1. Challenges for EU-Cord towards 2025 Dicky Nieuwenhuis, member Executive Board Woord en Daad and member of AC EU-Cord

2. My statement: The European humanitarian and development aid won’t exist anymore in 2025 as a sector

3. Why won’t we exist anymore in 2025 as a sector Stronger civil society in the South – We are not needed anymore Growing self confidence of Southern leaders in combination with distrust in European/Western influence – We will be kicked out

4. Why won’t we exist anymore in 2025 as a sector New actors are coming up in the arena of development and humanitarian aid. Private sector agencies, impact investors, virtual network agencies, universities, local governments; India, China, Brazil – We are not relevant anymore ‘The Problem’ is not only ‘There’, in the South, but also ‘Here’, in our own society. In the past Christian NGOs left this topic too often to left- wing, activist NGOs – and by doing so we neglected that transition was also needed in our lives and societies.

5. Will there still be civil society movements in North and South in 2025? Yes!! Will European development & humanitarian NGOs still be relevant? I doubt… but it is possible

6. Challenges for EU-Cord We will be ‘smaller’, but small players still can be extremely important. (mosquito/watchdog; connector/broker) Do we have a clear view on our donor policies (making it flexible, situations can change very suddenly, see Mali)? Fundraising and Awareness raising. Do we dare to explain our ‘smaller’ role to our sponsors? Do we dare at the same time to talk with them that it is sometimes better to change lifestyle instead of doing a donation?

7. Challenges for EU-Cord Are we prepared to act and to make difference in a network society (keywords: flexible organisation; clear about own objectives and clear own added value; able to speak different languages and shift from one cooperation form to another? Are we connected with real civil society movements in the South and are we ready to cooperate with them as peers? Think about your Southern network and ask yourself the question: What if I stop my Financial support? What will remain? mature relationships!

8. Challenges for EU-Cord Do we have a clear vision on what ‘transformation’ means for our European societies, related to poverty and injustice worldwide? Let’s take the challenge forward to focus on the poorest of the poor. Plus: Christian values are part of professionality (faithfulness, being present; etc). www.padev.nl

9. My vision towards 2025: EU-Cord is now a network centred around EU and other institutional funding and neglects policy influencing as an instrument that can make a difference (very often a bigger difference) in the life of the poor. Policy influencing should get a real place in our strategy, combined with a flexible network organisation and strong links with other actors and Christian networks in the South.