
Sensoa reviewed DGD spending on health and sexual and reproductive health.
In 2021, 11% of Belgium's total international cooperation spending went to health and reproductive health. Spending on reproductive health (to prevent unplanned pregnancies, ensure maternal health, etc.) increased, but overall spending on health stagnated. This is remarkable, as we would have expected increased support for health in light of the COVID pandemic. Moreover, investments in strengthening health systems are necessary to provide people with quality sexual and reproductive health services.
In 2021, 11% of Belgium's total international cooperation spending went to health and reproductive health. Spending on reproductive health (to prevent unplanned pregnancies, ensure maternal health, etc.) increased, but overall spending on health stagnated. This is remarkable, as we would have expected increased support for health in light of the COVID pandemic. Moreover, investments in strengthening health systems are necessary to provide people with quality sexual and reproductive health services.

The increase in spending on reproductive health is due to ENABEL's ongoing multi-annual programmes in governmental cooperation. Despite this increase, Sensoa is pessimistic. The current multi-annual programmes expire in 2023 and 2024 and there is no guarantee they‘ll be renewed. Moreover, we see that sexual and reproductive health is no longer given the same priority in the new multi-year programmes. Where possible, attention to sexual and reproductive health and rights is integrated, but it is no longer 'a given'. Sensoa therefore expects a decline in support after the end of the existing programmes.
The screening of Belgium's international support for the prevention and management of HIV and STIs is alarming. Not a single cooperation programme with partner countries includes attention for the HIV-response. Belgium's support is limited to multilateral aid that has stagnated for years, despite UNAIDS' warnings about the growing funding gap and its effects on the ground.
Whereas in 2021 the world seemed to stand still with the COVID-19 pandemic, the HIV epidemic took one life every minute, despite the existence of effective means of prevention and treatment. One third of people living with HIV don’t have access to life-saving medication, and among children it is as much as half. In Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa and Latin America, the number of new HIV infections has been on the rise for a decade.
Spending on international solidarity can also contribute to tackling HIV, without having this as its main objective. But here too, the share of funds that benefit the HIV-response has continued to shrink.
Sensoa's audit also revealed that the focus on reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health within Belgium's humanitarian assistance spending has also been grossly overestimated for years. Thus, not 79% but only 30% of Belgium's humanitarian aid contributes to reproductive health and maternal and child health.
How can this be changed? Through concrete recommendations, Sensoa explains how things can be done differently in its report. The newly published report is available in Dutch and French.
The screening of Belgium's international support for the prevention and management of HIV and STIs is alarming. Not a single cooperation programme with partner countries includes attention for the HIV-response. Belgium's support is limited to multilateral aid that has stagnated for years, despite UNAIDS' warnings about the growing funding gap and its effects on the ground.
Whereas in 2021 the world seemed to stand still with the COVID-19 pandemic, the HIV epidemic took one life every minute, despite the existence of effective means of prevention and treatment. One third of people living with HIV don’t have access to life-saving medication, and among children it is as much as half. In Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa and Latin America, the number of new HIV infections has been on the rise for a decade.
Spending on international solidarity can also contribute to tackling HIV, without having this as its main objective. But here too, the share of funds that benefit the HIV-response has continued to shrink.
Sensoa's audit also revealed that the focus on reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health within Belgium's humanitarian assistance spending has also been grossly overestimated for years. Thus, not 79% but only 30% of Belgium's humanitarian aid contributes to reproductive health and maternal and child health.
How can this be changed? Through concrete recommendations, Sensoa explains how things can be done differently in its report. The newly published report is available in Dutch and French.

sensoa_oda-rapport_nl.pdf |

sensoa_oda-rapport_fr.pdf |