1. In line with international commitments reaffirmed in Law 125/2014, Italy should set out a clear path to reach the 0.7% ODA/GNI target, balancing sustained support for least developed countries - consistent with the 0.15-0.20% ODA/GNI target - with expanding geographic priorities.
2. To consolidate its shift toward larger, longer-term and more strategic programmes, Italy should accelerate full operationalisation of the Italian Climate Fund (ICF). This shift will require simplifying project approval processes, working with partners to develop robust project pipelines, and expanding the use of policy-based lending and budget support, including through the Revolving Fund, while ensuring that concessional finance remains aligned with partner-country debt sustainability.
3. To maximise coherence and effectiveness, Italy should build on its whole-of-government co-ordination architecture by:
strengthening the role of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Development Co-operation (CICS) as the main forum for strategic dialogue and arbitration across policy areas
clarifying mandates and streamlining approval processes across existing co-ordination bodies, taking into account Italy’s increased political engagement in relation to Africa following the Mattei Plan
using Joint Declarations and system-wide missions to develop comprehensive country co-operation frameworks for co-ordinated delivery.
4. Italy should ensure that oversight arrangements for the Italian Agency for Development Co-operation (AICS) are conducive to efficiency, flexibility and quality partnerships, including in partner countries and with civil society.
5. As a trusted multilateral partner, Italy should continue to provide predictable, flexible, multi‑year funding to selected multilateral organisations, recognising the essential role they play in complementing bilateral efforts and supporting priorities under the Mattei Plan and private-sector engagement.
6. In line with its guidelines, Italy’s comprehensive approach to the migration and development nexus should reinforce intergovernmental and whole-of-society co-ordination and policy coherence, including by continuing to:
support legal mobility schemes from and within sub-Saharan Africa
advocate for human rights, the protection of refugees and migrants
address fragility and drivers of migration in countries of origin and transit
align policies and investments with country programming.
7. Italy should build on the growing role of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) by scaling the use of its instruments and reinforcing co-ordination and joint programming with AICS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), using CDP’s expanding number of offices, alongside AICS’s established country presence.
8. Italy should build on its forthcoming guidelines to articulate a whole-of-government vision for private sector engagement that:
facilitates participation of private sector actors, while placing development impact and additionality at its core
clarifies mandates and strengthens co-ordination across actors, notably AICS, CDP, SACE, SIMEST and ICE and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE)
reinforces partnerships, including with the European Union
ensures more consistent reporting on financial flows.
9. Italy should continue to strengthen transparency, accountability, and learning across Italian co-operation through proportionate results-based management supported by ongoing efforts to design whole-of-government information systems and the use of strategic evaluations.
10. Italy should ensure that staffing and skills are aligned with the Italian co-operation’s expanding portfolio, more diverse instruments, and larger programmes, including by:
ensuring competitive and supportive terms and conditions within AICS, and pursuing more sustainable alternatives to short-term contracts for core functions
ensuring that CDP has staffing, regional presence and internal capacities commensurate with its expanding role.