Financial support to the Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) 2025–2026

The lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and in Middle East and the climate and biodiversity crisis have critical consequences for low- and middle-income countries. As a result, global humanitarian needs have increased. In 2020, an additional 100 million people were pushed into poverty and many of the social and economic gains of the last 20 years have been lost. Nowadays, international co-operation operates in an environment of unprecedented global challenges, increased geopolitical tensions and mistrust. An increasing number of co-operation actors, have emerged in recent years, providing additional resources while at the same time increasing transaction costs for partner countries and the complexity of interventions.

The OECD DAC, which brings together 33 bilateral donors/OECD-members, is well positioned to drive the transformation of international co-operation, with the aim of maximizing its collective impact. The OECD offers multi- disciplinary analytical expertise to members and partners on how best to undertake international co-operation and respond to global development challenges.

The OECD DAC is of high relevance for Switzerland. Its principles and standards, as well as the regular opportunities for joint learning, inform Switzerland’s international co- operation approaches and modalities of engagement and therefore contribute to enhance its quality and relevance. Additionally, the DAC opens opportunities for Switzerland to influence and shape the international co-operation agenda.

To strengthen the role of international co- operation to support collective action to address the complexity and interconnectedness of the 2030 Agenda (DAC Programme of Work and Budget, 2025–2026).

The mandate of the OECD DAC establishes its overarching objective as promoting “development co-operation and other relevant policies that contribute to the sustainable development of developing countries […]”.

• Improved data and analysis on fragile and conflict-affected contexts and of how to increase effectiveness and to enable effective, inclusive and accountable institutions
• Improved understanding of how to address climate change and increase financial transparency related to climate change and biodiversity
• Rejuvenate effectiveness agenda to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda through the DAC and the GPEDC
• Improved understanding of major trends affecting global finances for sustainable development, and strategic positioning of the OECD and the DAC to influence the system
• Increased usage of DAC policy guidance on poverty, inequalities (incl. gender), governance, conflict, fragility, environment, climate change and biodiversity
• Increased usage of policy insights and evidence developed through the CoP on private finance for sustainable development to support the DAC to mobilise private funds

Principaux résultats attendus:  

• International co-operation has effectively contributed to gender equality and the reduction of poverty and inequalities
• The effectiveness of international co-operation in fragile, conflict- and crises-affected contexts has been strengthened, and effective and accountable institutions in in politically constrained environments have been enabled
• Actions to stimulate development co-operation to address climate change, protect biodiversity and promote sustainable oceans have been enabled
• Standards and statistics on development finance are respected and have improved
• Finances for sustainable development are better analysed, advised and convened
• Accountability and learning through Peer Reviews and evaluations are strengthened
• Partnerships and dialogue have been enhanced to improve collaboration and (re-)build trust

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

• Substantive peer learning activity around “Locally Led Development” undertaken
• Approval of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC) workplan 2023-26, and roll out of the 4th GPEDC monitoring
• Approval of the “Guidance on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment”: DAC Guidance for Development Partners
• Publication of a discussion paper on working in politically constrained environments as background for more detailed work by INCAF (on a crisis response model), GovNet (how to stay engaged in countries classified as autocratic) and basis for discussions in other Policy Networks and Communities of Practice (CoP)
• Launch of a toolkit on funding civil society in partner countries
• Adoption of principles on relevant and effective support to media and the information environment
• Outreach efforts continued, e.g., 1st global meeting of development co-operation providers, approval of new DAC Global Relations Strategic Directions 2023–24, updated criteria for DAC accession and obligations for membership
• Launch of the DAC guidance on scaling development outcomes