Decentralized cooperation, which manages about 670 million euros in Spain, a 12'71% of the total national ODA is essential not only because it ensures greater independence from economic and commercial interests, but because it serves to channel the social participation of all Spanish citizenship through development NGOs and other local entities.

The first regional government to announce a cut has been the Generalitat -Government- Valenciana, which reduced by 30% its official development assistance this year. The region had committed in previous plans to move towards allocating 0.7% of the budget to cooperation. This new cut puts the ODA in the region at only 0.2%.

The Director General of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid of the Generalitat de Catalunya, David Minoves, has assured that the government will not cut funds intended for development aid. The government will cut the salaries of officials and the ordinary expenses of the Cooperation Agency, but will keep its commitment on development aid.