Danida Fellowship Centre and the Finance Bill 2017
26-09-16
By Anne Christensen, DFC Director
The draft of the Danish Finance Bill for 2017 has now been published.
Even though this is only a draft, we will here outline the consequences for Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC).
Capacity development supported by DFC
The annual grant to capacity development (CD) is budgeted for 30 million DKK – a slight increase of 3 million DKK compared to 2016. The forecast for the coming years is also 30 million DKK per year.
The use of the grant in 2017 has been broadened and is planned to include running and maintenance of the newly established ‘Danida Alumni Network’ in addition to capacity development activities under the ‘Partnering with Denmark’ programme (see box).
Funds being set aside for the above mentioned engagement, mean that DFC have had to reconsider its portfolio of short learning programmes under DCDSP, and the plan for 2017 entails fewer learning programmes and an increase in fees for participants. The participation fee is currently 3,500 DKK and 2,500 DKK per course week in Denmark and the partner countries, respectively. The planned increase will be a doubling of the 2016 fees.
DFC hopes this will be well received by the Danida programmes and participants. All other (tailor-made) CD activities are, as previously, primarily to be funded by the Danida programmes.
Research projects
In total 230 million DKK has been set aside for research activities in the draft finance bill.
The proposal includes 140 million DKK to research projects carried out in partnerships between universities in Denmark and universities in Danida priority countries and in selected countries under the ‘Partnering with Denmark’ programme, in addition to research projects carried out as partnerships between universities in Tanzania and Ghana and universities in Denmark.
The present phase of the Building Stronger Universities Initiative (BSU) is running until primo/mid 2017 and 90 million DKK is earmarked for a phase III of the programme for the years 2017-2020.
It is currently not in the plans to include another phase of the BSU Master programme.
Further information on the future activities will be posted in the coming Newsletters.
Partnering with Denmark
‘Partnering with Denmark’ aims at meeting the international demand for sharing Danish experiences with establishing a conducive policy, planning, and regulatory framework which promotes responsible and sustainable growth, employment and social welfare.
The programme also aims at promoting the long term internationalisation of Danish business, and improving the cooperation between Danish ministries in Denmark’s international engagement. Finally, the initiative aims at strengthening Danish bilateral relations with a number of emerging economies facing important decisions for the moulding of their future societies.
DFC’s involvement in the Partnering with Denmark programme will give DFC the opportunity to establish ties with cooperation partners and markets in countries such as Brazil, China, Colombia, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.
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