Raising awareness about development: a forced but promising reform

When Minister of Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel (DP) announced to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on 15 March 2024 his intention to reform awareness of development cooperation, he caused shock. "It was sudden and terrifying, " recalls Nicole Ikuku, director of the Cercle de coopération des ONG de développement. "His approach was not to cut the budget but to transfer it to the Cercle de coopération instead of giving it to each NGO." The Ministry also refers to projects carried out by consortia bringing together several NGOs by theme. This was a major blow for NGOs which, since 1987, had been used to presenting their projects and obtaining funding for them on an annual basis, or on a multi-year basis for the larger ones.

It has to be said that, among the activities of NGOs, raising public awareness, now known as education for world citizenship according to the European Dublin Declaration (LIEN), is of prime importance. "The idea is for NGOs to pass on information and raise awareness, but also to debate and ask questions about issues they are actively following, such as human rights or sustainable agriculture based on solidarity", explains Nicole Ikuku. "NGOs act as spokespeople for the realities experienced by their partners in developing countries. Awareness-raising is carried out in schools, but also through adult education, in associations or communities." The aim is not only to inform people about what is happening in the world, but also to raise awareness and foster a sense of solidarity among the world's citizens.