Development Education (DE) is understood as a lifelong learning process that supports the holistic development of individuals, fostering critical and ethically informed thinking and active civic participation. It contributes to raising awareness and encouraging both individual and collective engagement with development and social inequalities at local and global levels. It aims to contribute to the creation of more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable and peaceful societies, grounded in democracy, respect for dignity and diversity, and the protection of human rights. As a learning process, Development Education entails a threefold commitment: addressing social inequalities and injustices, challenging multiple forms of discrimination, and countering different forms of violence and hate speech.
Portugal’s political commitment to Development Education is reflected in the Portuguese Cooperation Strategy 2030 (ECP 2030), approved through Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 121/2022 of 9 December, which reaffirms Development Education as one of the three areas of action of Portuguese Cooperation. This area has been continuously strengthened since 2010 through the approval and implementation of successive National Strategies for Development Education (ENED 2010-2016; ENED 2018-2022).
Currently, the National Strategy for Development Education 2025-2030 (ENED 2025-2030) is in force, having been approved by Resolution No. 167/2025 of the Council of Ministers of 27 October. It is structured around three strategic pillars - “Capacity-building in DE”; “Expanding and diversifying DE interventions”; and “Collaboration and mainstreaming of DE” - and includes “Monitoring and Evaluation” as a cross-cutting dimension.
The coordination, management and promotion of ENED 2025-2030 are the responsibility of a Monitoring Committee chaired by Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, I. P., and composed of the Institute for Education, Quality and Assessment, I. P. (EduQA, I.P.) and the Portuguese Platform of Development NGOs (PPONGD). The implementation of the Strategy is ensured by a broad group of entities that have endorsed its Action Plan and is supported by a Secretariat.
The role of Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P.
In the specific field of Development Education, the responsibilities of Camões - Institute for Cooperation and Language, I. P. are structured around three main strands: coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the ENED; maintaining a dedicated funding line for Development Education projects promoted by NGDOs, recognising the key role civil society organisations have played in advancing the field; and actively participating in European and international platforms in order to exchange practices, strengthen strategic alignment and reinforce international political commitment.
Co-funding mechanism for Development Education projects by NGDOs
Since 2005, a dedicated funding mechanism has supported Development Education projects implemented by NGDOs, aligned with the strategic priorities of the ENED. These grants cover areas such as formal education, non-formal education, awareness-raising, public engagement, mobilisation and policy dialogue, contributing to strengthening public understanding of global challenges and supporting more coherent and inclusive public policies.
You can access the results of the calls for proposals, where detailed information about the supported projects is available, including the implementation organisations, the amounts allocated, the implementation periods and the areas of intervention.
You may also consult the infographic “20 Years Funding Civil Society Organisations in Global Education 2005-2025”, which presents a visual overview of the evolution of this support over time. The infographic is accompanied by narratives - summary and full versions (this last one just in Portuguese) - illustrating the concrete effects and contributions of the projects across different areas of Development Education, offering a broader understanding of the impact of this funding mechanism.