HARARE
–
Zimbabwe’s
non-governmental
organisations
relying
on
Dutch
aid
are
set
to
suffer
a
huge
blow
following
the
Netherlands
government’s
new
policy
to
cut
spending
of
€2.4
billion
on
development
aid
abroad.
The
spending
cut,
which
replicates
that
of
the
United
States’
abrupt
foreign
aid
slash
recently,
is
set
to
come
into
effect
in
2027
amid
a
significant
number
of
jobs
losses
anticipated.
Under
the
new
policy,
funding
for
various
programmes
will
be
terminated,
in
areas
such
as
gender
equality,
vocational
and
higher
education,
sport
and
culture.
Funding
for
climate
action,
civil
society
and
UN
organisations
will
be
reduced.
Dutch
Minister
for
Foreign
Trade
and
Development,
Reinette
Klever
said
her
country’s
interests
will
take
precedence
in
the
development
policy.
“All
the
programmes
we
fund
must
contribute
directly
to
our
own
interests:
promoting
trade,
enhancing
security
and
reducing
migration,”
Klever
said.
The
Netherlands
through
the
Dutch
embassy
in
Harare
provides
aid
to
Zimbabwe,
focusing
primarily
on
supporting
human
rights
defenders,
promoting
gender
equality,
climate
change
and
economic
development.
Some
beneficiaries
and
those
who
have
benefited
in
some
way
include,
Zimbabwe
Lawyers
for
Human
Rights
which
provides
legal
services
to
human
rights
defenders,
Green
Impact
Centre,
The
Bioskop!
Short
Film
Competition,
an
annual
event
in
Zimbabwe
that
showcases
and
awards
short
films.
Zimbabwe
Women
Lawyers
Association.
My
Trees
Trust,
HeForShe
which
involves
men
in
the
fight
to
end
all
forms
of
violence
against
women
and
girls
and
Birdlife
Zimbabwe
“The
government
will
also
use
development
aid
as
a
way
to
boost
security
in
various
conflict
regions
surrounding
Europe:
West
Africa,
the
Horn
of
Africa,
the
Middle
East
and
North
Africa.
This
should
help
avoid
disruption
to
trade,
combat
the
rise
of
terrorist
or
criminal
organisations
and
prevent
people
applying
for
asylum
in
the
Netherlands.
‘food
shortages,
for
example,
are
a
cause
of
conflict,
”Klever
explained.
“Giving
people
future
prospects
in
those
regions
will
enable
them
to
build
livelihoods,
meaning
they
won’t
have
to
make
the
journey
to
Europe.’
The
government
wants
to
make
agreements
with
migration
countries,
aimed
at
combating
migration
and
encouraging
return,”
she
added.