The National Council for Development and International Solidarity (CNDSI)

The National Council for Development and International Solidarity (CNDSI) is a multi-stakeholder forum where open high-level dialogue can be conducted on the challenges of development and international solidarity policy.

Established by the 2014 Act on development and international solidarity policy and programming (LOPDSI) to respond to high civil society expectations expressed during the 2013 National Conference on Development and International Solidarity, it is a forum for high-level dialogue between government and non-state actors on the aims and resources of France’s development policy.

What is the CNDSI?

The CNDSI aims to provide a forum for regular and open concertation between the various development and international solidarity stakeholders regarding the objectives, guidelines, coherence and means of French development policy.

Since 2015, the CNDSI has met three times a year. 

The Council meets in plenary session three times a year and is chaired by the Minister for development. In addition to these formal meetings, ad hoc working groups study cross-cutting themes identified by the Council, in relation to the international agenda.

Six working groups have been formed to date, on migration and development, development finance, private-sector involvement, the French G7 Presidency, on the French strategy with regard to multilateral funds and banks and on the shrinking spaces for the civil society. These working groups produce recommendations with non-state actors on priorities linked to the international agenda. Their conclusions are included in a position note for the attention of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with an eye on international negotiations or the drafting of strategy.

Who is on the CNDSI?

The CNDSI is composed of 67 membres, divided in 10 groups, that represent various components of civil society : NGOs, unions, businesses, social and solidarity-based enterprises, parliament members, local governments, universities and research centres, foundations, multi-stakeholders platforms and foreign figures that bring a unique external expertise to the council.

The CNDSI is chaired by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs or Minister of State. A board composed of one representative from every group meets regularly to jointly choose and work on the main items on the Council’s agenda.