The current report AidWatch 2025 – evaluation of the system of Official Development Cooperation of the Slovak Republic from the Platform of Development Organizations workshop – Umbrella follows the period of 2022–2024, during which three governments have changed in Slovakia. It offers not only a critical reflection of the current setting of Slovakia's foreign aid system in the world, but also proposals for solutions and direction in which Slovak development policy could and should go.
AidWatch is an evaluation report of the Platform of Development Organizations - Umbrella, which represents three dozen of the largest and most relevant Slovak non-governmental organizations operating in thirty countries in the field of development cooperation, humanitarian aid and global education. It brings an open and constructive view of civil society on the state of Slovakia's official development cooperation - ODA SR (from English Official development assistance), but at the same time offers suggestions on how to improve, stabilize and modernize the system. The AidWatch 2025 report is based on data from partner institutions, the field experience of members and observers of the Umbrella platform for the years 2022 to 2024 - a period in which Slovakia had three governments.
"In addition to the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine, i.e. in the immediate neighborhood of Slovakia, or the huge humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, we forget about other crises in Sudan, Yemen, Haiti or Bangladesh. The growing global tension has fundamentally transformed the international environment in which the Slovak Republic tries to act as a donor," warns the executive secretary of Umbrella and co-author of the AidWatch report, Daniel Kaba.
"According to the current AidWatch 2025 report, Slovak aid abroad (ODA SR) remains at the level of only 0.13-0.15% of GNI, i.e. far below the EU average and well below the international commitment to spend 0.33% of its gross national income (GNI) on foreign aid by 2030. Almost half of bilateral aid consists of so-called inflated expenses that do not directly contribute to reducing of poverty in ODA SR partner countries. At the same time, Slovakia still does not have a mechanism for rapid humanitarian response, which weakens our ability to respond to crises," lists the findings of the AidWatch report, its co-author Daniel Kaba from Umbrella.
In addition to drawing attention to long-term unresolved challenges, the AidWatch report also appreciates positive steps, which include, for example, the introduction of strategic partnerships or the first successes of the Slovak Republic under the SlovakAid brand within the framework of EU delegated cooperation. It also supports the determination of Slovak non-governmental organizations to continue in the field even in times of uncertainty. The evaluation should primarily be a stimulus for critical reflection, professional discussion and an impetus for specific political and systemic changes.
The 2022–2024 period was also full of milestones. In 2023, Slovakia celebrated 20 years since it became a donor country and 10 years of membership in the OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC). At that time, the Umbrella platform celebrated its 20th anniversary. In 2024, the next cycle of the medium-term development cooperation strategy of the Slovak Republic was concluded. "The evaluated period, captured in the AidWatch report, can be not only a period of challenges, but a moment for change and growth. Slovakia has the potential to be a high-quality and respected partner in global issues, if it builds its development policy on the principles of solidarity, efficiency, transparency and partnership. This report is an invitation to fulfill this potential together," concludes Daniel Kaba. You can read the entire AidWatch report from the Umbrella workshop here: https://ambrela.org/spravy/vychadza-aidwatch-2025-za-roky-202224/
The platform of development organizations - Umbrella covers three dozen (mostly non-governmental) organizations in Slovakia that focus on humanitarian aid, development cooperation, education for global citizenship and sustainable development at home and abroad. In 2023, Ambrela together with its members, observers, funders and partners celebrated the 20th anniversary of the existence and importance of this platform in the region. Among its main pillars are advocacy activities at the Slovak and EU level, capacity building of member organizations and public awareness of global challenges and the need for solidarity with those in need. Umbrella's flagship event is the Umbrella Development Forum (ADF - https://developmentforum.ambrela.org ) conference, which builds cooperation between development and humanitarian actors from the environment of public administration, civil society and international organizations in the region of Central and Eastern Europe. The AidWatch report was developed in consultation with Umbrella members and observers.
Text by the Umbrella team (www.ambrela.org), Photo: archive of Umbrella members