European Centre for Development Policy Management

Name: European Centre for Development Policy Management
Address: Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 21, Maastricht, 6211HE, NL
Telephone: +31433502900

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Nederland
Maastricht
European Centre for Development Policy Management

ECDPM is a leading independent 'think and do' tank with offices in Maastricht and Brussels.

We work on Africa, Europe, international cooperation and sustainable development.

21/01/2026

📸 A full house in our Brussels office today as we hosted a high-level discussion on strengthening the Global Gateway through better cooperation with multilateral and regional development banks.

Thank you to the MEPs and all other attendees for their fantastic questions, which helped contribute to a lively conversation at such a pivotal time for the EU!

Read the accompanying paper 👉 https://bit.ly/48oFD7K

With
- San Bilal, Executive Director, ECDPM
- Karim Karaki, Head of the Economic Recovery & Transformation Programme, ECDPM
- Federica Dal Bono, Senior Advisor, INTPA
- Richard Amor, Director Partnerships for Impact, European Investment Bank (EIB)
- William Roos, Managing Director for Corporate Strategy, EBRD
- Mathilde Maury, Director Public Affairs, Nokia

While the Global Gateway aims to align the EU’s development cooperation with its geostrategic priorities, it has insufficiently leveraged the potential and resources of multilateral and regional development banks.

Structured partnership could help deliver Global Gateway 2.0 at scale and reinforce the EU global competitiveness in a mutually beneficial manner for its partner countries and regions.

13/10/2025

🎬 Watch ECDPM director San Bilal speak at the Global Gateway Forum: "𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 '𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭', 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴."

Read our new report 'Competitive interdependence: A new era for Europe-Africa industrial and energy cooperation' 👉 https://bit.ly/41HS0th

Realising the green transition requires navigating complex realities on the ground, especially concerning energy security, affordability, and access.

The core business case is clear: green energy pays back by providing reliable, affordable, and secure sources, fostering innovation and enabling clean industrialisation.

While the transition can be costly or painful in the short term, failing to act could lead to a strong competitive disadvantage in the future.

For the transition to succeed, unlocking investment is crucial. It is paramount that financial mechanisms support both large-scale Global Gateway projects (like those in Mauritania) and smaller, local off-grid solutions that help ensure energy access for local populations.

The sense of direction for the green transition is firmly established. We must collectively focus on making the transition affordable, attractive, and accessible for all partners.

16/09/2025

📣 EU migration policies are falling short due to the persistent failure to include African perspectives.

ECDPM's Amanda Bisong ISPI - Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale argues that the EU's security-first approach to migration rests on a flawed premise. Framing migration as a crisis to be controlled, rather than a complex social process, leads to ineffective, short-term responses.

Read the commentary 👉 https://bit.ly/4lXzwwz

The piece dissects the prevailing "paternalistic" framework and contrasts it with a partnership model grounded in dialogue and co-creation. It argues that incorporating African viewpoints on issues like mobility and development is not a concession, but a prerequisite for policy coherence and long-term success.

22/07/2025

📝 The EU's €200bn 'Global Europe' instrument is set to reshape external action. But how? We have created an in-depth guide of what is new, what is at stake, and how EU external action is set to change.

✅ Demystifying the legal and financial proposals
✅ Explaining key changes from previous instruments
✅ Analysing the implications for programming, flexibility, and political steer

Read the guide 👉 https://bit.ly/4eXQrwA

The proposal aims for greater EU agility, notably by removing many binding spending targets, increasing non-programmable funding and expanding the financial toolbox. But these changes raise significant concerns about predictability, oversight, the dilution of specific mandates and the politicisation of humanitarian aid.

Alexei Jones highlights four central dilemmas – architectural, governance, strategic and implementation – that will shape the future of EU external action.

16/07/2025

📢 Are you a current or recent student interested in European foreign and development policy, migration, peace and security, or democratic governance?
🌍 Or how international organisations operate behind the scenes?
🔔 Then apply to one of our two internships!

We are looking for people to support us in hosting impactful policy and research events in the heart of the EU.

This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the international policy environment.

📍 Based in Brussels
📆 Deadline on 31 July 2025

Apply to the research and events position 👉 https://bit.ly/4nSeoto
Apply to the operations and events position 👉 https://bit.ly/3UlMlEV

08/07/2025

📝 As the gap between development rhetoric and delivery grows wider, how can the EU align its economic and geopolitical interests with its founding values? And can it become capable of truly mutually beneficial partnerships?

As the US retreats from global leadership and scales down its development cooperation, attention shifts to the European Union to see if the continent has the ability – and willingness – to fill the gap. Philippe van Damme argues that the next hashtag will be a test of the EU’s capacity to design aid programming that is both politically strategic and developmentally transformative.

Read the policy brief 👉 https://bit.ly/46nRbsy

The brief calls for a consistent application of graduation and differentiation principles.

This means concentrating programmable grant aid on countries most in need and most committed to structural reform to maximise the "transformational impact" of EU aid: ensuring resources are used effectively and support genuine partnerships.

07/07/2025

📝 The world doesn't lack solutions for children, but lacks the investment to scale them. With EU allocating a disproportionately small share of development assistance to child-related initiatives, it's time for change.

For Save the Children International, ECDPM's Katja van der Meer examines the political and funding challenges in prioritising children’s rights in EU external action.

Read the paper 👉 https://bit.ly/46oFbqI

As the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations approach, the EU must recognise the value of child-focused ODA and embed it across all external action to reinforce its leadership in human development and global influence.

01/07/2025

Save the Date!

Join us on Thursday, July 10, 2025, for a thought-provoking webinar on "Green Industrialisation: Investment Opportunities and Challenges in Africa's Agri-Food Sector."

Co-organized by AKADEMIYA2063 and Ukama Platform, in collaboration with African Centre for Technology Studies - ACTS, European Centre for Development Policy Management, and IDDRI, the session will convene public and private decision-makers for a dynamic roundtable on opportunities and challenges related to green industrialization in Africa's agrifood sector.

Time: 12:30–14:00 CEST | 13:30–15:00 EAT
Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aCbSHHouQ2C-Z7HfA7U6fA #/registration
Learn more: https://akademiya2063.org/event.php?id=179&lang=en

26/06/2025

📝 As the provider of food and major driver of climate change, food systems are pulled between two goals: eliminating global hunger while limiting global warming. Does EU food policy compromise on one or the other?

Koen Dekeyser examines the EU’s new Vision for Agriculture and Food, arguing it shifts focus from food system transformation to producer competitiveness, which raises concerns about the EU’s alignment with climate and development goals.

Read the policy brief 👉 https://bit.ly/3Tdlomu

While other EU sectors continue their transformation, the food system now risks accounting for a growing share of the continent's emissions, inevitably leading to persistent calls for greater action.

20/06/2025

📸 Full house for our packed out event on 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐥: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔?, hosted with Search for Common Ground.

We convened EU policymakers, member state representatives, and peacebuilding practitioners to put environmental peacebuilding and climate resilience higher on the EU climate-security agenda, and showcase effective implementation in fragile and conflict-affected settings, particularly the Sahel.

How can the EU work in fragile settings? 👉 https://bit.ly/4hq1YFg

Many thanks to the speakers:
- Róisín Drury, Programme Manager, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI)
- Marie Lena Groenewald, Policy officer, the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO)
- Francis SALA-DIAKANDA Nsimba, Regional Director for West Africa, Search for Common Ground
- Annemarie Van der Avort, Director Environment and Climate, Belgium Development Cooperation
- chantal marijnissen, Head of Unit - Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources, DG INTPA
- Lisette F. Albrechtsen, Special Advisor, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU
- Sophie Desmidt, Associate Director - peaceful societies and accountable governance, ECDPM
- Sara Gianesello, Policy Analyst, ECDPM

A recording is forthcoming.

19/06/2025

📝 For the next MFF, the EU must modernise its external investment to ensure limited resources deliver strategic impact where it matters most. Here are five key priorities to improve EU external investment architecture.

Read the policy brief 👉 https://bit.ly/3FUuAcv

San Bilal and Karim Karaki outline five recommendations to deliver impact aimed at generating the policy, development and economic returns Europe needs in a more contested and uncertain global context.

In the words of Draghi: “𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒” [...] 𝑆𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑠𝑘 𝑚𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑤? 𝐼 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑜 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔!”

Maximising impact requires a more flexible yet predictable and inclusive instrument and architecture, grounded in stronger collaboration between the European Commission, member states and implementing partners.

26/05/2025

📝 How is the EU perceived by partners in the Global South?

Drawing on candid interviews with senior diplomats and experts from Africa, Asia and Latin America, Pauline Veron reveals a clear tension between how Europe sees itself and how it is increasingly viewed by others.

Read the paper 👉 https://bit.ly/3SKXDBQ

EU credibility is waning. Partner countries are diversifying alliances and asserting more agency. A more pragmatic, honest approach – one that acknowledges trade-offs, listens beyond governments and accepts ‘constructive disagreement’ – is essential.

Key themes:
🇨🇳 Unwanted geopolitical competition with China
📉 Paternalism despite relative global decline
🤞 Double standards and inconsistencies
🖋️ Gap between the promises and actual delivery

Adres

Onze Lieve Vrouweplein 21
Maastricht
6211HE

Telefoon

+31433502900

Website

https://ecdpm.org/

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