In accordance with the Strategy for Danish Development Assistance, Partnership 2000, Danish NGOs have to concentrate their efforts to create both the time and space to follow up on the recommendations of the Civil Society Strategy. Additionally, this will ensure the necessary coherence and efficiency of the programmes. Furthermore, it is crucial to ensure that the Danish NGOs have the necessary strength and legitimacy by virtue of their popular rooting. In 2005, the Danish Government decided that the six major Danish NGOs, which have signed frame agreements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should contribute 5 pct. by way of own financing in 2006 - increasing to 10 pct. in 2007 - based on revenues from private fund raising in Denmark. The decision should be seen as an incentive for the NGOs to be inventive and engage new actors in development assistance. The reason behind the decision is also to strengthened the major NGOs popular foundation and make them more accountable towards their members and private contributors. There are no plans to introduce own financing in relation to small NGO’s. Furthermore, Danish NGOs have achieved special status as important and competent partners for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing Danish humanitarian assistance. A relationship of confidence has thus been developed which makes it possible to ensure that relief activities can be launched at very short notice. The Ministry grants humanitarian assistance through non-Danish NGOs in exceptional circumstances only. Government allocations to humanitarian assistance through the Danish NGOs amounted to a total of DKK 407.1 million, corresponding to approximately 36 pct. of total Danish humanitarian assistance and 2.9 pct. of total development assistance. Below is more information about the general principles governing support to development projects implemented by Danish NGOs.
