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On 28 November 2025, the Consultative Council for Development Cooperation Policy gathered for its meeting, chaired by the Under-Secretary of State for Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ivita Burmistre. The Council members were informed about development cooperation activities in 2025 and the planned reduction in development cooperation funding for 2026. They also took stock of what has been achieved in support of Ukraine and its reconstruction over the present year, and reviewed next year’s plans in this field.
In 2025, 41 development cooperation projects are being implemented, focusing in particular on measures in support of Ukraine (16 projects). Projects in Ukraine are being carried out with the aim of helping the country to address the consequences of war, promoting good governance and integration with the EU, as well as business development. Ten projects are being implemented in support of Central Asia, nine of them in Uzbekistan. There is a growing interest among Latvian project implementers in engaging in development cooperation projects in African countries, such as Egypt, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, where nine projects were carried out in 2025.
The Council also addressed support for Ukraine and Latvia’s involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine in 2025. Information was provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Finance and Contracts Agency (CFCA), which performs the functions of the Latvian Development Cooperation Agency, as well as the Ministry of Economics and the Ministry of Transport, which are involved in specific reconstruction measures in Ukraine. Funding in the amount of 5.7 million euros has been allocated for the continuation and expansion of reconstruction efforts and support for Ukraine in 2025. As in previous years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit to the Cabinet of Ministers a package of documents on Latvia’s involvement in the reconstruction and support activities in Ukraine, the Chernihiv region in particular. Latvia’s involvement in rebuilding Ukraine is to continue in 2026, based on the Agreement between Latvia and Ukraine on Long-term Support and Security Commitments.
Officials from the CFCA informed those present about the development cooperation activities planned and implemented. They drew attention, among other matters, to the agency’s status obtained a year ago of an institution accredited through the European Commission’s (EC) Pillar Assessment, which allows the Latvian agency to assume the management of EC development cooperation projects as the lead partner, without intermediaries. The Foreign Service and CFCA are working in a targeted manner with international partners on Latvia’s involvement in several EC-funded projects in the areas of good governance, digitalization and agriculture.
For information
The Consultative Council for Development Cooperation Policy is an advisory body established to promote an active and responsible engagement of Latvia in the formulation and implementation of the European Union’s development cooperation policy, enhance the role of Latvia as a bilateral donor, raise awareness among the general public of the development cooperation goals and policy, and offer assistance with its implementation. In accordance with its Statute, public administration institutions and civil society organisations are represented on the Consultative Council.