Danish engagements in the region
The MADAD Trust Fund
Since December 2014, the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (the MADAD Fund) has been the primary instrument for EU development support for efforts for refugees and local host communities in countries neighbouring Syria. The Trust Fund aims to ensure a more coherent and integrated response for the EU and Member States to the crisis and has supported more long-term needs within education, health, social safety nets, entrepreneurship and job creation. The Trust Fund has a particular focus on supporting host governments in neighbouring countries in lifting the burden on local host communities and public services resulting from the presence of more than 5 million Syrian refugees. The Trust Fund collaborates with international NGOs, UN organizations, educational institutions and other development actors. The mandate for the MADAD trust fund expires at the end of 2021 and will then be replaced by a new aid architecture for EU development aid, NDICI. Projects funded by the trust fund will continue until 2024.
The MADAD trust fund has facilitated access to various types of services for almost 8 million people since its inception.
Budget
Since 2014, Denmark has contributed with 400.7 million DKK to MADAD. The trust fund has mobilized a total of 2.3 billion euros during the same period.
Territory
Jordan (24%), Lebanon (43%), Turkey (23%), Iraq (7%), Western Balkans (2%), Egypt, Armenia.
Read more about the MADAD trust fund and their many partnerships on their website here:
Homepage (europa.eu)
Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP)
The RDPP is a multi-donor European initiative that aims to support Syrian refugees and local host communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, while strengthening the conditions for more lasting solutions for Syrian refugees. The program is supported by Denmark, the EU, Ireland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Denmark has led the implementation of RDPP since the program started in 2014. RDPP has a special focus on strengthening the capacity of local civil society actors, and in the second phase of the program more than half of the partnerships are with national organizations. The program focuses on three thematic areas: 1) Enhanced living conditions, 2) Maintaining and expanding protection for vulnerable refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities, 3) Research and advocacy to promote more favorable conditions for refugees and other vulnerable groups.
The current phase of the program started in 2018 and has a total budget of 54.1 million euro. The implementation is led through program offices in Beirut and Amman.
Budget
Denmark has contributed DKK 390 million DKK to RDPP since 2014.
Territory
Lebanon, Jordan and northern Iraq.
Read more about RDPP and its many partners on their website here:
HOME (rdpp-me.org)
Global Concessional Financing Facility
The GCFF is administered by the World Bank and provides loans on favorable terms to Lebanon and Jordan. The purpose of the loans is to develop and improve infrastructure, create industrial zones, improve services and make host countries better able to mitigate the negative consequences of the large influx of refugees (including increased spending and pressure on the above sectors).
Example of project
"Economic Opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian Refugees" is a project that aims to turn the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan from an economic burden to an opportunity that can help boost the country's economic growth. The loan allows the Jordanian government to proceed with three reforms to strengthen the Jordanian economy while Jordan continues to host a large number of Syrian refugees: 1) grant Syrian refugees a work permit, 2) improve Jordan's investment opportunities, and 3) attract investments.
Budget
Denmark's total contribution to GCFF amounts to DKK 507.1 million kr.
Territory
Jordan and Lebanon
Read more about the Global Concessional Financing Facility on their website here:
Global Concessional Financing Facility
Danish-Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP)
The Danish-Arab Partnership Programme is Denmark’s collaboration program with the Middle East and North Africa. The program helps to strengthen good governance and ensure economic opportunities, especially for young people and women in the region, through partnerships.
Read more about DAPP on their website here:
Dansk-Arabisk Partnerskabsprogram - DAPP
