Development cooperation

The goal of Latvia’s development cooperation policy is to promote sustainable development and poverty eradication, the rule of law and good governance in developing countries, especially in Latvia’s priority partner countries, contributing to the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is part of Latvia’s foreign policy and security policy, promoting both sustainable growth and ensuring peace and security in the world.

When implementing development cooperation, Latvia follows a human rights-based approach and emphasizes such horizontal principles as human rights, democracy, gender equality, civil society participation, environmental sustainability and the integration of climate change issues in all development cooperation activities.

Internationally, countries have committed to divert 0.7% of the gross national income to development cooperation, Latvia aims to reach 0.23% by 2027.

In development cooperation, Latvia offers its experience and knowledge in the implementation of both simple projects and complex long-term programs. At its core is aid, as classified by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it excludes commercial and military activities.

Taking into account Latvia’s foreign policy priorities, as well as Latvia’s comparative advantages, priority regions in Latvia’s development cooperation policy are the EU’s Eastern Partnership and Central Asia. Priority partner countries are respectively Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Projects are also being developed in African countries.

The framework of Latvia’s development cooperation policy is determined by Development cooperation policy guidelines 2021-2027, which defines the goals, priorities and basic principles of the development cooperation policy of Latvia implemented both bilaterally and multilaterally, directions of action, tasks and achievable results.

Since 2004, LAPAS cooperates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the planning and implementation of development cooperation policy, provides support in projects of civil society organizations, creates cooperation with recipient countries, cooperates in cross-sectoral projects and develops cooperation projects together with members.

LAPAS provides opinions on national positions, legal acts and policy documents, participates in the Development Cooperation Consultative Council.

Currently, LAPAS implements cooperation projects with Moldova and Ukraine, as well as with other countries.