The amount of 463,813 euros has been allocated in the Foreign Ministry’s budget for the implementation of bilateral cooperation for development in 2019, a similar figure to that approved in 2017 and 2018.
More than a half of the funds will be channeled into a grant competition for development cooperation projects in the EU’s Eastern Partnership and Central Asian priority countries, as well as a competition to co-finance projects by civil society organisations.
In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, a training program will be run for representatives from the European Neighborhood Policy countries, Central Asia and Western Balkans, and assistance will be provided to Ukraine towards agricultural development.
There is particular attention paid to support for Ukraine, with participation of 15 Ukrainian agriculture trainees ensured with 25,000 euros set aside for that purpose (co-financed with the US), plus the development of twinning schemes between Latvian and Ukrainian educational institutions and a further 40,000 euros for Ukrainian participation in the “EU Semester in Riga” spring school.
Capacity building among the Supreme Audit Institutions of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine will be provided in cooperation with Sweden. Latvia will also support the EU-Central Asian cooperation in education, including via projects under the Central Asian Education Platform. This year, too, Latvia will continue sharing its experience and expertise with partner countries by participating in projects funded by other donors, for instance, the United Nations Development Program.
Support will also be continued for civil society organisations representing Latvia’s interests in EU platforms of civil society organisations. The plan also includes development cooperation measures carried out by 15 other public administration institutions. The full list of projects is available at the Cabinet website.
