The aim of the programme, which was initiated and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was to help reduce the shortage of skilled workers in the selected countries, through training courses and programmes that are facilitated by Dutch higher education institutions. 

Under NFP, fellowships were awarded for the last time in April 2017 (for short courses and master's programmes).

The current phase of the Netherlands Fellowship Programmes has ended. At this moment the outlines of a new capacity building programme (including fellowships) called 'Orange Knowledge Programme' (OKP), are being developed.