European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM)

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The European Centre for Development Policy Management is an independent foundation which was established in 1986 in order to monitor and support development cooperation between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

The ECDPM deals with the international policies that govern development cooperation between the ACP countries and the EU member states. The most recent and most significant of these policies is the Cotonou Agreement, signed in June 2000 by 77 ACP countries and the EU. The Cotonou Agreement has been considered a landmark in EU-ACP relations due to its new political dimension and the integration of non-state actors into development cooperation.

The vast increase in the amount of actors involved in the debate about and the negotiations of ACP-EU development policy constitutes a major challenge. The need to provide information and facilitate interaction between all stakeholders is one of the main objectives of the ECDPM.

The ECDPM has its main office in Maastricht, the Netherlands and a regional office in Brussels, Belgium.

1 Aims and objectives
2 Thematic programmes
3 Support programmes
4 Funding
5 External links
6 ECDPM's Partners

[edit] Aims and objectives

ECDPM wishes to provide development stakeholders with information and resources necessary to better understand EU-ACP development cooperation. To this end ECDPM engages in:

policy-related research and information
capacity-building approaches
hands-on facilitation of dialogue between parties
networking
seminars and conferences.

The long-term strategic objectives of the Centre are:

To enhance the capacity of public and private actors in developing countries
To improve cooperation between development parters in Europe and the ACP regions.

[edit] Thematic programmes

Multi-Actor Partnerships and Governance

Participation is one of the key principles of the Cotonou Agreement. This programme recognises the legitimate role of central and local governments and the need for improved cooperation between state and non-state actors. Furthermore, as the idea of good governance is considered a fundamental element in EU-ACP development cooperation, the Multi-Actor Partnerships and Governance programme of the ECDPM deals with this issue and the controversies attached to it, such as the Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement.

Development Policy and EU External Action

This programme of the ECDPM is concerned with the definition and evolution of EU development policy. It furthermore monitors the role of development policy in the context of EU external relations. The Development Policy and EU External Action programme of the ECDPM aims to secure the appropriate level of priority for development policy in the "policy mix" of the European Union.

ACP - EU Economic and Trade Cooperation

Trade is one of the most crucial elements of development cooperation. This programme of the ECDPM wishes to promote the establishment of a fair trade regime between the EU and the ACP countries and to ensure the sustainable development of the ACP countries' economies and their integration into the world economy. The most recent focal point of this programme is the establishment of the new Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and the ACP countries.

Development Cooperation and Capacity

Efficient organisations are crucial to making development cooperation work. The ECDPM Development Cooperation and Capacity programme works on the changes necessary for organisations to effectively implement development policy. One of the main aspects of this process is the building of capacity. In this context the ECDPM wishes to improce EU development assistance to the ACP countries by improving interaction and facilitating dialogue among and between the actors involved, such as the European Commission, partner countries and other donors.