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11 October 2006
Minister denies NiZA’s subsidy request

22 September NiZA was shocked by the news that her application for funding was rejected by the Dutch government. The Dutch government is not the only source of funds for NiZA, but a very important one for which NiZA is required to file an application every four years. The rejection was a heavy blow and shook the foundations of the organisation.

NiZA has requested 28 million euros subsidy for 2007-2010. Over the last four years NiZA has received 25 million euros from both direct and indirect subsidies from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the recommendation of an external advisory committee, the minister has decided to deny NiZA’s request. Apparently NiZA fails to make a reasonable case for being able to generate 25% of her budget from funds other than those drawn from the Dutch government by 2009, which she states as a condition for her funding. NiZA believes that it will indeed comply with this demand. Even now, NiZA is in compliance with this condition whereas it is not formally compulsory until 2009. Therefore NiZA plans to appeal.

NiZA is investigating the explanation as given by the advisory committee to look for an explanation for why the low scores deviate so much from the positive results and evaluations that have been found in the past year under the authority of the very same government. Doing this, NiZA will not refrain from looking at its own organisation with a critical eye.

Despite this recent setback, NiZA will continue to support democratisation processes in southern Africa.


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