Malta’s experience as an EU Member State and an emerging donor is still relatively new. Kopin, therefore, operates within a context that is still at the first stages of a change in culture towards sustainable development and human rights. Actively participating in European or regional networks such as Eurodad is a challenge for any Maltese civil society organisation in the human rights sector as many are small-sized organisations and their income is predominantly project related.

Through this Network Strengthening project, Kopin aims to strengthen its knowledge on global tax issues and Financing for Development, as well as its capacity to advocate with national government institutions on the issues, while interacting within an established European civil society network.

Objectives:

1. Provide information and in-depth analysis of the financial services sector in Malta in terms of harmful tax practices and its effects on development finance.
2. Increase the capacity of Kopin in terms of research and advocacy on tax justice and the quality and quantity of ODA.
3. Allow Kopin to become an active ally of the Eurodad network and interact with its members, such as Ekvilib Institute and DemNet, and provide the network with the first Maltese partner.
4. Increase the knowledge of Kopin about tax justice issues in order for it to be able to start engaging in awareness campaigns, in Malta and with European institutions.

The acquired knowledge and information will be shared within the AidWatch Working Group of Malta’s Development NGO Platform SKOP; with other civil society organisations that cooperate with Kopin in fighting for more social justice and sustainable development in Malta; and with international organisations, such as IOM and UNHCR. In the long term, Kopin will aim to make matters of tax justice and Financing for Development an integral part of its advocacy and campaigning portfolio.

This action is financed by a Eurodad sub-grant, which runs between 1 January 2021 and 28 February 2022.