With contributions of US$675 million (€485 million) in 2010 (no imputed multilateral contributions available for 2011 yet), the Netherlands is the 4th largest European government donor to health, providing 8.4% of European health ODA. Dutch global health funding had constantly been increasing until 2008, when it reached a peak of US$764 million (€549 million, 11% of total ODA), but declined both in absolute and relative terms in 2010 (to 9.8% of total ODA). 49% (US$328 million or €236 million) of this amount was channeled bilaterally and 51% (US$347 million or €249 million) multilaterally.

The Netherlands did not make an individual pledge to the Muskoka Initiative, but committed US$2.3 billion (€1.7 billion) by 2015 jointly with the governments of New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain and Switzerland, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UN Foundation.

Although SRHR will continue to be a focus of Dutch development assistance, since 2010, health is no longer an official priority and funding for the sector will be reduced.  This has predominantly affected health system strengthening and multilateral HIV/AIDS programs. In 2011, the previous government implemented cutbacks of €71 million (US$94 million), mainly through reducing contributions to the Global Fund and UN agencies and bilateral programs in this sector. The 2012 budget envisaged bi- and multilateral health spending of €337 million (US$469 million), of which €113 (US$157 million) were allocated to each SRHR and HIV/AIDS, and €111  million (US$154 million) to general assistance for health, supporting SRHR and HIV/AIDS activities.

More information on: Bilateral and multilateral funding for health

More information on: Strategic frameworks and current portfolio