The European Development Fund
In addition to access to the Union's funding under programmes funded by the general budget of the EU (e.g. research, education, innovation and competitiveness, culture and media, etc.), Aruba is also receiving EU funding through the Development Fund (EDF). The EU provides financial support for each Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) development strategy (set out in a 'Programming Document'). In the Overseas Association Decision it is stated that a segment of the EDF budget will be allocated to the OCTs specifically. EDF is the EU's main instrument for providing development aid to African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and to OCTs. The EDF funds cooperation activities in the fields of economic development, social and human development as well as regional cooperation and integration.
The Office of EU and Kingdom relations (BEUK), subsequently Europe House Aruba, is involved with the allocation of this fund and helps guide the projects funded by the EDF.
The Office of EU and Kingdom relations (BEUK), subsequently Europe House Aruba, is involved with the allocation of this fund and helps guide the projects funded by the EDF.
The 11th EDF & Aruba
The 11th EDF started in 2014 and continues until 2020. The total amount of resources of this fund amount to €30.5 billion from which €364.5 million goes to the OCTs. Financing from the 11th EDF for Aruba comes in threefold: Aruba gets an individual sum for territorial purposes, it gets a part of the regional geographic funding for the OCTs in the Caribbean and it gets a share of the regional thematic funding for all the OCTs combined.
The funding Aruba is eligible for under the 11th Territorial EDF will be allocated to the 'SISstem Faculty' project, which is a collaboration between the government, the University of Aruba and private sector parties. SISstem Faculty is a collaborative research, education and application network that is local as well as international. It seeks to share knowledge and resources in order to maintain a sustainable society in Aruba. The program includes a planned STEM curriculum for the university, which is aimed at capacity building and has a specific focus on sustainability and innovation.
The Geographical component of the 11th 'Regional' EDF covers the topics 'Sustainable Energy' and 'Marine Biodiversity'. After hurricane Irma the Caribbean OCTs altogether decided to add a third component, namely 'Climate Adaptation', to the allocation. The funding for this part is meant to be used by the 12 Caribbean OCTs for projects within the region.
For the Thematic component of the 11th Regional EDF allocation the OCTs decided on the themes 'Sustainable Energy' and 'Climate Change, including Disaster Risk Reduction' under the overall subject of 'Sustainable Use of Natural Resources'. The funding is used for projects in all of the 25 OCTs. As with the Regional Geographical component, the allocation of this sum requires extensive planning and collaboration between the OCTs.
The funding Aruba is eligible for under the 11th Territorial EDF will be allocated to the 'SISstem Faculty' project, which is a collaboration between the government, the University of Aruba and private sector parties. SISstem Faculty is a collaborative research, education and application network that is local as well as international. It seeks to share knowledge and resources in order to maintain a sustainable society in Aruba. The program includes a planned STEM curriculum for the university, which is aimed at capacity building and has a specific focus on sustainability and innovation.
The Geographical component of the 11th 'Regional' EDF covers the topics 'Sustainable Energy' and 'Marine Biodiversity'. After hurricane Irma the Caribbean OCTs altogether decided to add a third component, namely 'Climate Adaptation', to the allocation. The funding for this part is meant to be used by the 12 Caribbean OCTs for projects within the region.
For the Thematic component of the 11th Regional EDF allocation the OCTs decided on the themes 'Sustainable Energy' and 'Climate Change, including Disaster Risk Reduction' under the overall subject of 'Sustainable Use of Natural Resources'. The funding is used for projects in all of the 25 OCTs. As with the Regional Geographical component, the allocation of this sum requires extensive planning and collaboration between the OCTs.
Previous Aruban projects funded by the EDF
Aruba has been the beneficiary of European funding through the EDF in the past, which has contributed to the following government projects:
- Aruba was eligible for €8.8 million under the 10th EDF (2008-2013) for the implementation of the Aruban National Education Plan (2007-2017) which focusses on broader support for education, high quality teaching standards and universal access to education.
- Aruba is one of the beneficiaries of the 10th EDF regional program to stimulate growth of small and medium enterprises (COSME) in the Caribbean.
- Aruba is also one of the beneficiaries of the 10th EDF regional program to stimulate Territorial Strategies for Innovation and received a grant to implement a "mobile tech lab".
- The Archeological Museum Project, which entailed a restoration of the Ecury Complex and the creation of the new Archeological National Museum. From the 9th EDF, €4.4 million was allocated to this project.
- The Arikok National Park Project, where €5.4 million from the 9th EDF was used for the construction of the roads and the visitors center at Aruba's national park.
- Previous Regional programs include collaboration of Aruba with the other OCTs in the Caribbean on the subjects of HIV/AIDS prevention (PANCAP) and disaster risk reduction (R3I-Disaster Management).