2.6 The scope of joint programming
The 2016 Council conclusions51 set higher ambitions for joint programming processes: beyond the original scope of ‘strengthening the efficiency, coherence, transparency, predictability, and visibility of the external assistance of the EU and its Member States’, they called for the inclusion of strategic issues such as migration, climate change, fragility, security and democracy in line with the EU’s comprehensive approach to external conflict and crisis52. Core EU values and universally recognised human rights, including gender equality, and principles of good governance and engagement with civil society must also be increasingly reflected in joint programming documents, as they gradually go ‘beyond aid’ and into other external action fields (e.g. cultural and economic diplomacy in line with the EU Global Strategy).
Joint programming processes have so far focused mainly on programmable country cooperation, because including complementary funds from other programmes (regional, thematic, etc.) was seen as adding to the complexity of the exercise. However, some country experiences have highlighted pragmatic ways to address this issue53.
In Ghana, moving beyond aid and redefining its role in international development cooperation is a strategic aspect of the joint programming document. This shift underpins all of the priorities. The joint programming process will specifically support and accompany Ghana’s transformation process, the consolidation of its middle-income status, economic growth and democratic governance. The aim is to move towards a mature and mutually beneficial partnership and into more strategic forms of cooperation, which the government refers to as ‘Ghana beyond Aid’. This ‘EU+ Cooperation Group’ will therefore move from traditional aid to a more comprehensive approach encompassing trade, competitiveness, migration and climate change. The role of joint programming in the broader cooperation context is deemed essential in serving Ghanaian and European common interests.
51 Council conclusions 8554/16
52 JOIN(2013) 30 final
53 This issue is about double-counting of regional and thematic-global funds, and thus including them is only possible if a clear and distinguishable country allocation exists that is programmable.