2015 European Yearfor Development

Designated as the European Year for Development, 2015 is shaping up to be a decisive year for EU development cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Each month, an array of events, activities and media campaigns will shed light on a fundamental aspect of the EU’s work in developing countries.

Here are the 12 development themes and challenges that are slated to be at the heart of European debate and decision-making in 2015.

JanuarY: EuropE in thE worlD

Although a draft 2015 budget has been agreed upon in December, snowballing debts from past years threaten to undermine EU aid disbursements in the upcoming year. To preserve its stature as the world’s most generous donor, the incoming Juncker commission will have to come up with a plan to sustainably reduce the backlog of bills without having to drastically reduce the aid budget.

FEbruarY: EDucation

Already the largest donor to the Global Partnership for Education, the EU’s commitment to education is set to continue in 2015 — a welcome move given declining global aid flows for education.

March: woMEn anD girls

Over the past decade, the EU has been increasingly active in promoting gender equality in its development cooperation and humanitarian aid — but a gap between policy and practice persists. The Juncker leadership will have to spur renewed momentum for women’s and girls’ rights.

april: hEalth

A long-standing focal sector of EU development aid, health has reemerged as a top priority for the 28-member bloc since the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In the next 12 months, many expect the EU to adopt a more comprehensive approach to health systems strengthening, with a special emphasis on projects linking health, sanitation and the environment.

MaY: pEacE anD sEcuritY

As the scale and complexity of global crises continue to grow, the EU’s new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will face mounting pressure to ensure better integration of the EU’s external action and development policies by further cultivating the security-development nexus.

JunE: sustainablE grEEn growth, DEcEnt Jobs anD businEssEs

In the past couple of years, the EU has increasingly signaled its changed attitude and relationship toward private sector involvement in its development and humanitarian aid efforts — a trend that many expect the current commission to elaborate and refine.

JulY: chilDrEn anD Youth

Recent years have seen Brussels fail to live up to its commitments to children — many action plans have yet to be implemented — but hopes are high that the incoming EU executive will soon adopt a holistic human rights framework and specific policies on children’s rights.

august: huManitarian aiD

Determined to uphold its stature as the world’s biggest humanitarian aid donor, the new EU leadership promised to continue providing assistance to those in need by ensuring that ongoing, protracted or forgotten crisis do no slip off the international community’s agenda.

sEptEMbEr: DEMographY anD Migration

Even though migration is one of the most pressing issues facing the EU, its collective response to the crisis remains largely inept. The coming year will need to see enhanced political dialogue between Brussels and the various countries from which migrants and asylum seekers originate.

octobEr: FooD sEcuritY

In spite of high-level political pledges, food security is a key area in which the EU’s commitment to policy coherence will be put to the test. The bloc’s efforts in the sector are still hampered by its internal policies on agriculture, biofuels, finance and trade.

novEMbEr: sustainablE DEvElopMEnt anD cliMatE action

In the lead-up to major global agreements on climate change and a development agenda to replace the Millennium Development Goals, the Juncker team will have to demonstrate its ability to play a catalytic role in building international consensus and bridging the gap between developing and developed countries.

DEcEMbEr: huMan rights anD govErnancE

Cited as an overarching objective of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, the promotion of human rights and good governance is expected to remain a cornerstone of EU development aid throughout 2015.

Read our full analysis on the European Year for Development on Devex.com.

All photos from the European Commission