On 18 March 2021, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially launched the New Democracy Fund. The Fund will support civil society efforts to strengthen democratic development in the Eastern Neighbourhood countries – Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The Fund’s budget will be DKK50 million ($8 million) allocated under the Danish Eastern Neighbourhood Program for 2021-2022.
6 thematic areas have been identified where the Fund will focus its efforts: support for youth, culture, media, labour market organizations, climate protection and gender policy.
According to Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod who took part in the opening ceremony of the Fund, “Civil society, human rights and democracy are under strong pressure from our eastern neighbours. It is extremely important for me to support forces that want something different. I have immense respect for the people and organizations who insist on freedom, openness and progress. That is why Denmark is setting up a New Democracy Fund”.
The ceremony was also attended by the leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (online).
The Danish Foreign Ministry has set up a consortium of five partner organizations to implement the Fund’s tasks: the Danish Cultural Institute (DCI) as lead partner, the Joint Professional Association of Denmark (3F), the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), the Danish Youth Council (DUF) and International Media Support (IMS).
These organizations will take steps to establish interregional cooperation, exchange experiences and establish long-term partnership with non-governmental, educational and cultural organizations of Denmark and the Eastern Neighbourhood countries. A separate rapid response financial instrument is also planned to allocate funds for sudden needs and emerging opportunities.
The Fund’s activities will help protect freedom of assembly and expression, the right to collective bargaining and the right to impartial information, artistic freedom and cultural exchange, democratic legislation and the democratic rights of young people to take an active part in public life.