Development Co‑operation Profiles: Lithuania
Table of contents
As an official provider of development co-operation since 2004 and a Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member since 2022, Lithuania’s co-operation focuses on sharing its transition experience and accumulated knowledge in democratic reforms, notably in countries of the European Union’s (EU) Eastern Partnership. Most official development assistance (ODA) is channelled through the European Union. Lithuania’s total ODA decreased in 2024 to USD 193.4 million (preliminary data), representing 0.24% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
The Law on Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid provides the overarching framework for Lithuania’s development co-operation. The Strategic Guidelines for Development Cooperation 2022-2025, complemented by regional and country co-operation strategies, set priorities for Lithuania’s co-operation, particularly freedom and democracy as well as education, gender equality, energy and climate. Lithuania focuses on EU Eastern Partnership countries as well as select priority countries in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Digitalisation is a main priority of its co-operation with African countries.
Most of Lithuania’s ODA is delivered multilaterally, and the European Union is a key partner for channelling Lithuanian ODA. Lithuania is also very active in sharing its public sector expertise through the EU Twinning programme. Its development efforts are concentrated mainly on Eastern Europe, with a strategic emphasis on fostering democracy, promoting good governance, empowering women, advancing digitalisation, improving education and protecting the environment.
Lithuania provided USD 193.4 million (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 186 million in constant terms), representing 0.24% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 12.9% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2023. Lithuania’s ODA volume has consistently increased since 2017, and the growth rate peaked in 2022, mostly due to an increase in bilateral grants to Ukraine and in-donor refugee costs. Lithuania is committed to reaching 0.33% of GNI in ODA by 2030, as part of the European Union’s collective commitment to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by that year. Total ODA on a grant-equivalent basis has the same value as net ODA under the cash-flow methodology used in the past, as Lithuania provides only grants.2
In 2024, Lithuania ranked 21st in terms of ODA to GNI ratio. In line with its policy, Lithuania stands out for allocating a high share of its bilateral ODA to Europe. Particularly Ukraine was the top regional focus, receiving 93.1% of Lithuania’s ODA to Europe. Lithuania maintains a strong focus on humanitarian assistance, which accounts for 36.1% of bilateral ODA commitments. In addition, 70.5% of bilateral ODA commitments channelled through multilateral organisations target the humanitarian sector.
Lithuania 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.
Lithuania provided a higher share of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 58.4% of total ODA disbursements. Twenty-seven per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Lithuania provided USD 122.5 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, a fall of 6% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 88.8 million was core multilateral ODA (41.6% of total ODA), while USD 33.7 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds) accounted for 100% of Lithuania’s non-core contributions.
The United Nations (UN) system received 2.2% of Lithuania’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 0.8 million (29.6%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 2.7 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Lithuania’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were WHO (USD 0.3 million), FAO (USD 0.3 million) and UNOCHA (USD 0.3 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, Lithuania’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 124.6 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 21% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 32.2 million, or 25.8% of Lithuania’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 35.3 million in 2023 representing 28.3% of Lithuania’s gross bilateral ODA. This was a decrease of 57.5% in real terms over 2022.
In 2023, Lithuania channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 6% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 2.3 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 23.8% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 0.1% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 1.7% 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 increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 1.3% to 1.9%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Lithuania’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on ODA-eligible countries in Europe. USD 61.4 million was allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 93.1% was for Ukraine) and USD 10.8 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 49.3% and 8.7% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 2.9 million was allocated to Latin America and the Caribbean. Europe was also the main regional recipient of Lithuania’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, which was in line with its policy priorities.
In 2023, 59.5% of gross bilateral ODA went to Lithuania’s top 10 recipients. Among its top 10 recipients, Ukraine received more than eleven times the amount received by the second largest recipient. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 38%, of which 74.4% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in Lithuania.
In 2023, Lithuania allocated 0.02% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Lithuania allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (54.8%) to lower middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 38% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 1.1% of Lithuania’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 1.3 million). Additionally, Lithuania allocated 6.3% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 7.8 million. Lithuania allocated 0.1% of gross bilateral ODA to small island developing states (SIDS) in 2023, equal to USD 0.2 million.
Looking at the distribution of Lithuania’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 0.04 in LDCs, USD 0.2 in lower middle-income countries and USD 0.2 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2024, Lithuania provided USD 56.4 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 5.2% decrease from 2023 in real terms. USD 18.2 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 52.1% decrease from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 2.2 million in 2023, representing 1.8% of Lithuania’s gross bilateral ODA. Twenty per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 2.6% in 2022. Zero per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing a decrease from 8.4% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest focus of Lithuania’s bilateral ODA was humanitarian assistance. Investments in this area accounted for 36.1% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 41.5 million), with a strong focus on support to reconstruction relief and rehabilitation (USD 23.7 million) and emergency response (USD 17.9 million). ODA for other macro sectors totalled USD 38.6 million, with a focus on hosting refugees in Lithuania (USD 35.3 million). Social infrastructure and services amounted to USD 28.6 million (24.9% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Lithuania committed 11% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 32.7% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 4 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 0.3% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Lithuania includes gender equality objectives in 11.3% of ODA for humanitarian aid, below the 2022‑23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Lithuania screens less than half of bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (48.8% 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, Lithuania committed 21.2% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 15.8 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 14.7% in 2020-21. The DAC average was 39% in 2022-23. In addition:
Seven per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
Five per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 3.3 million) focused on climate change overall, down from 9.3% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Lithuania had a greater focus on mitigation (8%) than on adaptation (3.6%) in 2022-23.
Almost zero per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 0.1 million) focused on biodiversity overall, down from 0.4% 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.
In 2023, Lithuania:
Allocated 8.9% of its bilateral ODA (USD 11.1 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, 1% of bilateral ODA (USD 1.2 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 4.7 million (6.2% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as emergency response; education; and agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Committed USD 4.1 million (5.3% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Rarely seeks exemptions for the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services. It does not have a general policy and does not make information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 5.1 million (6.7% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2023.
Lithuania uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2023, Lithuania’s Ministry of Environment mobilised USD 2.3 million from the private sector through simple co‑financing.
Private finance mobilised by Lithuania in 2022-23 targeted middle-income countries only.
Mobilised private finance by Lithuania in 2022-23 related mainly to activities in energy (100%) as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 89.8% of Lithuania’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 Lithuania as TOSSD totalled USD 253.3 million, down from USD 278.1 million in 2022. Lithuania’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals), SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees Lithuania’s development co-operation efforts. The National Development Cooperation Commission, chaired by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, co-ordinates policies across ministries, public institutions and private sector organisations. The Central Project Management Agency (CPMA) serves as the main implementing agency for bilateral projects and carries out projects on behalf of the European Union. The Ministry of Environment and its Environmental Projects Management Agency also manage climate change projects. The Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, established in 2022, facilitates funding from various sources (public, private, international), and the CPMA serves as the fund’s administrator and secretariat.
Around 50 staff members work on development co-operation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Government and the CPMA. In addition, around 50 staff members working in diplomatic missions, line ministries and other state institutions work part-time (10-50%) on development co-operation issues.
Lithuania organises an annual conference with experts, representatives of international institutions, civil society, business and other relevant stakeholders to share experiences and discuss proposals on how to achieve more advanced, transparent and innovative policy solutions for development co-operation. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate under the Lithuanian NGDO Platform.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Lithuania’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.
Lithuania Development Cooperation: https://ltaid.urm.lt/en
Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.urm.lt/en/foreign-policy/lithuania-in-the-region-and-the-world/development-cooperation-and-democracy-promotion/1218
Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency (CPMA): https://www.cpva.lt/en
CSO umbrella organisation “National Non-Governmental Development Cooperation Organisations’ Platform”: https://www.vbplatforma.org/EN
Lithuania has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 2022.
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.
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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.