In the last newsletter of December 2024, we discussed the budget cuts of the new Dutch minister of foreign trade and development. The central argument in that article was that there was limited space for a follow-up phase of We are Able! because of the budget cuts. This article builds on that article with new developments and insights, which are sadly not so hopeful.
Minister Klever published her policy brief in February, which lays out the Dutch thematic priorities in development for the coming years. The letter makes no mention of persons with disabilities and has very little attention for vulnerable groups. The Minister focuses on Dutch self-interest and prioritizes opportunities for Dutch companies in her new policy. The new policy will however focus on food security and water management, two highly relevant issues for persons with disabilities and the partners that We are Able! works with. It remains to be seen how the minister will include civil society organisations in the roll-out of these programmes, and whether there are possibilities for OPDs to be involved.
The reprioritization of aid in self-interest, as well as the extensive cutting of the ODA-budget, follow a worldwide trend in the Global North. Cuts in France, Belgium and the Netherlands are considerable, as the EU member states shift budget to focus on migration and defence. In the UK, 40% of the budget for development will be cut as well, a tough blow for disability inclusive aid, as the UK has been a prominent financier for programmes for persons with disabilities. And lastly, the termination of contracts by the USA means that many disability-inclusive programming has been halted immediately, putting lives of persons with disabilities at risk.
These are tough times for our programme, our partners and most importantly persons with disabilities. Our advocacy remains committed to bring across food security needs of persons with disabilities as well as their added value to society, to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Source photo: Nederlands Dagblad.