- Policy
- ODA allocation overview
- ODA to and through the multilateral system
- Bilateral ODA
- Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA
- Private sector instruments
- Mobilised private finance
- Total Official Support for Sustainable Development
- Institutional set-up
- Quality and oversight
- Other profiles
- Additional resources
Development Co‑operation Profiles: Austria
Table of contents
Austria’s development co-operation is rooted in human rights, partnership and responsibility principles. Geographically, it focuses on nine priority partner countries – particularly in Southeast and Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa – and four priority regions (Western Balkans, West Africa and the Sahel, East and the Horn of Africa, and Southern Africa). Austria’s total official development assistance (ODA) decreased in 2024 to USD 1.8 billion (preliminary data), representing 0.34% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
The Federal Act on Development Co-operation (2003) defines Austria’s three main development co‑operation objectives as poverty eradication, ensuring peace and human security, and preserving the environment. In addition, the Three-year Programme on Austrian Development Policy 2022‑24 (3YP) provides an operational framework for aligning sectoral and institutional policies across ministries. National elections, held in September 2024, introduced significant changes to Austria’s political landscape and ongoing political consultations have yet to yield an agreement on the future priorities of Austrian development co-operation. The draft 2025-2027 3YP aims to strengthen whole-of-government co‑ordination and enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
Austria channels most of its support to multilateral organisations, with its allocations to international financial institutions guided by the Ministry of Finance’s Strategic Guidelines. Austria’s foreign policy priorities include supporting conflict prevention, nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, arms control and the rule of law. These priorities are evident in Austria’s leadership in its immediate neighbourhood – Southeast Europe – where it plays an important role in promoting regional and European integration. Austria also seeks to promote peace and security in its engagement with the European Union (EU).
Austria’s mid-term review, conducted in February 2023, noted that Austria had made progress on 5 of the 11 recommendations of the 2020 Peer Review and limited progress on the remaining 6. The review welcomed the government’s adoption of the 2022‑24 3YP as a step towards a more co-ordinated approach, but noted that further work is needed to make it a whole-of-government strategy. The review also praised Austria’s successful efforts to mobilise additional resources for humanitarian assistance. It encouraged Austria to continue working towards strengthening the coherence, co-ordination, visibility and accountability of its development co-operation and humanitarian efforts. Discover insights from Austria’s 2020 Peer Review and 2023 mid-term review, and learn from Austria’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
Austria provided USD 1.8 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 1.8 billion in constant terms), representing 0.34% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 9.5% in real terms in volume and in the share of GNI from 2023. ODA volume increased from 2018 up to 2022, with growth in in-donor refugee costs since 2020. Austria’s ODA is not in line with its domestic, international and European Union (EU) commitments to collectively achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Total ODA on a grant-equivalent basis has the same value as net ODA under the cash-flow methodology used in the past as Austria provides only grants.2
In 2024, Austria ranked fourteenth among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries when ODA is taken as a share of GNI and had the largest share of private sector instruments among DAC members (6.0% of total ODA) in 2023. It furthermore continues to have one of the highest shares of bilateral allocable commitments targeting the environment as a principal objective (20% in 2022-23).
Austria has committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Note: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC Recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
In 2023, Austria distributed its ODA almost equally between bilateral and multilateral channels. Gross bilateral ODA accounted for 49.6% of total ODA disbursements. Twenty-two per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Austria provided USD 1.1 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 7.8% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 929.2 million was core multilateral ODA (50.4% of total ODA), while USD 199.3 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 15% of Austria’s non-core contributions and 85% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The UN system received 15.1% of Austria’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which 125.7 million (74%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 169.9 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Austria’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the World Food Programme (USD 46.8 million), the UN Refugee Agency (USD 25.5 million), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (USD 13.7 million).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ use of the multilateral system.
In 2023, Austria’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 914.4 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 23.8% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 170.8 million, or 18.7% of Austria’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 287.3 million in 2023 representing 31.4% of Austria’s gross bilateral ODA. This was a decrease of 29.6% in real terms over 2022.
Austria disbursed USD 1.1 million for triangular co-operation in 2023. Its regional priority is Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on energy. Learn more about triangular co-operation.
In 2023, Austria channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector, universities, research institutes or think tanks and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 18.6% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 104.3 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 6.8% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 0.1% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 11.3% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2022 to 2023, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs decreased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 12.5% to 11.4%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Austria’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on ODA-eligible countries in Europe. USD 195.3 million was allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 32.7% was for Ukraine) and USD 137.2 million to countries in Africa, accounting respectively for 21.4% and 15% of gross bilateral ODA. This is in line with Austria’s development policy, which focusses on Africa, with a focus on the least developed countries (LDCs), the Western Balkans and priority countries in the framework of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership. USD 102.5 million was allocated to Asia (excluding the Middle East). Europe was also the main regional recipient of Austria’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations.
In 2023, 24.1% of gross bilateral ODA went to Austria’s top 10 recipients. With the exception of Iran, and India, its top 10 recipients are in the Western Balkans, Eastern Neighbourhood, and sub-Saharan Africa, which are in line with Austria’s regional focus and priority countries. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 53.2%, of which 59.1% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Austria allocated 0.08% of its GNI to LDCs. Austria allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (19.2%) to upper middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 53.2% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 8.7% of Austria’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 79.9 million). Additionally, Austria allocated 10% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 91.5 million.
Looking at the distribution of Austria’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 0.5 in LDCs, USD 0.9 in lower middle-income countries and USD 3.1 in upper middle-income countries (UMICs).
In 2024, Austria provided USD 107.6 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 64.3% increase from 2023 in real terms. USD 36.2 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 92% increase from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 143.6 million in 2023, representing 15.7% of Austria’s gross bilateral ODA. Thirty-three per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 29.9% in 2022, while 6.4% was allocated to peace, a decrease from 9% in 2022. Additionally, 1.6% of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, consistent with 2022 levels. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest focus of Austria’s bilateral ODA was social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 35.8% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 350 million), with a strong focus on support to education (USD 242.2 million), health and population (USD 35.2 million), and water supply and sanitation (USD 30.2 million). ODA for other macro sectors totalled USD 344.4 million, with a focus on refugees hosted in Austria (USD 287.3 million). Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 162.5 million (16.6% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Austria committed 47.2% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 32.8% in 2020-214 and a DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 251.2 million of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 5.4% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Austria includes gender equality objectives in 64% of ODA for humanitarian aid, above the 2022‑23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Austria screens virtually all bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (100% in 2022-23).
Austria committed USD 4.1 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls and USD 6.4 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average in 2022-23.
Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the dashboard on DAC members’ development finance for gender equality.
In 2022-23, Austria committed 39.4% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 209.6 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions (the DAC average was 39%), up from 36.9% in 2020-21. In addition:
Twenty per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
thirty-six per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 191.8 million) focused on climate change overall, up from 34% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Austria had a greater focus on mitigation (26.5%) than on adaptation (19.1%) in 2022-23.
Nine per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 46.3 million) focused on biodiversity overall, up from 5.8% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 7.6%).
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Note: Individual Rio Markers should not be added up as this can result in double counting.
The OECD’s tracking of ODA for the sustainable ocean economy shows that Austria committed USD 4.2 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2023, USD 1.9 million more than in 2022. The 2023 value is equivalent to 0.9% of Austria’s bilateral allocable ODA.
In 2023, Austria:
Allocated 4.2% of its bilateral ODA (USD 38.1 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation) and development food aid. In addition, 0.7% of bilateral ODA (USD 6 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 60.2 million (13.3% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Typically seeks exemptions for the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services. It does not make information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 66.5 million (14.8% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2023.
To build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Austria, have established development finance institutions (DFIs) and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). The Austrian Development Bank (OeEB) was assessed as an ODA-eligible PSI vehicle. PSI represented 6% of Austria’s ODA in 2023 while the DAC average stood at 1.3%.
In 2023, OeEB extended USD 313 million in the form of PSI to developing countries.5 Of this, loans accounted for 45.6% whereas equities accounted for 36.5%. Other PSI included mezzanine finance instruments.
In 2023, USD 3.1 million (1%) of Austria’s PSI were allocated to the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs), with 37.3% received by middle-income countries and UMICs in particular (27.1%). USD 193 million was unallocated by income. Austria’s PSI primarily supported projects in the energy (66.3%) and banking and financial services (18.8%) sectors.
Austria uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2023, Austria’s Austrian Development Agency and OeEB mobilised USD 38.9 million from the private sector through shares in collective investment vehicles, syndicated loans, direct investment in companies and special purpose vehicles and simple co-financing. This constituted a 74.6% decrease compared to 2022.
Private finance mobilised by Austria in 2022-23 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 51.2% of its total mobilised. Only 0.8% of total mobilised private finance during this period benefited the LDCs and other LICs, noting that 48% was unallocated by income.
Mobilised private finance by Austria in 2022-23 related mainly to activities in energy (56.1%) as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 64.5% of Austria’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.
Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs in developing countries, as well as for addressing global challenges. In 2023, activities reported by Austria as TOSSD totalled USD 2.4 billion, down from USD 2.6 billion in 2022. Austria’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs develops and co-ordinates Austria’s development policy and allocates and oversees the budget of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian development co-operation. The Federal Ministry of Finance is responsible for most core contributions to multilateral organisations and is involved in the oversight of OeEB. Local governments, the federal states and several other federal ministries – including the Ministry of Education, Science and Research; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of the Interior; and the Federal Chancellery – also contribute and are involved in delivering Austria’s ODA.
Austria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has 37 staff members working on development co-operation. Austria’s development agency ADA has 293 staff – 76 full-time equivalents – including a core personnel of around 165 and 133 project staff. In addition, it employs project staff (approximately 150) through third-party funding. ADA has 10 co‑ordination offices and 11 project offices in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
A Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Development discusses Austria’s ODA targets and the 3YP. In 2022, the Austrian Court of Audit published reports on OeEB as well as on Austria’s follow-up and implementation of the SDGs.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Austria’s development co-operation. Select features are shown in the table below.
Access the full list of providers at this link: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2023 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Austria: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2024)3/2/en/pdf
2020 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Austria: https://doi.org/10.1787/03b626d5-en
Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA): https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/european-foreign-policy/development-policy-and-cooperation
Austrian Development Agency (ADA): https://www.entwicklung.at/en
Development Bank of Austria (OeEB): https://www.oe-eb.at
CSO umbrella organisation Global Responsibility: Platform for Development and Humanitarian Aid: https://www.globaleverantwortung.at/global-responsibility-platform-for-development-and-humanitarian-aid
Austria has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1965.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
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The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Non-grants include sovereign loans, multilateral loans, equity investment and loans to the private sector.
← 3. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. For more information on this indicator, please see here.
← 4. The use of the recommended minimum criteria for the marker by some members in recent years can result in lower levels of ODA reported as being focused on gender equality.
← 5. In 2023, the DAC agreed on revised reporting methods for measuring PSI in ODA based on ODA grant equivalents. Members may, however, take up to two years to transition to the new methods, with their PSI continuing to be accounted for on a net ODA basis during the transition period.