Policy theme departments | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

... poverty reduction to tackling the structural causes of poverty and inequality, ... So the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is available 24/7 to assist Dutch ... Youarehere: Home Ministries MinistryofForeignAffairs Organisation Policythemedepartments SearchwithinEnglishpartofGovernment.nl Search Policythemedepartments Thesedepartmentscombineknowledgeandexpertiseinclustersofforeignpolicyareas,or'themes',suchassecuritypolicy,theenvironment,education,health,andhumanitarianaid.Thespecialistknowledgeofthepolicythemedepartmentsiscombinedwiththelocalknowledgeoftheregionaldepartments. StrategicPolicyUnit(ESA) ESA(StrategicPolicyUnit)aimstomakeDutchforeignpolicymorelong-termproof,knowledge-based,externallyfocusedandcoherent.Tothisend,ESAidentifiesimportanttrendsanddevelopments,providesstrategicanalysesandadvicetothepoliticalandadministrativeleadershipandfacilitatesstrategicthinkingatthepolicydepartmentsandmissions.Thiscanbedonebothonrequestandonourowninitiative.ESAispositionedundertheSGandworksforallDGs. Insummary,ESAhasthreecoretasks: ESAidentifiesrelevantdevelopmentsandtrends; ESAadvisesthepoliticalandadministrativeleadership; ESAfacilitatespolicydirectoratesandpostsinstrategicandfuture-orientedthinking. SecurityPolicyDepartment(DVB) DVBisconcernedwiththethemesofcounterterrorism,andnationalandinternationalpeaceandsecurityinthebroadestsense.Intheseareas,theDepartmentpreparesDutchinputinNATO,theEuropeanUnion,theIAEA,theGenevadisarmamentconference,theUnitedNations,theOSCEandtheOPCW.Policyisalsoformedbyworkingtogetherwithothercountries. DVBcomprises: ConflictPrevention,PeaceOperationsandMilitaryandCivilCooperationDivision(DVB/CV) Non-Proliferation,Disarmament,ArmsControlandExportControlPolicyDivision(DVB/NW) SecurityandDefencePolicyDivision(DVB/VD) CounterterrorismandNationalSecurityDivision(DVB/TN) E-mail:[email protected](BPZ) BPZsupportstheDirector-GeneralforPoliticalAffairsinhisroleaspoliticaladvisertotheMinistry'spoliticalleadersonday-to-daypoliticalissuesandpoliticalrelationswithothercountries.BPZalsocoordinatestheDutchpositiononissuesintheareaoftheEUCommonForeignandSecurityPolicy(CFSP). E-mail:[email protected](DDE) DDEpromotessustainableandinclusiveeconomicgrowthindevelopingcountriesbyhelpingtoimprovethebusinessclimateandstimulatingenterprise.Italsoenhancessustainabletradewithdevelopingcountriesandsupportstheconstructionofgoodroads,portsandpowersupplysystems.Tradeunions,employers’organisationsandfarmers’cooperativesindevelopingcountriesreceivesupporttoimprovetheservicestheyprovidetotheirmembers.DDEhelpslocalauthoritiestocollecttaxeseffectivelyandtransparently.ItalsoprovidesfinanceforbusinessesindevelopingcountriesandsupportsDutchcompaniesthatproduceinnovativesolutionstolocalchallenges. E-mail:[email protected](DSO) DSOhelpsdeveloppolicyandstrategiesforfightingpovertyatboththebilateralandmultilaterallevel.Itsgoalsincludegivingpeopleinlow-andmiddle-incomecountriesaccesstobasicsocialservices,promotinggenderequality,andstrengtheningcivilsociety.Italsoputsthemessuchaschildren,parents,HIV/AIDS,gender,andinstitutionaldevelopmentontheagendasofotherdepartmentsandmissions,aswellasonthebroaderinternationalagenda. DSOconsistsoftwodivisionsandonetaskforce: HealthandAidsDivision(DSO/GA) TheHealthandAidsDivisionisresponsibleforthepolicyonSexualandReproductiveHealthandRights(SRHR),includingHIV/aidsandrelatedhealthsystems.SRHRisoneofthefourprioritiesoftheDutchdevelopmentpolicy.InMay2012,aletterwassenttoParliamentwhichsetsout‘thepolicyonSRHR,includingHIV/aids’,withthegoalsfortheMinistryofForeignAffairs.TogetherwiththeEmbassiesineightpartner-countries,wefocusonfourresultareas: Improvedaccesstomedication Improvedsexualandreproductivehealth Morerespectforsexualandreproductivehealth Moreknowledgeandfreedomofchoiceaboutsexualityforyouth ThroughtheirSRHRpolicy,DSO/GAcontributestoSDG3(ensurehealthylivesandpromotewell-beingforallatallages)andSDG5(achievegenderequalityandempowerallwomenandgirls). TheCivilSocietyDivision Thisdivisionfocusesontheroleandimportanceofcivilsocietyorganisationsindevelopment.Thepolicyinthisareaisbasedontheprinciplethatadiverseandpluralistcivilsocietyiscrucialforsustainableandinclusivedevelopment. In2016,implementationbeganofthenewpolicyframework‘DialogueandDissent’forpartnershipswithcivilsocietyorganisations.Itsoverallgoalistostrengthencivilsocietyorganisationsinlow-andlower-middle-incomecountriesintheirroleasadvocatesandlobbyists.Inlinewiththeshiftinfocusfromdirectpovertyreductiontotacklingthestructuralcausesofpovertyandinequality,thepolicyframeworkshapesthechangingrolesofcivilsocietyorganisationsinboththosecountriesandtheNetherlands. 25StrategicPartnerships-consortiaofDutchandSoutherndevelopmentorganisationswilldevelopthelobbyingandadvocacycapacityofcivilsocietyorganisationsinlow-andlower-middle-incomecountries. Voice-Thisfundwassetuptostrengthenthevoiceofthemostmarginalisedgroups. Henceitsslogan'Nothingaboutuswithoutus'.ThewaythefundissetupreflectstheDutchgovernment'srecognitionthatregularaidprogrammesofteninsufficientlyreachthemostvulnerablegroups,inparticularthosewhoareexcludedbecauseofdisability,ethnicorigin,religion,socioeconomicstatus,sexualorientationorgender. AccountabilityFund -supportthroughEmbassiestolocalCSOS.Thisapproachrecognisestheincreasedimportanceofcivilsocietyorganisationsinthesecountriesandtheirgrowingcapacitytoachieveresultsindependently TaskforceWomen’sRightsandGenderEquality(TFVG) TheWomen’sRightsandGenderEqualityTaskforceconstitutesanintegralcomponentofDutchforeignpolicy.Globally,themajorityofthe1.2billionpeoplelivinginextremepovertyarewomen,andmillionsofwomenandgirlsarevictimsofphysicalandsexualviolenceorotherformsofdiscrimination.Womenarestilllargelyexcludedfromprocessestoresolveconflictsandtoshapethefutureofsocieties.Assuch,theirroleasagentsforchangeisobscured.Alarmingly,resistancetoequalrightsforwomen,inparticulartheirrighttodecideabouttheirsexualityandwhetherornottohavechildren,isgrowinginmanyplaces.Theidealofequalityenshrinedininternationalagreementshastobecontinuouslydefended.TheNetherlandsseekstohelpcreateaworldinwhichmenandwomenhaveequalrightsandopportunities. TheDutchcommitmenttoimprovingthepositionofwomenisencapsulatedinthefollowingfourgoals: preventionandeliminationofviolenceagainstwomenandgirls; afairshareinpoliticalanddecision-makingpower; economicempowermentandself-reliance; afairshareinconflict-resolution,peacebuildingandreconstruction. TheWomen’sRightsandGenderEqualityTaskforcecontributeswithitworktoSDG5:achievegenderequalityandempowerallwomenandgirls. Contact:[email protected](ICE) TogetherwiththeMinistryofEducation,CultureandScience,ICEisresponsibleforinternationalculturalpolicy.ItsdirectorisalsotheNetherlands'AmbassadorforInternationalCulturalCooperation.InternationalculturalpolicyaimstostrengthentheNetherlands'internationalculturalprofileanditsculturaltieswithcertaincountriesandregions. E-mail:[email protected](DCV) Whereveryougointheworld,you’relikelytobumpintosomeoneDutch.SotheMinistryofForeignAffairsisavailable24/7toassistDutchnationalsaroundtheworld. TheConsularAffairsandVisaPolicyDepartment(DCV)offerscitizens,businessesandgovernmenthigh-qualityconsularservices.Itisalsoresponsibleforvisapolicyandvisa-relatedservices.DCVservesasasafetynetforDutchinterestsabroadandisthefirstpointofcontactfornationalsofothercountrieswantingtocometotheNetherlandsforpersonalorbusinessreasons.Itcandrawonaglobalnetworkofmissionsandauniquebodyofknowledgeanddiplomaticexpertise.DCVconstantlylooksaheadtothefutureandrespondstonewdevelopments.Itdeliversconsularservicesquicklyandconscientiously,usingmoderntools.ThisenablesittopromotetheinterestsoftheNetherlandsandofDutchnationalsabroadinaneffectiveway.Itembracestheopportunitiesthatcomefromworkingwithexternalparties,bothnationalandinternational,publicandprivate. TheMinistryofForeignAffairsis‘Alwaysconnected’.DCV’s24/7BZContactCentreinTheHaguecanbereached24hoursaday,7daysaweekon+31247247247.Ifyouphonefromabroadyouwillpaythelocalcallrates.Ourstaffcanadviseyouonarangeofmatters,suchaspassports,visasanddocumentlegalisation.Theycanalsohelpinemergencysituationsabroad,forexampleifaDutchnationalisadmittedtohospital,diessuddenly,isarrestedorgoesmissing.Byansweringallthesequestionsthroughthecentral24/7BZContactCentreinTheHague,peoplecanbehelpedfasterandmoreeffectively.  DCValsoissuestraveladvice.Goonlinetocheckthelatestadviceonanycountryyouplantotravelto,soyou’llknowbeforehandhowsafeitistovisit.Downloadthe24/7BZTravelapptokeeptrackofthesituationwhileyouaretravelling.Andfollowthe@247BZTwitteraccountforthelatestupdates.DepartmentforStabilisationandHumanitarianAid(DSH) TheDepartmentforStabilisationandHumanitarianAid(DSH)promotesstability:wesupporthumanitarianassistanceandreconstructionandpromotepeaceandsecurity,ruleoflawandgoodgovernance;before,duringandaftercrisissituations. TheNetherlandshaveaninterestinastableworldwithfewerconflictsandbettertradepossibilities.Wetrytoestablishsuchanenvironmentthroughhumanitarianaid,reconstructionprogrammesandimprovementofsecurity,ruleoflawandgovernance.Wefocusoncrisissituations,(post)conflictcountriesandfragilestatesandapplyacontextspecificandflexibleapproach,whichisconflict-andgendersensitive.Furthermore,wetakeanintegratedapproachinaddressingconflictsituations,combiningsecurity,developmentanddiplomaticeffortsintoonecoherentpackage.Welookforsolutionswithourpartners,withinandoutsidegovernment,onanationalandinternationallevel.TheNetherlandsisaleadnationinapplyingsuchanintegratedapproach.Andwe'reproudofthat.Butweareonlysatisfiedwhenhumansecurityanddignityvisiblyimproveasaresultofourefforts. E-mail:dsh@minbuza.nlDepartmentofInternationalTradePolicyandEconomicGovernance(IMH) IMHispartoftheDirectorate-GeneralforForeignEconomicRelations(DGBEB).TheIMHdepartmentiscomprisedofthreeclusters,eachofwhichcontributestoanopenworldeconomy,sustainableglobalization,andthestrongcompetitivepositionoftheNetherlands TheclusterTrade-andInvestmentAgreementsandMarketAccess(HIAM)isresponsibleforthenegotiationsoffreetradeagreements,theWTO,andtheautonomoustradepolicyoftheEU.HIAMalsotakesstockofandlooksafterDutchinterestsinthevariousbodiesinBrusselsandGeneva. TheclusterInternationalCorporateSocialResponsibility(IMVO)stimulatescorporatesocialresponsibilitybyfacilitatingtheadoptionof(recognized)standardsofbehaviorfordoingbusiness.Asanetworkpartnerininternationalentrepreneurship,IMVOalsostimulatespublic-privatecontributionstotherealizationofdevelopment-andsustainabilitygoals. Finally,theclusterExportControlandStrategicGoods(ESG)isconcernedwithsupervisingtheexportofstrategicgoods,predominantlygoodsfordual-use.TheactivitiesofESGaregearedtowardscreatingchancesforinnovativeandhigh-techcompaniesandcontributingtoasaferworld.InclusiveGreenGrowthDepartment Ahealthyplanetbenefitsthewell-beingandwelfareofallpeople–richandpoor,menandwomen–nowandinthefuture.TheInclusiveGreenGrowthDepartment(IGG)workshardtoensureuniversalaccesstoandwiseuseofnaturalresources.IGGisresponsibleforDutchforeignpolicyonthefollowingthemes,organisedinfourthematicgroups:       climate       water       foodsecurity       energy,rawmaterialsandthepolarregions IGGaddressestheinterestsofbothdevelopingcountriesandtheNetherlands.Ourapproachcombinespoliticalandstrategicknowledgeandacommitmenttothefourkeythemeswithvariousfundinginstruments.TheGlobalGoalsforSustainableDevelopmentserveasfocalpointsfornewpolicy.Cooperationwiththeprivatesector,civilsocietyandknowledgeinstitutionsisvitalinourwork. Thefourthemesarecloselylinked,soIGGfollowsanintegratedapproachasfaraspossible.Thesupportsection(strategy&coordinationteam)playsanimportantroleinconnectingthethematicgroupsandsteeringthemtowardseffectivepolicy.Inaddition,IGGhasprojectgroupssuchasLandscapeApproachandUrbanDevelopment,inwhichallthethematicgroupsarerepresented. IGGalsohasasecretariatandcontrolunit,whicharevitaltoitsdailyrunning.ThedirectorofIGGalsoactsasAmbassadorforSustainableDevelopmentandAmbassadorfortheArctic.Inaddition,IGGworkscloselywiththeSpecialEnvoyforClimateChange(MarcelBeukeboom)andtheSpecialEnvoyforInternationalWaterAffairs(HenkOvink). ReadmoreaboutIGGandourworkonFacebookandTwitter.OuremailisIGG@minbuza.nl. Ministryresponsible MinistryofForeignAffairs