Solidarity in times of Crisis
Solidarity in times of Crisis
With 0.5% of their budgets being destined to International Development, the Basque Country and Navarre, offer the largest gestures of solidarity despite de crisis.
According to a study by the NGO ALBOAN, the 17 autonomous regions have reduced their budgets assigned to International Development by up to 53 million Euros, representing a 10 percent cut compared to 2009
The Basque Country and Navarre assign 50 million and 22 million Euros respectively to fields such as International Development and Solidarity.
In 2009 the NGO ALBOAN assigned 7.8 million Euros to projects in developing countries jointly with over 100 local partners and assigned 800,000 Euros to education, awareness and Community Actions projects in the Basque Country and Navarre.
The Basque Country and Navarre, with 0.49% and 0.5% of their budgets directed towards International Development in 2010 respectively, and despite the economic and financial crisis have proven to be the autonomous regions that show the largest gestures of solidarity, as well as being the most committed in the whole State. That is the information revealed in “Free Fall”, the report elaborated by the NGO ALBOAN in which the total budgets of the 17 Autonomous Regions in 2010 are analysed in detail paying special attention the totals assigned to International Development and Solidarity. The Basque Country assigned 50 million Euros to International Development of a total budget of 10 trillion Euros for the autonomous region. Regarding Navarre, the provincial government has assigned 21 million Euros of their total 4 trillion to solidarity objectives.
The NGO ALBOAN states that “the total sum of the budgets of the 17 autonomous regions for 2010 reaches 189 billion Euros, of which only 465 are assigned to International solidarity and development, i.e. only 0.25 per cent of the total”. They point out that “this figure is far from the 0.7% of the consolidated totals that have been demanded by the social organisations and civil society”. Thus, they warn that “in the context of the crisis we are immersed in, those who have less, both in developed and developing countries, are those who are most affected”. The NGO ALBOAN makes a call to put people at “the centre of our actions”.
Reduction and cuts
After a general view however, the NGO ALBOAN has pointed out that regional cooperation seems to be “diving regarding the 2010 budgets, with an average fall of 10% compared to the 2009 budgets and a drop of 52.9 million Euros of a cooperation effort that is about 500 million in total”. They report the “worsening situation with regard to what has been a relatively sustained growth in the past” of development budgets.
If you want to download the study please do so here, “Free Fall” (in spanish)
Presentation of the ALBOAN 2009 Annual Report
In this context, ALBOAN, an NGO from the Basque Country and Navarre, presents its 2009 Annual Report, in which it expresses its gratitude with regards to the increasing support from more institutions, public and private organizations and people in general.
Key points:
- ALBOAN ends the year 2009 with a balance approaching 9,500,000 Euros, of which 81.7% is designated to International Development;7% to Education and voluntary work, and 1.6% to Political Actions and Networks.
- Public Administration support grows by 7.5% with regards to last year
- Training in solidarity and cooperation in ALBOAN takes on 4,200 participants – double the previous year.
- The relationship with partner organisations in developing countries is consolidated with a total of 128 organisations in Central America, South America, Asia and Africa.
- ALBOAN works with 157 schools and educational centres in the Basque Country and Navarre in order to promote Education in values so as to have committed and just citizens for the future.
- Already 27 companiestrust ALBOAN´s management and cooperate through Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.
- ALBOAN has a team of 38 hired professionals, 111 volunteers and nearly 8,100donors.
