Policy coherence

 

 

Policy coherence: definition and instruments

Policy coherence for development (PCD) is a process to take into account the development goals in all policies that may have an impact (negative or positive) on developing countries in order to minimize inconsistencies between the areas of Belgian policy by creating synergies between institutions and public authorities. The aim is to increase the effectiveness of international cooperation and to achieve the development goals​.

At the Belgian level, various instruments have been set up to strengthen and to ensure policy coherence, one of the objectives of the law on development cooperation of March 19, 2013:

  • the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), allows consistency of Belgian policies to be maintained by assessing the potential impact of preliminary draft regulations in the economic, social and environmental fields and on public authority.

  • the Interdepartmental Commission on Policy Coherence for Development (ICPCD), whose mission is to formulate recommendations to the ministers concerned and to raise awareness of the impacts that a decision may have on developing countries. The Commission is composed of representatives of all federal public services; the federated entities participate with observers. ICPCD is chaired by the Director General of DG D (Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid) of the FPS Foreign Affairs.

  • the Advisory Council on Policy Coherence for Development, whose primary mission it is to provide advice and respond to the demands of the ministers on measures which may affect policy coherence for development. It also comes up with recommendations in the form of advice that can provide input to various projects on policy coherence. This Advisory Council is composed, notably, of representatives from NGOs, the academic world and trade unions.

 
Policy coherence for development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development

Policy coherence for development (PCD) is currently evolving in a new framework, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030). Through its action plan, the Agenda 2030 aims to bring about significant changes in the field of sustainable development with the determination to end poverty. This new agenda redefines the framework for Development Cooperation and hence the policy coherence framework (SDG 17.14 “enhance policy coherence for sustainable development”). 2017 will be a transitional year during which many reflections will redesign the new Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

 
Regulatory bases

Loi du 19 mars 2013 relative à la Coopération au Développement

MB 12.04.2013
Art.2/16° ; Art.8 ; Art.31 ; Art.35/2°

Loi du 15 décembre 2013 portant des dispositions diverses concernant la simplification administrative.

MB 31.12.2013
Titre 2, chapitre 2 - Art.5 à 11

Arrêté royal du 21 décembre 2013 portant exécution du titre 2, chapitre 2 de la loi du 15 décembre 2013 portant des dispositions diverses concernant la simplification administrative.

MB 31.12.2013

Arrêté royal du 2 avril 2014 relatif à la création d’un Conseil consultatif sur la cohérence des politiques en faveur du développement.

MB 22.04.2014

Arrêté royal du 2 avril 2014 relatif à la création d’une Commission interdépartementale sur la cohérence des politiques en faveur du développement.

MB 22.04.2014

Arrêté royal du 12 juillet 2015 relatif à la nomination des membres de la Commission interdépartementale sur la cohérence des politiques en faveur du développement.

MB 31.07.2015

Arrêté royal du 11 septembre 2016 concernant la coopération non gouvernementale.

MB 20.09.2016
Art.25/4°

Arrêté ministériel du 21 mai 2014 portant nomination des membres du Conseil consultatif sur la cohérence des politiques en faveur du développement

MB 26.06.2014

 

Links

Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA)

http://www.simplification.be

The Advisory Council on Policy Coherence

http://www.ccpd-abco.be

Annual reports Development Cooperation

http://diplomatie.belgium.be

OECD - Policy Coherence for Development

http://www.oecd.org/pcd/

Capacity4dev.eu / e-learning policy Coherence for Development

https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/learning-space#iqiuwy

Capacity4dev.eu / Topics horizontal aspects

https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/topic/development-policy

European Commission - International Cooperation and development - Policy Coherence for Development

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/policies/policy-coherence-development_en

ECDPM - The European Centre for Development Policy Management 

http://ecdpm.org/topics/policy-coherence-development/

“Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” 
General Assembly of United Nations - 25/09/2015 (ref. A/RES/70/1)

http://unctad.org/meetings/en/SessionalDocuments/ares70d1_en.pdf