Debates about the new Dutch development cooperation policy

This autumn there are a number of meetings organised by MDF Training & Consultancy, the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) and Vice Versa to contribute to the discussions for the formulation of new policies for Dutch development policy from 2010 onwards. It is a continuation of the conference 'Understanding Development Better' of last August and related to the DPRN process on the future architecture of the Dutch development cooperation.

On Thursday 1 and Friday, 2 October, 2009, a public meeting, the Kick-off conference will be held in Hotel de Bosrand, Ede. On the agenda of this public meeting are discussions with experts from science, policy and practice. We will talk about what policy is actually or what should it be; on sources, foundations and axioms in the current policy, the implications of the shift from Development Cooperation to a much wider agenda and the applicability of policies in a rapidly changing complex world.

Language of the meeting is Dutch.

Costs for the two-day conference is € 200 and € 280 (incl. 1 night). More information and registration? From 29 July onwards, the website will be on air.

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Positive results for MDF over 2008

The Management for Development Foundation (MDF) - one of Euforic's members based in the Netherlands but with antennas in Brussels, Asia and Africa - has just released its Annual Report 2008.

MDF supports the enhancement of management practices, capacities, and skills within organisations active in the area of development and international cooperation, applying a specific and client-focused approach. Its clientele ranges from multilateral organisations to small NGOs, both in the South and in the North.

The past year has been rather positive for the organisation, showing a steady increase in activities and turnover, plus some changes in its operational management.

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Development management training 2009

MDF recently published its 2009 Training Brochure(pdf) for development practitioners. The organization offers training and consultancy, building linkages between policies and practices. It works as facilitator and knowledge broker between policymakers and implementers.

The new programme offers reputed courses in management and organization, as well as new and adapted trainings, such as Outcome Mapping, Assessing Sector Programmes, Advocacy and Policy Influencing and Management for Results.

MDF also offers combinations of courses on the spot with learning and coaching at a distance, before and after courses are held. Training is provided in the International Learning Centre "de Bosrand" in the Netherlands or in one of the regional offices in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tanzania, D.R. Congo and Brussels.

Visit the MDF website

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Policy dialogue about Dutch development cooperation

Source: MDF Newsletter, July 2008

MDF is facilitating the policy dialogue between partners in Dutch development cooperation (DC). On request of the Minister, representatives of all stakeholders in Dutch development cooperation participate in a number of meetings and in an on line discussion. Stakeholders include civil society organisations (big and small), government agencies, private enterprise, academics, migrant organisations, etc. A website has been opened where information about this Policy Dialogue can be found: www.ontwikkelingisverandering.nl.

On this website you will find the reports and proceedings of a Starter-meeting (May 22) and of the Conference of June 24 - 25. You will also find six state-of-the-art papers which were written by academics from outside the direct sphere of Dutch DC, and comments on these papers by people from within the sector. All papers, comments and other discussion documents are arranged according to six leading themes of the dialogue: Enabling environment, Complementary roles, Accountability, Learning capacity, Tasks 'North' and 'South', and Public support for DC.

The dialogue will be rounded off with a report about all outcomes of the process. This report will be used by the Minister as inspiration for a new Policy Paper that is due in autumn of this year. Four MDF-staff members are working on this dialogue - under the guidance of a Steering Committee.

For more information contact Sjoerd Zanen via mdf@mdf.nl

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MDF becomes publisher of Vice Versa magazine

Source: MDF Newsletter, February 2008

Euforic member organization MDF Training and Consultancy has become the publisher of Vice Versa, the Dutch magazine for development practitioners, policy makers and researchers. MDF has taken over this role from SNV, the Netherlands Development Organisation, who has published the magazine for over 40 years.

Each issue of Vice Versa focuses on a specific theme relevant to development aid, with feature articles, reports on policy and practice, interviews and columns, and annotated links to related web resources, publications and events.

For more information see www.viceversaonline.nl (in Dutch)

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