Development Co‑operation Profiles: New Zealand
Table of contents
New Zealand’s development co-operation primarily focuses on small island developing states (SIDS) in the Pacific region. It seeks to support the social, environmental, economic, and stability and governance pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New Zealand’s total official development assistance (ODA) increased in 2024 to USD 780.8 million (preliminary data), representing 0.32% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
New Zealand’s development co-operation aims to achieve a more peaceful world, where all people live in dignity and safety, all countries can prosper, and our shared environment is protected. The 2019 policy statement, International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development, commits New Zealand to work towards global solutions to sustainable development challenges, particularly climate change and its impacts. New Zealand’s ODA focuses on SIDS and least developed countries (LDCs), with a primary geographic focus on the Pacific and a secondary geographic focus on Southeast Asia. Inclusion is one of the four domains that underpin New Zealand’s international development co-operation, reflecting its commitment to advancing gender equality and inclusive development that benefits all people. In 2022, the New Zealand government released an International Climate Finance Strategy to guide its climate finance investments.
Beyond its bilateral co-operation, New Zealand engages in and supports the multilateral system and humanitarian assistance and advocates for SIDS internationally. Underpinned by the human rights approach, New Zealand considers gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion in all of its international development initiatives. As part of its commitment to policy coherence for development, New Zealand seeks to eliminate fossil fuel and fisheries subsidies; promotes an open, rules-based trading system; and has undertaken efforts to ensure a positive development impact for Pacific Island countries that participate in relevant labour mobility schemes.
The 2023 OECD-DAC Peer Review of New Zealand’s development co-operation praised its strong political commitment to working in a way that is partner-led, its focus on indigenous knowledge and values in partnerships and policy making, civil society funding that helps strengthen local organisations, and scaled-up international climate finance commitments. The review encouraged New Zealand to streamline its policy framework to make the most of the closer integration of diplomatic and development efforts, undertake strategic workforce planning, strengthen transparency to support accountability and communication to generate a sense of global citizenship among New Zealanders, and ensure that project design and implementation consistently integrate cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality and the environment. The Peer Review found that New Zealand had fully or partially implemented 14 of the 17 recommendations of the 2015 review. Learn more about New Zealand’s 2023 Peer Review and its management response [DCD/DAC/AR(2024)5/24], and learn from New Zealand’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
New Zealand provided USD 780.8 million (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 767.5 million in constant terms), representing 0.32% of GNI.1 This was an increase of 0.5% in real terms in volume and an increase in the share of GNI from 2023. Nevertheless, New Zealand’s ODA is not in line with international commitments to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio. Total ODA on a grant-equivalent basis has the same value as net ODA under the cash-flow methodology used in the past, as New Zealand provides only grants.2
In 2024, New Zealand ranked 17th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries in terms of ODA to GNI ratio. While ODA had been increasing steadily since 2017, it declined sharply in 2022, increasing again in 2023. In accordance with its geographic focus, New Zealand has the highest share of bilateral ODA to SIDS and the second-highest share of bilateral ODA to Oceania among DAC countries. New Zealand also has a high share of country-programmable aid, ranking fourth.
New Zealand 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.
New Zealand provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 83.8% of total ODA disbursements. Twenty-six per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, New Zealand provided USD 291.8 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 53.1% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 124.1 million was core multilateral ODA (16% of total ODA), while USD 167.7 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 43.3% of New Zealand’s non-core contributions and 56.7% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The UN system received 37.8% of New Zealand’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 61.6 million (55.9%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 110.2 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of New Zealand’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were UNDP (USD 13.5 million), WFP (USD 11.6 million) and UNICEF (USD 10 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, New Zealand’s bilateral allocations increased compared to the previous year. It provided USD 639.8 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented an increase of 51% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 439.7 million, or 68.7% of New Zealand’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 13.2 million in 2023 representing 2.1% of New Zealand’s gross bilateral ODA. This was a decrease of 7.6% in real terms over 2022.
New Zealand disbursed USD 3 million for triangular co-operation in 2023 predominantly in Oceania and with a focus on general environment protection. Learn more about triangular co-operation.
In 2023, New Zealand’ bilateral ODA was mainly channelled through public sector and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 11.3% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 90.3 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 17% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 3.4% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 10.7% 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 remained a relatively stable share of bilateral ODA, decreasing slightly from 14.6% to 14.1%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, New Zealand’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on Oceania and Asia. USD 418.8 million was allocated to Oceania and USD 111 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 65.5% and 17.4% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 31.3 million was allocated to countries in Africa. Oceania was also the main regional recipient of New Zealand’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations.
In 2023, 34.8% of gross bilateral ODA went to New Zealand’s top 10 recipients. Nine of its top 10 recipients are in the Pacific region, in line with New Zealand’s focus on its immediate neighbourhood. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 46.9%.
In 2023, New Zealand allocated 0.06% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). New Zealand allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (20.9%) to lower middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 46.9% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 17.8% of New Zealand’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 113.8 million). New Zealand allocated 64.9% of gross bilateral ODA to small island developing states (SIDS) in 2023, equal to USD 415.1 million, as well as 3.3% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries (USD 21 million).
Looking at the distribution of New Zealand’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 0.3 per person in LDCs, USD 0.3 in LMICs and USD 1.2 in UMICs.
In 2024, New Zealand provided USD 12.1 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 274.2% increase from 2023 in real terms. USD 10.3 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 218.2% increase from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 111.1 million in 2023, representing 17.4% of New Zealand’s gross bilateral ODA. Twenty-three per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 18.5% in 2022, while 13.8% was allocated to peace, an increase from 11.1% in 2022. Six per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing an increase from 4.5% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest share of New Zealand’s bilateral ODA was allocated to social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 32.5% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 208.3 million), with a focus on support to government and civil society (USD 66.8 million), education (USD 60.2 million), and health and population (USD 34.7 million). ODA for other macro sectors totalled USD 158.1 million, with a focus on general budget support (USD 77 million). Multi-sector allocations amounted to USD 88 million (13.7% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, New Zealand committed 66.5% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 52.4% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 265.9 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 7.3% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
New Zealand includes gender equality objectives in 41.1% of ODA for humanitarian aid, well above the 2022-23 DAC average of 19.1%.
New Zealand screens all bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (100% in 2022-23).
New Zealand committed USD 4.2 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls and USD 4.4 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, New Zealand committed 53.4% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 213.6 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 38.6% in 2020-21. The DAC average was 39% in 2022-23. 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%.
Forty-seven per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 189.1 million) focused on climate change overall, up from 28.2% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). New Zealand had a greater focus on adaptation (47.1%) than on mitigation (29.4%) in 2022-23.
Sixteen per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 62.7 million) focused on biodiversity overall, up from 4.8% 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 New Zealand committed USD 29.1 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2023, USD 6.2 million more than in 2022. The 2023 value is equivalent to 6% of New Zealand’s bilateral allocable ODA.
In 2023, New Zealand:
Allocated 7.7% of its bilateral ODA (USD 49.1 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, 0.3% of bilateral ODA (USD 1.8 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 5.3 million (1.1% 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.
Committed USD 116.4 million (24.1% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Does not generally seek exemptions for the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA‑funded goods and services. New Zealand does not have a specific policy and does not make information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 137.6 million (28.5% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2023.
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 New Zealand as TOSSD totalled USD 796 million, up from USD 562.9 million in 2022. Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is responsible for the majority of New Zealand’s ODA, with the remainder delivered by other government ministries and agencies. However, New Zealand does not report the different government channels disbursing ODA. MFAT’s Pacific and Development Group leads an integrated approach to New Zealand’s foreign policy and development engagement with Pacific countries. The Pacific and Development Group is also responsible for New Zealand’s development work outside the Pacific.
The ministry has about 350 staff working on development, 31% of which are in country offices and embassies abroad.
New Zealand’s Auditor-General occasionally reviews New Zealand’s contributions to the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development. Most recently, this included in 2024 a follow-up to the 2021 review of the Government’s Preparedness to Implement the Sustainable Development Goals.
CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co‑ordinate under the umbrella body, the Council for International Development.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of New Zealand’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 Peer Review of New Zealand: https://doi.org/10.1787/10883ac5-en
2018 OECD-DAC mid-term review of New Zealand: www.oecd.org/dac/peer-reviews/DAC-mid-term-NewZealand.pdf
New Zealand’s Policy Statement for International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/Aid-Prog-docs/Policy/Policy-Statement-New-Zealands-International-Cooperation-for-Effective-Sustainable-Development-ICESD.pdf
DevData: https://devdata.mfat.govt.nz
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT): https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development
Council for International Development (CID): https://www.cid.org.nz
Controller and Auditor General (2021), The Government’s Preparedness to Implement the Sustainable Development Goals: Presented to the House of Representatives Under Section 20 of the Public Audit Act 2001, Office of the Auditor-General, Wellington: https://oag.parliament.nz/2021/sdgs/docs/sustainable-dev-goals.pdf
New Zealand’s practices on the Development Co-operation TIPs: Tools Insights Practices learning platform: https://www.oecd.org/development-cooperation-learning?tag-key+partner=new+zealand#search
New Zealand has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1973.
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.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
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.
Note by the Republic of Türkiye
The information in this document with reference to “Cyprus” relates to the southern part of the Island. There is no single authority representing both Turkish and Greek Cypriot people on the Island. Türkiye recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Until a lasting and equitable solution is found within the context of the United Nations, Türkiye shall preserve its position concerning the “Cyprus issue”.
Note by all the European Union Member States of the OECD and the European Union
The Republic of Cyprus is recognised by all members of the United Nations with the exception of Türkiye. The information in this document relates to the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
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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.