARDET)
Associate member — European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
Associate member — European Disability Forum
Associate member — EU Partnership for Democracy
Associate member — International Rescue Committee
Associate member — Norwegian Refugee Council

References

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  1. ^ a b c CONCORD in the Belgian central registry (BCE), retrieved on 7 June 2024
  2. ^ a b c "Annual Report 2022: Shaping our stories". concordeurope.org. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  3. ^ "CONCORD Europe". EU Transparency Register. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  4. ^ "CONCORD Europe". Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  5. ^ "EU aid dips as least-developed still forgotten: AidWatch report". Devex. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  6. ^ "Who holds the lion's share? A closer look at Global Europe Funds for CSOs". ReliefWeb. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Confédération européenne des ong d'urgence et de développement (CONCORD)". UIA Global Civil Society Database. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Partners – Skop Malta". v. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Interim Evaluation of the Civil Society Dialogue Network (CSDN) project EVALUATION REPORT" (PDF). European Peacebuilding Liaison Office. December 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  10. ^ "EU Donor Atlas". Brussels, Belgium: European Commission. September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  11. ^ "The Cotonou Agreement". Brussels, Belgium: European Commission Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid. 9 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-02-14. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  12. ^ "EU 'self interest' inflates aid by over €5bn in 2010, say NGOs". Brussels, Belgium: ActionAid International. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  13. ^ "Spotlight on Policy Coherence" (PDF). 6 October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  14. ^ "CONCORD narrative on Development". Brussels, Belgium: International Trade Union Confederation. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  15. ^ "Associate News: CONCORD opportunity". The Humanitarian Forum. 11 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  16. ^ "About". BetterAid for the World we Want. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  17. ^ "European NGO confederation for relief and development - Home". Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  18. ^ "Allies and Partners | CONCORD Europe". CONCORD. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  19. ^ "CONCORD members: National Platforms - Networks - Associate members". concordeurope.org. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
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