What to expect during Minister Kitir’s term?

Meryame Kitir, photo RTL

The policy declaration and note of new Minister for Development Cooperation Meryame Kitir builds on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis demonstrates the importance of strong public sectors, such as health care, education and social protection.


​ODA makes up a crucial lever to ensure sustainable recovery, so the declaration reads. The Belgian government has committed to a growth path to reach 0.7% by 2030. 

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Particular attention is directed at combating social-economic inequality and realising gender equality. The latter is, according to the Minister, not only a ‘moral duty’ but also allows an increase in aid efficiency. The new Minister thus systematically wants to take a rights-based approach to aid and strengthen the transversal integration of gender in the entire international cooperation. In her policy note the Minister states: “Mainstreaming gender equality in the governmental cooperation should not be an afterthought. For all new cooperation programmes we want to clearly and explicitly see how they will contribute to increase equality.” The Minister also underlined the importance of engaging men and boys in developing positive masculinities.
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The policy declaration confirms sexual and reproductive health and rights to remain an important priority of Belgium’s international cooperation.

In addition, we note that enlarging the civic space and protecting human rights defenders is a must for the new Minister. Such support is very much welcomed now that in different countries women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights are systematically subjected to attacks.