BHOS-beleidsnota
Reactie
| Naam | Anoniem |
|---|---|
| Plaats | Utrecht |
| Datum | 14 april 2022 |
Vraag1
(see english below)Nexus (samenhang) Ontwikkelingssamenwerking & Buitenlandse Handel
Het Nederlandse bedrijfsleven kan door middel van handel, investeringen en marktkracht een belangrijke rol spelen bij een aantal van de grote wereldwijde uitdagingen van deze tijd. Om de Nederlandse inzet richting het bedrijfsleven een focus mee te geven wordt gekozen voor een focus op de “twin-transities”; de digitale transitie (via onder meer artificiële intelligentie) en de verduurzamingtransitie. Deze twin-transities op digitale innovatie en verduurzaming zullen de komende jaren een grote rol spelen om de Parijs en Glasgow-doelen voor klimaat te halen. Die doelen moeten we in Nederland halen, maar ook wereldwijd. Hoewel er een grote behoefte is aan Nederlandse expertise en investeringen, zien we dat meer nodig kan zijn om het Nederlandse bedrijven te betrekken bij deze transities in (lage en) midden-inkomenslanden.
1. Hoe kan het Nederlandse bedrijfsleven meer betrokken worden bij de twin-transitie in (lage en) midden-inkomenslanden?
(EN)
Nexus between development cooperation and foreign trade
Through their trade, investment and market position, Dutch businesses can play a key role in tackling some of the major challenges facing the world today. The focus of Dutch policy vis-a-vis the private sector will be on the 'twin transitions' of digitalisation (including artificial intelligence) and sustainability – both of which will be key to achieving the Paris and Glasgow climate goals in the years ahead. We must achieve these goals not only in the Netherlands, but across the world as a whole. While Dutch expertise and investment funding are in great demand, we also see that more may be needed when it comes to getting Dutch companies involved in these transitions in low- and middle-income countries.
1. How can we increase the involvement of Dutch companies in the twin transitions in low- and middle-income countries?
Whenever we engage Dutch companies in the twin transitions, we need to show Dutch commitments to human rights & sustainability. Dutch companies should carry out proper human rights (including gender equality) and environmental due diligence processes. The Dutch steps to develop national legislation on IMVO is important in this regard. We need to ensure that gender equality is explicitly integrated into the legislation, and that gender analyses will be part of the due diligence process required by companies. It should also be clearly specified how individuals and organizations can access complaint mechanisms and instruments, in case any human rights violations take place in the activities of Dutch companies in low- and middle-income countries.
The Netherlands should also play a more active role in the negotiations/adoption of the United Nations Treaty on Human Rights & Business.
Vraag2
Nederland kent een lange traditie van publieke private samenwerking. Nu de mondiale uitdagingen steeds groter worden, is het van belang deze publiek-private samenwerkingen te verdiepen en te versnellen. De duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelen zijn in 2015 vastgesteld als actieplan voor overheden, bedrijven, kennisinstellingen en burgers om duurzame ontwikkeling te verwezenlijken wereldwijd.2. Hoe kunnen overheid, bedrijfsleven en kennisinstellingen beter samenwerken om de duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelen te halen?
(EN)
The Netherlands has a long tradition of public-private partnership. As the global challenges grow ever bigger, it is important to deepen and accelerate these partnerships. The Sustainable Development Goals were presented in 2015 as a plan of action for governments, companies, knowledge institutions and private individuals to achieve sustainable development worldwide.
2. How can government, the private sector and knowledge institutions work together better to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?
Firstly, we need to acknowledge that civil society plays an essential role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Civil society actors, such as feminist groups and the environmental movement, are essential actors on the ground that take action to achieve the SDGs. Governments should create an enabling (civic) space around the world for achieving the goals through inclusive legislation that addresses challenges and invites actors such as private sectors to contribute to the changes. The polluter pays principle needs to be enforced through strict legislation, that supports those companies that lead by example. We need knowledge institutions to provide data on key challenges, lack of gender data should be priority.
Secondly, we oppose the privatization of public services and facilities, including large scale infrastructure as well public services such as health, access to basic health education, children and elderly care that is safe, secure, and hygienic. They are fundamental human rights and an obligation of the state and should be guaranteed by the state as well. The Dutch government should truly ensure that public private partnerships contribute to sustainable development.
Thirdly, the 2030 Agenda asks governments to break working in siloes, and to work on issues via an intersectional approach. In order for the SDGs to be achieved, we need to change ‘traditional’ power relations. Those actors whose rights need to be protected in process, often marginalized groups, should be included in decision-making processes, with more seats and inclusive spaces for interventions. Women in all their diversity, youth, Indigenous & BIPOC communities, civil societies, as well as feminist organizations require better representation to transform the current structure such that trust is restored.
Processes such as the Generation Equality Forums (GEF) show these kinds of innovative approaches to collaboration across sectors (where the Netherlands leads on the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements & Leadership).
Vraag3
Nederland heeft sinds 2016 een actieplan beleidscoherentie voor ontwikkeling. Beleidscoherentie voor ontwikkeling heeft als doel om in niet-hulp (OS) beleid schade voor ontwikkelingslanden te verminderen en synergiën en samenwerking te versterken. Het Nederlandse actieplan is in 2018 herzien en geeft een overzicht van vijf Nederlandse beleidsthema’s die een invloed hebben op de ontwikkelingskansen in ontwikkelingslanden. Deze thema’s zijn: (1) het tegengaan van belastingontwijking/ontduiking, (2) ontwikkelingsvriendelijke handelsakkoorden, (3) een ontwikkelingsvriendelijk investeringsregime, (4) verduurzaming van productie en handel en (5) het tegengaan van klimaatverandering.3. Hoe kan de bovengenoemde Nederlandse inzet op beleidscoherentie voor ontwikkeling verder versterkt of verbeterd worden?
(EN)
The Netherlands has had an action plan on policy coherence for development since 2016. The aim of policy coherence is to reduce the negative effects on developing countries caused by policies in areas other than development, and to strengthen synergies and cooperation. The action plan, which was revised in 2018, identifies five Dutch policy themes that can enhance developing countries’ opportunities for development: (1) combating tax avoidance/evasion, (2) development-friendly trade agreements, (3) a development-friendly investment regime, (4) more sustainable production and trade, and (5) combating climate change.
3. How can the Netherlands’ efforts to achieve policy coherence for development be further strengthened or enhanced?
Efforts should be enhanced to create a whole-of-government, intersectional approach that includes all government actors on relevant issues to act effectively and collaborate (instead of working in siloes that is often still the case now). We see that within the current five coherence themes, women in all their diversity are impacted differently because of existing inequalities. This needs to be addressed if we genuinely want to achieve policy coherence. That is why Gender equality needs to be recognized as a cross-cutting theme in achieving policy coherence.
The fight against climate change needs to be a top priority if we want to continue to have a livable planet. The recent IPCC reports tell us that if we do not take more ambitious, inclusive climate action, many parts of our world become uninhabitable.
In terms of policy coherence, that means the Netherlands needs to severely limit its international ecological footprint. The latest ecological footprint of the Netherlands is over seven times higher than its biocapacity, according to the 2022 edition of the National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts from the Footprint Data Foundation in partnership with Global Footprint Network and York University, Toronto.
The IPCC WGII Sixth Assessment Report specifically includes a cross-chapter box on gender, climate justice and transformative pathways (pp. 18-57). It has important conclusions and recommendations on the importance of integrating gender into climate policies, and thus contributing to policy coherence. For example (from the final draft text): “Intentional long-term policy and program measures and investments to support shifts in social rules, norms, and behaviours are essential to address structural inequalities and support an enabling environment for marginalized groups to effectively adapt to climate change”. And: “Adaptation actions do not automatically have positive outcomes for gender equality. Understanding the positive and negative links of adaptation actions with gender equality goals, (i.e., SDG 5), is important to ensure that adaptive actions do not exacerbate existing gender-based and other social inequalities [16.1.4.4]. Efforts are needed to change unequal power dynamics and to foster inclusive decision.”
Vraag5
Thema’s en sectoren van de toekomstNu de wereld in transitie is om een goede toekomst voor ons en de generaties na ons te bewerkstelligen verandert de focus van bedrijven, overheid en kennisinstellingen.
5. Op welke thema’s of sectoren ziet u kansen om internationaal te ondernemen?
(EN)
Themes and sectors of the future
The focus of companies, governments and knowledge institutions is changing in light of the global transition to ensure a bright future for current and future generations.
5. In which themes or sectors do you see opportunities for international enterprise?
There are opportunities in the field of innovation for sustainable sectors such as renewable energy, agroecology, agroforestry, circular agriculture (kringlooplandbouw), and circular economy. Networks of democratically organized enterprises, such as cooperatives, are uniting to increase their influence on the market. Specifically, networks of women-led cooperatives need to be strengthened and supported by the Dutch government.
There are opportunities for sharing knowledge and experience between Dutch & international SMEs active in the same sectors, as well as with civil society, other relevant international institutions (development banks, World Bank etc.), governments, etc.
The government can support this process by providing subsidies and grants to help start these initiatives, upscale and increase impacts. For example: gender-just climate solutions. www.wecf.org/gjcs
Vraag6
Samenwerking publiek-privaat en rol Midden en Klein Bedrijf (MKB)Een succesvolle aanpak op het gebied van internationale handel vraagt samenwerking tussen burgers, bedrijven, maatschappelijke organisaties en de overheid. Het is nuttig om aan te sluiten op de behoeftes van de markt. Waar zijn bedrijven (specifiek het MKB) mee geholpen om de exportkracht en innovatiekracht te vergroten?
6. Hoe kan de overheid het bedrijfsleven (specifiek het MKB) dat internationaal onderneemt (of dat zou willen) beter ondersteunen om zaken te doen in het buitenland?
a. Welke ondersteuning hebben bedrijven nodig om internationaal succesvol te zijn op terreinen van digitale innovatie (innovatiesamenwerking) en verduurzaming?
b. Voor handel met welke landen (of regio’s of markten) zou ondersteuning moeten zijn?
c. Wat zou de overheid op het gebied van handelsbevordering niet meer moeten doen?
(EN)
Public-private cooperation and role of SMEs
A successful approach to international trade requires cooperation between the public, companies, civil society and government. It is also useful to align with market demand. What would help companies, and SMEs in particular, to increase their export performance and innovative capacity?
6. How can the government better support companies (and SMEs specifically), that are doing or wish to do business abroad?
a. What type of support do companies need in order to achieve international success in the areas of digital innovation (innovation partnerships) and sustainability?
b. For what countries, regions or markets should the government provide private sector support?
c. What type of trade promotion activities should the government stop doing?
Small, women-led, collective companies play a vital role in advancing just transitions on a local level. Upscaling of these initiatives require access to more subsidies and grants (instead of loans). This supports the long-term sustainability of their businesses.
In their entrepreneurship, women often face barriers because of their gender: lack of access to finance & credit, lack of education and fierce competition in established large corporations. These barriers should be removed. Networks of cooperatives in different sectors provide support to these women-led cooperatives for them to build their skills and strengthen their position. Fair trade and organic food networks should be strengthened & expanded. The government should focus on green & fair public procurement in the Netherlands for these products on Dutch market. This helps to create a market for sustainably produced products. Introducing CO2 pricing for products helps consumers to make more sustainable decisions.
The government should support sustainable markets: renewable energy, agroforestry, agroecology. Specifically those companies that are rooted in their communities and contribute to fighting social challenges such as gender inequality.
The government should stop promoting trade and Dutch companies’ activities that contribute to human rights violations and environmental damage in developing countries. For example, investments in extractives, the fossil fuel industry (export credit support), and the aviation industry. The Dutch export of chemical fertilizers leads to environmental damage and negative health impacts on those working with it in developing countries. The health effects of these chemicals have a gender dimension and need to be prevented. Dutch livestock farming and development of consumer products depend on huge imports of soy and palm oil leading to deforestation. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are often forced off their land and lose their livelihoods, despite having the right to free prior and informed consent.
Innovation and technological advances are not always going to help us in the fight against climate change. We should stop funding false solutions that contribute to human rights violations. We need to move to ecosystem-based solutions that acknowledge and protect local ecosystems and those dependent on them. Read more here: https://womengenderclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/wgc_issuebrief_falsesolutions_en.pdf
Vraag7
OntwikkelingssamenwerkingDevelopment cooperation
Nederlandse inzet op Ontwikkelingssamenwerking
Nederland is op verschillende thema’s actief op gebied van ontwikkelingssamenwerking. Zo investeren we in het realiseren van de Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) en zetten we extra in op opvang in de regio, toegang tot vaccins, klimaatadaptatie en -mitigatie. Nederland gaat door met wat goed gaat en focust op waar Nederland goed in is, zoals verbinding tussen diplomatie en ontwikkelingssamenwerking. Meer informatie over het ontwikkelingssamenwerkingsbeleid van Nederland is te vinden op www.nlontwikkelingssamenwerking.nl.
7. Waar is Nederland op het gebied van ontwikkelingssamenwerking volgens u goed in? Op welke thema’s zou Nederland een aanjagende rol kunnen vervullen?
(EN)
Dutch development cooperation activities
The Netherlands is actively pursuing a number of policy themes in the area of development cooperation. For example, we're investing in efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reception in the region, access to vaccines, and climate adaptation and mitigation. The Netherlands will continue its efforts in areas where progress is being made and will focus on its strengths, such as linking diplomacy and development. For more information about Dutch development policy, go to www.nlontwikkelingssamenwerking.nl.
7. In your opinion, what are the Netherlands’ strengths when it comes to development cooperation? In which policy themes could the Netherlands play a leading role?
Dutch development cooperation is strong because it focuses on funding leadership from the Global South, and it provides funding for organizations to work on advocacy and dialogue & dissent. This is essential for organizations and activists working in countries with authoritarian regimes and limited civic space. However, due to geographic focus areas instigated in the civil society partnership funding mechanisms, a lot of relevant work in some of those countries, like Belarus, Russia etc. is not possible anymore with Dutch funding. The Netherlands should continue to engage with activist groups in these countries and support them where possible.
In its development cooperation, the Netherlands has always been an international leader on gender equality. If the Netherlands wants to keep this position, it needs to have an intersectional approach: acknowledging the importance of working on interlinkages with other prominent issues: fighting the climate crisis while addressing inequality, for example. The Netherlands has the money, the resources and the record of accomplishment required to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises inclusively. The Netherlands should form an international climate policy that is feminist, that goes beyond working on ‘traditional’ gender issues and addresses underlying root causes of inequalities and fights them with an intersectional lens.
In its Gender Action Plan III, the EU set the target that 85% of development should contribute to gender equality, and of it 5% should go to organizations and projects with gender equality as a main target objective. The Netherlands can be a leader in pushing the EU to be more ambitious, by increasing these targets to ensure that the funding ends up with feminist organizations and those that center the work on gender equality. One way to do this is to open, next to existing funding mechanisms, specific funding windows for feminist organizations to work on intersecting issues.
Vraag8
Innoveren op OSNederlandse internationale samenwerking is flexibel en kennisintensief, we zijn vernieuwend. Zo ontwikkelt Nederland nieuwe manieren van werken en partnerschappen die daarna door bijv. de Europese Commissie en Wereldbank worden opgepakt of opgeschaald. De Nederlandse internationale samenwerking fungeert dus veelal als een creatieve en kennisintensieve incubator (een broedplaats voor nieuwe ideeën. Nederland is een relatief kleine donor, maar als lidstaat van de EU en via bilaterale hulp kan Nederland de zichtbaarheid van EU-hulp vergroten en additionele relevante kapitaalstromen generen.
8. Op welke manier en op welk vlak kan de Nederlandse ontwikkelingssamenwerking nog meer innoveren?
(EN)
Innovative development cooperation
Dutch international cooperation is flexible and knowledge-intensive. We are also innovative, developing new ways of working and new types of partnership that are subsequently adopted or scaled up by others, like the European Commission and the World Bank. In this respect, Dutch international cooperation is like a creative and knowledge-intensive incubator. We are a relatively small donor, but as an EU member state and through bilateral aid we can make EU aid more visible and generate additional, relevant capital flows.
8. In what other ways and areas could Dutch development cooperation innovate more?
Supporting more small grants-based funding. Grassroots organizations can be supported in their work through locally established small grant funds or by means of sub-granting through larger organizations. They receive the money directly, avoiding bureaucratic regulations, and can use the money where it is most needed according to them.
An example of this is the Gender-Just Climate Solutions awards. These awards are presented annually at the climate summits (COPs) to the best locally rooted climate solutions which focus on gender equality. The winners receive €2000 and the mentorship programme offers all winners the opportunity to share knowledge and increase capacity. In Guinea-Bissau, UNIVERSSEL shares French indigenous knowledge about salt extraction with women who are responsible for salt and rice production in the mangroves. Normally, about three tons of wood from the mangroves was used to produce one ton of salt. Now, deforestation is avoided by using solar energy. The female salt producers set up a cooperative to join forces and to share their knowledge. As a result, they gained a better position in their community. International recognition of UNIVERS-SEL’s project at the COP resulted in access to additional financing. This enabled them to invest in the salt dryers and they reached an additional 500 people. Read more examples here: www.wecf.org/gjcs
Supporting transnational networks composed of women's and gender equality organizations makes an important contribution to movement building while strengthening the capacity of individual organizations. It also bridges the gap between local activism and international policy processes, making women's voices heard at different levels.
Set clearer targets/indicators/monitoring on gender equality. AWID research shows that now, only 1% of gender equality funding reaches women’s and feminist organizations. This needs to change. Setting clear targets/indicators and monitoring mechanisms will help to ensure that the funding meant for gender equality reaches those working on it: feminist and women’s organizations. The targets should also be developed in consultation with those organizations. https://www.awid.org/news-and-analysis/only-1-gender-equality-funding-going-womens-organisations-why
Vraag9
Een donor met durfDe Nederlandse internationale inzet is gedurfd, omdat we financiële investeringen koppelen aan onze diplomatieke inzet en expertise. We continueren thema’s waar we traditionele meerwaarde hebben: seksuele en reproductieve rechten en gezondheid (SRGR), water, voedselzekerheid en veiligheid & rechtsorde. Daarbij kunnen we nog meer gebruik maken van het diplomatieke gewicht van o.a. de EU. We investeren in systeemverandering om te zorgen dat we de SDG’s in 2030 realiseren. Met systeemverandering bedoelen we dat we de systemen die armoede en ongelijkheid in stand houden aanpakken.
9. Op welke manier/welk vlak kan Nederland als donor nog meer durf te tonen?
(EN)
A bold donor
Dutch international efforts can be characterised as bold, because we link financial investment to diplomatic efforts and expertise. We will continue our work on themes where we have always added value: sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), water, food security, and security and the rule of law. We will also make better use of the diplomatic weight of the EU. To ensure we achieve the SDGs by 2030, we will invest in systemic change, i.e. tackling the structures that maintain poverty and inequality.
9. In what ways or areas could the Netherlands, as a donor, be even bolder?
Adopting a feminist foreign policy is bold way forward. We should look at other progressive countries such as Sweden, Canada and more recently Germany, committing to adopting a Feminist Foreign Policy. Part of this policy is setting more ambitious targets in our funding for gender equality. For example, as part of the EU Gender Action Plan III, and in the EU’s NDICI Regulations, the EU commits to funding at least 85% of its new activities should be targeted on gender equality and that at least 5% of all new actions have gender equality as the main objective. If the Netherlands wants to be a bold donor, we need to go beyond these targets and be more ambitious: a higher percentage of the funding needs to go to projects and organizations working on gender equality as a main objective.
The Netherlands should also increase the margins for funding windows, so smaller consortia of feminist organizations also can apply. Feminist organizations and networks are often smaller in size than development organizations, meaning they do not have the capacity to manage large funds. If the funding amounts have wider margins, with less bureaucratic criteria, it becomes more manageable for feminist organizations. It would also be helpful if the Netherlands would open specific funding windows for feminist, indigenous organizations and networks working on intersectional issues, such as climate and gender equality together. What we see often now, is that areas of work are separated, meaning those that have an intersectional, transformative approach do not qualify. This needs to change.
The Netherlands should also acknowledge its (historic) responsibility for the climate crisis and its effects on the Global South. The Netherlands should increase its support to those working on fighting it in the Global South, through increasing its (public, grant-based) climate finance and realizing it separately from its ODA budget (according to international agreements made in Copenhagen in 2009). Furthermore, if the Netherlands wants to be bold, it should commit financial support to those communities and countries dealing with loss and damage from climate-change related events. It should push for this in climate negotiations, but could also consider making an independent pledge/fund for this, like Scotland; https://www.gov.scot/news/first-minister-scotland-to-show-leadership-on-climate-justice/
Vraag10
Afrondende algemene vraag10. Heeft u nog andere punten van aandacht die u vindt dat meegenomen dienen te worden in de nieuwe beleidsnota?
(EN)
General closing question
10. Are there any other points that you believe should be included in the new policy document?
The Netherlands should continue to keep gender equality a clear priority and cross-cutting theme throughout all policy areas of the BHOS agenda. Gender analysis and gender targets should be included in all actions throughout the agenda. The Ministry should also advocate for this in other Ministries with an international dimension, including trade & finance, climate, environment, defense, foreign affairs. These targets should be developed in consultation with feminist organizations and movements.
Adopting a Feminist Foreign Policy is an important way for the Netherlands to pursue a more transformative approach to the advancement of gender equality and inclusion. It signals that the government embraces an approach that is intersectional and that focuses at its core on transforming power relations. It would be a commitment to step up efforts and choose for a systemic approach to make progress on the five Rs: Rights, Resources, Representation, Research & Reporting and Reach. – as described in the Feminist Foreign Policy Framework as adopted during the GEF in Mexico.