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The third edition of the European Development Days was organized in Strasbourg (France) on 15th to 17th of November 2008.
The European Development Days symbolizes the determination of the European Commission to enhance public awareness about development cooperation and to strengthen the effectiveness of EU development assistance. It is essential that European citizens feel committed to engage in a stronger partnership with developing countries.
The event brought together all actors from Europe and its Partners to promote inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogues and serve as a natural platform for launching new initiatives.
WOUGNET - participated in the event in partnership with the Centre for Technical Agriculture (CTA), Brussels and has the following summary:
The European Development Days (EDD) brought together delegates from all parts of the globe. During the opening ceremony most speakers emphasized the need and saw it as an opportunity for developed and developing countries to work together to over come the looming financial/food crisis. African leaders noted that this is an opportunity for Africa to show that they are responsible, committed and can work out good programs to get answers to the global problem.
African leaders called on developed countries to continue providing financial aid despite the crisis. Most speakers saw this as an opportunity for developed and African countries to understand each other well.
His Excellency Blaise Compaore, the President of Republic of Burkina Faso and current chairman of ECOWAS and UEMOA said the financial crisis will affect developed countries and African countries as well. For example banking is limited and the financial crisis is likely to affect banks where there is borrowing to a large extent. Liquidity is drying up and the flow of capital in Africa may diminish further and led to reduction in financial development funds. This also implies that few remittances will be sent back home by Africans leaving in developed countries. He noted that there is need for creation of a framework of action that is consultative and including Africa. Poor countries have to be part and parcel of the process. He called on development partners not to diminish development aid which in turn will affect project financing. African leaders should however, also take a share of their responsibility; tap into domestic resources and find new innovative solutions especially more appropriate agricultural policies.
The Milleneum Development Goals and the ways and means to achieve them were at the core of the discussion.
Other African leaders, including the President of Madagascar, His Excellency Marc Ravalomanana and the President of Mali, His Excellency, Amadou Toumani Toure retaliated the call for Africa to rise to these challenges; shoulder its responsibility and show the international community world that African
leaders are committed and determined. Capacity should be built to promote development and the crisis should spur Africa to stimulate development. More investment, infrastructure, access to markets, promotion of agro business and
processing facilities should be put in place to ensure that in the long run to the food crisis is overcome. Partnership between African countries and developed countries should include public and private sectors and the partners should reveal their responsibilities and perform them. There is need to establish a new financial structure and Africa should be included in the dialogue.
On decentralised cooperation and local government, the President of the Africa Union His Excellency, Jean Ping from Addis Ababa noted that despite the fact that African countries have undertaken decentralisation policies due to external pressure, it brings decisions closes to the people/ultimate beneficiaries of development services. However, the state still has a role to play. Stake holders need to internalise the model, own and play their role. The grass roots should play their role in policies that affect them.
Alain Joyandet, French Minister of State with responsibility for Cooperation and "Francophoney", emphasised that "the EDD will provide an opportunity to spur all European players into action on the new challenges in development, by seeking to provide practical solutions to the food crisis in particular". He reaffirmed that the European Union will remain committed to allocation and mobilisation of funds, development of good programs and ensures that there is a good climate for development. Priority will be given to African countries / funding for development and the donors will meet their commitment even in the financial crisis. He also said the G20 has begun meetings and hoped to it would draw inspiration for development, for rebalance between the north and the south to remain a key issue. He called on the assembly do technical work/ be good assembly in combating poverty.
The EDD Days : Program-2008.pdf 
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