Numerous countries around the globe have ramped up their defense spending in recent years, a response to escalating unrest and conflicts on the international stage. Yet, paradoxically, high-income nations have notably slashed their funding for development cooperation in low-income countries. Alarmingly, these same states have begun to categorize certain defense-related expenditures as development aid.
As professionals in non-governmental organizations dedicated to development cooperation, we feel compelled to sound the alarm about this troubling shift in global priorities. This transition undermines vital support for life-saving projects in some of the world’s most impoverished regions. As resources are diverted and investment in development cooperation dwindles, we witness a marked decline in international efforts aimed at enhancing health, education, democracy, and job creation. In the long run, such neglect is likely to exacerbate poverty and inequality, inciting displacement, armed conflicts, and the spread of infectious diseases. Each of these outcomes represents a significant threat to global security, requiring costly interventions from states long after the damage has been done. Thus, investing in international development cooperation is not merely a moral imperative; it is an essential investment in stability and security.
In the Icelandic government’s policy regarding international development cooperation from 2024 to 2028, the critical role of development initiatives is underscored. These efforts are seen as vital to addressing the multifaceted challenges confronting the globe, fostering prosperity, sustainability, and equality, ultimately bolstering global stability for the benefit of all. The Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, unanimously adopted this stance two years ago, a sentiment echoed in the ongoing discussions surrounding a parliamentary proposal on defense and security issues.
The Icelandic government has long asserted a commitment to ensuring that development cooperation contributions reach at least 0.7% of gross national income. The latest policy outlines a gradual increase from 0.35% to 0.46% over the specified period. While non-governmental organizations have welcomed this uptick, they emphasize that the 0.7% target remains elusive.
It has never been more crucial for Iceland to reaffirm its commitment to development cooperation and emergency aid. Supporting the international framework and upholding international humanitarian law and human rights—both of which are in increasingly short supply—are of paramount importance. We also applaud the government’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution No. 1325, which emphasizes the inclusion of women in all levels of decision-making, ensuring that gender considerations inform budget allocations.
Development cooperation serves as the cornerstone of peace, stability, trust, and security worldwide. It is imperative that Iceland’s defense and security policies integrate this understanding, recognizing robust development cooperation as a fundamental aspect of the nation’s security interests.
The authors of this piece are:
- Birna Þórarinsdóttir, Executive Director of UNICEF Iceland
- Bjarni Gíslason, Manager of the Church’s Aid Service
- Gísli Rafn Ólafsson, Executive Director of the Icelandic Red Cross
- Hrönn Svansdóttir, Manager of ABC Children’s Aid
- Stella Samúelsdóttir, Executive Director of UN Women Iceland
- Tótla I. Sæmundsdóttir, Executive Director of Barnaheilla – Save the Children in Iceland
