The overarching objective of the DAC is to promote development co-operation and other relevant policies that contribute to the sustainable development of developing countries, including inclusive and sustainable economic development, the advancement of equalities within and among countries, poverty eradication, and the improvement of living standards. The ultimate aim is a future in which no country will depend on aid.
Development Assistance Committee
The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is a unique international forum of many of the largest providers of aid, including 34 members and Associates.
About the DAC
What we do
The DAC adopted ODA as the “gold standard” of foreign aid in 1969 and it remains a major source of financing for development aid. ODA data are collected, verified and made publicly available by the OECD.
Through international policy dialogue, the DAC sets and upholds standards and best practices in many aspects of development co-operation. These standards and best practices are intended to help DAC Members and their partners deliver aid more effectively.
Peer reviews are the most important tool of the DAC for accountability. They provide an in-depth assessment of a DAC member’s strengths and challenges. Peer review recommendations help DAC members to make the most of their development co-operation.
How we work
Meetings
The DAC holds High Level Meetings (generally every 2-3 years) whose participants are development ministers. In between High Level Meetings, it often convenes Senior Level Meetings (attended by heads of aid agencies) to review the Committee’s work on current policy issues. Ordinary DAC meetings are attended by Paris-based delegates of DAC members and by officials from member capitals. The DAC also organizes dialogues with other providers to advance policies on issues of shared interest.
- High Level Meetings
- Senior Level Meetings
- Committee Meetings
The DAC is supported by the Development Co-operation Directorate of the OECD Secretariat, which gathers quantitative and qualitative evidence and provides analysis and advice to guide the improvement of development co-operation.
DAC subsidiary bodies
The DAC subsidiary bodies bring together the DAC members’ sectoral and thematic experts, and are open to experts, policy makers and practitioners from other providers and partner countries to promote mutual learning and informed policy making.
DAC communities of practice
Leadership
Carsten STAUR
DAC Chair
Members and partners
Members and Associates
The DAC currently has 34 members and Associates.
Candidate countries for accession to the DAC are assessed in terms of the following criteria: the existence of appropriate strategies, policies and institutional frameworks that ensure capacity to deliver a development co-operation programme; an accepted measure of effort; and the existence of a system of performance monitoring and evaluation.
DAC Associates are non-OECD Members that are invited to participate in all meetings of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies and take part in its decision-making process (except on the accession of OECD Members to the DAC) and that can serve as Chair or Vice-Chair of the DAC and its subsidiary bodies.
Participants
The current DAC participants – non-OECD countries authorised to participate in the meetings of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies – are listed below.
International organisations observers
The current DAC international organisations (IO) observers – invited by Council to participate in non-confidential meetings of the Committee are listed below.
