The Centre has facilitated ACP-EU cooperation since 1986. We reinforce the capacities of public, private and non-profit organisations in ACP countries to better manage their own development policies and international cooperation. We also work with governments and organisations in Europe to make their development policies and instruments more effective. ECDPM is an independent foundation, legally constituted in the Netherlands, and began operations in 1986. Its focus is to help build an effective partnership between the European Union and Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), particularly related to development cooperation. ECDPM engages in facilitating policy dialogue, creating understanding of processes and institutions and building capacity. Read our corporate reports and documents Workplan 2012-2013 Strategy 2012-2016 Annual Report 2010 Annual Report Highlights 2010-2011 Evaluation 2007-2010 Evaluation 2007-2010 -- synthesis report (PDF) We work in three thematic policy areas: Development Policy and International Relations Contributes to debates on the new policy-mix approach that the European Union seeks to promote in its external action, in particular with the ACP and Africa. Two main focal areas are EU-Africa relations and EU international cooperation post Lisbon Read more... Economic and Trade Cooperation Contributes to the development of an ACP-EU trade regime that promotes sustainable development and the integration of the ACP countries into the world economy. Two main focal areas are the preparation and negotiation phases of the Economic Partnership Agreements, and the development support needed to enable them. Read more... Governance Contributes to the search for home-grown governance strategies at local, national, regional and continental levels in Africa and strengthens the EU capacity to programme, implement, monitor and evaluate governance support. A major focal area is to promote effective linkages and synergies between policy debates and initiatives on governance in the ACP (primarily Africa) and in Europe more widely. Read more... A summary of what we do by Charlie Matthews, IDS Events Coordinator, based on a presentation of Dr. Paul Engel, Director ECDPM at the final seminar in the IDS Research Influence series, 7 May 2008. We apply three capacity strategies to ACP-EU development policy processes 1. Direct facilitation support for key development policy processes. This consists of the following types of activity: strengthening multi-actor dialogue, consultation and strategic networking among key public and private actors in ACP-EU policy processes; advisory services in support of institutional partners, that is, EU and ACP Member States, institutions and (regional) organisations; performing and/or contributing to strategically important evaluations and/or benchmarking exercises. 2. Strategic research, knowledge management, networking and information services. These consist of the following types of activity: independent monitoring of and follow-up on key policy processes; periodic assessment of progress; helping to develop adequate monitoring and/or benchmarking systems; performing practical, policy-oriented research in key areas of development policy and its management, highlighting relevant stakeholder views, key trends, issues as well as alternative policy options; promoting the sharing and practical use of pertinent knowledge and information by key ACP and EU actors; monitoring and evaluating the pertinence, distribution and use of our knowledge and information products and resources. 3. Strategic partnerships to support institutional development by key ACP policy actors. These consist of the following types of activity: supporting (alliances and networks of) key ACP policy actors in their institutional development, learning and change with respect to development policy management; participating in and, where necessary, helping to create strategic networks, platforms and/or alliances of ACP and European policy actors in order to enhance their capacity effectively to manage ACP-EU development policy and cooperation; together with key stakeholders and partners, monitoring and evaluating the outcomes and impact of institutional development programmes.