Development cooperation

Last updated on

January 27, 2025

Belgium is committed to a world without poverty, peaceful and secure, and strives for development opportunities for every individual. In this way, we join the efforts of the international community to achieve sustainable development and a just world.

Read more about Belgian development cooperation on the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

Uganda and Belgium, partner countries

In the mid-1980s, decades of political problems came to an end in Uganda. Since then, the country has made great efforts to maintain political stability and peace, resulting in solid economic growth.

The cooperation between Belgium and Uganda dates back to 1995, when a first Memorandum of Understanding was signed. This resulted in a number of multi-year cooperation programmes, the most recent of which runs from 2023 to 2028. These programmes are in line with Uganda's National Development Plans and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The cooperation between Belgium and Uganda is based on six pillars through which the various programmes are implemented.

The six pillars of Belgian development cooperation in Uganda

1. Bilateral governmental cooperation

Projects of the Belgian bilateral governmental cooperation are realized by Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency. In Uganda, Enabel works on projects in the regions of Kampala, Busoga, Rwenzori/Albertine and West Nile.

The current programme (2023-2028) comprises 68 million euros and aims to develop young people and women in Uganda into active, economically independent citizens in a sustainable society that respects human rights and provides good quality basic services. The focus is on healthcare, education, (technical & vocational) training and employment.

In addition, there is a parallel programme (2022-2026), worth 16 million euros, which focuses on decent work and social protection. With this, Enabel aims to improve the living conditions and resilience of the most vulnerable population groups by investing in social protection systems and decent work, and by contributing to the promotion of sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.

More information about Enabel's concrete projects and interventions in Uganda can be found on their website, their overview page, and in this brochure.

2. Multilateral cooperation

Through the financing of United Nations agencies and other international institutions, Belgium provides support to a large number of sectors. Belgium currently finances 15 multilateral organizations worldwide, all of which are active in Uganda.

The majority of Belgium's official development assistance worldwide goes to the European Union (EU), which also implements development programmes in Uganda.

3. Non-governmental cooperation

Belgium supports a number of Belgian non-governmental actors (BNGAs) operating in Uganda, with a total budget of 24 million euros for the period 2022-2026. These BNGAs are committed to the areas of education, health, human rights, governance & justice, sustainable agriculture & food systems, entrepreneurship & youth employment, gender, age & inclusion, and culture.

These are the following organizations:

You can find out exactly what these organizations do in Uganda via the overview on OpenAid.

4. Humanitarian aid

Humanitarian aid in Uganda is provided by various international organizations (including UNHCR, OCHA, WFP, ICRC, etc.) and NGOs (including Red Cross Flanders, Caritas, Plan International, Veterinarians Without Borders, etc.). To a large extent, these organizations work around the refugee population in Uganda (around 1.7 million people).

In recent years, Belgium has spent an average of 170 million euros of its development aid on humanitarian aid each year.

5. Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO)

The Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) stimulates the private sector in developing and emerging countries so that they can grow and develop sustainably.

In Uganda, BIO mainly invests in microfinance, renewable energy and telecom. A detailed overview can be found on the website of BIO.

6. Subsidies for peacebuilding

As part of its foreign policy, Belgium contributes to the financing of initiatives in the field of peacebuilding. This is in line with the agreements that our country has approved at international level.

Through this type of financing, Belgium wants to contribute to the realization of sustainable peace situations. For example, this may involve tackling the causes of instability, contributing to prevention, mediation and resolution of disputes, and remedying the consequences of conflicts. Belgium prefers co-financing together with other donors.

More information about Belgian financing in the field of peacebuilding.