With ninety-nine percent of all maternal deaths occurring in developing countries, it is clear that more ODA needs to be allocated to Reproductive Health (RH) and Family Planning (FP) in developing countries. Using solid evidence from the field to inform its efforts, DSW engages with the EU Institutions and European policy makers towards formulating policy that responds to developing country needs, reflected in regional and Country Strategy Papers, instruments like the European Development Fund, and the European Union budget. Our ongoing monitoring of the EU’s financial framework, aid allocations and budget spending can not only hold governments to account, but also serve to improve civil society’s ability to access financial opportunities.

• Euroresources.org is DSW's online library of resources on the European Union's development cooperation. For information on the above issues and for publications on our ongoing work with these issues, please visit the website here.

In supporting the European Union to implement effective aid, tracking the current state of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for health and population assistance remains crucial to realizing MDGs 4, 5 and 6. Through efforts such as Euromapping, we compare Europe’s performance in meeting its SRH and AIDS funding commitments. Our Action for Global Policy Briefings, the culimination of six combined fact-finding and advocacy visits to developing countries in 2010, assess the impact of current aid structures and aid effectiveness principles on health-spending in those countries.