Development Education in Latvia
OVERVIEW 2007
Janis Kirpitis, “GLEN Latvia”
BRNO, CZ, 19/02/2008

Official understanding of DE
in Latvia
• In 2007 Latvian Foreign Ministry's grant project
tender “Communication Activities for Informing
the Public on Development Co-operation and
Development Education”.
The purpose of the tender was to foster the
generation of communications projects which
build an understanding of the significance
and role of development co-operation in the
development of Latvia among a wider public.

Results of MFAs tender
Priority No1 \"Communication activities on development co-operation \":
1. The public relations agency \"PR Stils“: \"Raising awareness and fostering positive attitude of
the interested parties involved in design and implementation of development co-operation
policy\".
The project proposes to inform and educate its target audiences – politicians and public
administration officials on the questions of development co-operation. The project aims at the
facilitation and implementation of political decision-making, the generation of understanding
among responsible authorities and officials about the significance of the development co-operation
and its impact upon well-being and security in Latvia, in the EU and in the world.
2. The association \"The Latvian Platform for Development Co-operation\" (LAPAS): \"Promotion
of Development Co-operation in Latvia\".
The applicants believe that the state requires actual experience of its residents in development co-
operation - a definite scope of skills, knowledge and attitudes, as well as opportunities for
institutions and individuals to participate in and exert influence on the development co-operation
policy of the state. To this end, the project offers activities for three target groups: NGOs,
politicians and public officials, as well as opinion promoters in development co-operation;
3. The association \"European Movement – Latvia: \"Intermarium 2007\".
The project will raise awareness among the wider public in Latvia on the development co-
operation issues in our country and in the EU's eastern neighbours by highlighting Latvia's
contribution to the creation of a free and united Europe.

Results of MFAs tender
Piority No2 \"Development education \":
1. Vidzeme University College: \"Development Co-operation Studies as a Subject at the
Vidzeme University College\".
The project will provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding on development
co-operation in Latvia and in the world. The project will facilitate specialisation in development
studies as part of a new international relations programme. Within the project, lecture courses on
development co-operation will be designed and tested, guest lectures will be organised, holdings
of academic literature will be supplemented as well as student research papers prepared about
the countries, with which Latvia is cooperating in the transfer of its experience in reform
processes.
2. The association \"GLEN Latvia\": \"Shaping Development Co-operation in the World and in
Europe: a Latvian Perspective\".
The project will facilitate involvement in development co-operation studies at Latvian universities
located outside Riga. The project aims to raise an awareness of development co-operation as it
has been actualised by Latvia as well as in the context of development co-operation in Europe
and throughout the world. The project will stimulate university teachers' commitment to the subject
of development studies and to student interest in development issues, as well as provide
information about processes in Europe and in the world, and the development co-operation policy
as implemented by Latvia. The community will be introduced to opportunities for development
studies in universities abroad.

2007 Review
“World Days” - 3 years
long project organized by
Latvian NGDO Platform
and KEPA (Finland)
Topic – Development co-
operation
Objective – To increase
public awareness about
development issues; to
increase LV NGO
capacity

2007 Review
• Eurizons – opening
event in Riga, Latvia
• Main topics - global
interdependencies &
development issues
as well as the MDGs
• Method – arts, music,
street actions,
hitchiking through
Europe, big events in
8 European cities

2007 Review
• Project “Latvia Helps!”
• Topic – Latvia’s
Development Co-
operation
• Series of short
documentaries about
Latvia’s DC projects in
Georgia and Moldova
were shown on National
TV channel and
published online
• Project financed by MFA

2007 Review
• Start of Latvian Development Education
Strategy development process
• Process initiated by GLEN in Latvia
• Now National Platform, MFA, NGOs
involved

Misconception of DE in Latvia
• There is a clear misunderstanding in Latvia
about ‘What is DE’
• Many perceive and do DE as informing about
Latvia’s Development Co-operation policy trying
to persuade people that DC is necessary and
that Latvia’s Government has been efficient
• MFA and other stakeholders don’t realize and
don’t admit that it isn’t DE what they do
• In many cases it isn’t even awareness raising
about Global Development issues