Development Co‑operation Profiles: Poland
Table of contents
Poland’s development co-operation focuses on its Eastern European partner countries, in particular Ukraine, and select partner countries in Africa and the Middle East. Besides reported costs for hosting refugees, the largest proportion of Poland’s official development assistance (ODA) is provided via European Union (EU) institutions. Poland’s total ODA (USD 1.6 billion, preliminary data) decreased in 2025, representing 0.16% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on Poland’s development assistance allocations. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
The Multiannual Programme for Development Cooperation for 2021-2030: Solidarity for Development focuses Poland’s development co-operation on its eastern neighbours, in particular Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and on select partners in Africa and the Middle East, such as Lebanon, Senegal and the United Republic of Tanzania. Along with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate action and gender equality are cross-cutting priorities. Annual development co‑operation plans set objectives and actions for Poland’s development co-operation engagement.
Poland initiated and strongly promotes the Eastern Partnership initiative within the European Union as a means to promote stability and successful transformation in the EU neighbourhood. Poland’s development policy documents contain a commitment to policy coherence for development and identify several priority areas. For 2026, the priority area is popularising responsible business conduct standards in the context of development co-operation, in line with the OECD guidelines.
Poland’s 2023 Peer Review was its second since becoming a member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2013. The review commended Poland’s whole-of-society response to the conflict at its border and the long-term vision embodied in its development co-operation policy to 2030. The review also identified opportunities for the Polish development co-operation system to work better together. It recommended that Poland move away from annual calls for proposals to a more sustainable partnerships model, including core funding for civil society organisations (CSOs), strengthening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) capabilities and better aligning international engagement with Poland’s commitments to sustainable development. The Peer Review found that Poland had taken steps to fully or partially implement 8 of the 15 recommendations of the 2017 Peer Review.
Discover insights from Poland’s 2023 Peer Review and 2019 mid-term review, and learn from Poland’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices.
Poland provided USD 1.6 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2025 (USD 1.5 billion in constant terms), representing 0.16% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 19% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2024. Following a period of slow but steady increases in ODA, in 2022, Poland’s ODA increased by 272.1% in real terms in volume and reached 0.53% of GNI. This was due to a surge in in-donor refugee costs (62.7% of total ODA). These costs declined from 2023 onwards, causing Poland’s ODA volume to decline. Poland is not in line with its domestic (0.33% of ODA/GNI) and EU commitments to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Within Poland’s ODA portfolio in 2024, 98.6% was provided in the form of grants and 1.4% was extended as loans.
In 2025, Poland ranked 20th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members in terms of ODA volume and 27th when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. The EU remains the most important multilateral channel for Polish ODA. In line with its policy, Poland’s bilateral ODA allocations are concentrated in its eastern neighbourhood. Poland’s bilateral ODA remains highly tied to Polish organisations. In 2024, Poland had the fifth highest share of gross bilateral ODA allocated to in-donor refugee costs.
Poland is committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Notes: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Poland provided most of its ODA multilaterally in 2024. Gross bilateral ODA was 40% of total ODA disbursements. Of this, 10.6% was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2024, Poland provided USD 1.2 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 21.5% in real terms from 2023. Of this, USD 1.1 billion was core multilateral ODA (60% of total ODA), while USD 78.7 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 0.2% of Poland’s non‑core contributions, and 99.8% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds). The European institutions (USD 1.1 billion) are by far Poland’s main multilateral partner.
The United Nations (UN) system received 4.5% of Poland’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 15.2 million (28.3%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 53.9 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Poland’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the UN Secretariat (USD 13.8 million), the World Food Programme (USD 4.3 million) and the International Labour Organisation (USD 3.8 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 DAC members’ use of the multilateral system dashboard.
In 2024, Poland’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 739.7 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 60.7% in real terms from 2023.
In 2024, country programmable aid amounted to USD 136 million, or 18.4% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 46.5%.
Poland’s in-donor refugee costs amounted to USD 393.7 million (53.2% of gross bilateral ODA) in 2024, while humanitarian aid was USD 15.4 million, or 2% of gross bilateral ODA.
In 2024, Poland channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector. Technical co-operation made up 9.3% of gross ODA in 2024.
In 2024, CSOs received USD 26.2 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 0.3% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. All Polish bilateral ODA channelled through CSOs (3.5%) was to implement projects initiated by the provider (earmarked funding). No bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions. From 2023 to 2024, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 1.8% to 3.5%.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid and by exploring the ODA to civil society organisations dashboard.
In 2024, Poland’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on ODA-eligible countries in Europe. USD 254.5 million was allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 75.4% for Ukraine) and USD 48.3 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 34.4% and 6.5% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 17.4 million was allocated to countries in Africa. Countries in Europe were also the main recipient of Poland’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, in line with its strong focus on its near neighbourhood.
In 2024, 39.7% of gross bilateral ODA went to Poland’s top 10 recipients. The largest bilateral ODA recipient by far was Ukraine followed by Belarus. Four of Poland’s top 10 recipients are not among its priority partner countries or territories. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 54.5%, of which 97.6% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2024, Poland allocated 0.02% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Poland allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (31.4%) to lower middle-income countries in 2024, noting that 54.5% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 1.8% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 13 million). Additionally, Poland allocated 4% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2024, equal to USD 29.9 million.
The distribution of Poland’s ODA in net terms in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”2 was USD 0.1 in LDCs, USD 1.6 in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) and USD 1.2 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2025, Poland provided USD 179.6 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, a 13.8% decrease from 2024 in real terms. USD 7.3 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2025, a 16.5% increase in real terms from 2024.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 33.8 million in 2024, representing 4.6% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA. Of this ODA, 21.9% was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 24.6% in 2023, while 3% was allocated to peace, an increase from 1.8% in 2023. Conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, represented 0.3% of gross bilateral ODA, slightly increasing from 0.2% in 2023.
Learn more about the States of Fragility platform.
In 2024, more than half of Poland’s bilateral ODA was allocated to other macro sectors, in particular refugees in donor countries. Investments in this area accounted for 62.7% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 484.6 million), with a strong focus on support to refugees in donor countries (USD 426.4 million), followed by a share of unallocated (USD 30.5 million) and general budget support (USD 25.6 million). ODA for social infrastructure and services totalled USD 204.2 million, with a focus on education (USD 163.5 million). Economic infrastructure and services amounted to USD 51.3 million (6.6% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on other macro sectors and social sectors in 2024.
In the period 2023-2024, Poland committed 10.6% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment compared to 5.6% in 2021-2022 and a DAC average of 48.2% in 2023-2024. This is equal to USD 14.6 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 2.7% in 2023-2024, compared with the DAC average of 4.2%.
Poland includes gender equality objectives in 7.5% of ODA for humanitarian aid, below the 2023‑2024 DAC average of 21.5%.
Poland screens the majority of bilateral allocable ODA against the DAC gender equality policy marker (59.1% in 2023-2024).
Poland committed USD 100 thousand of ODA to end violence against women and girls.
Learn more by reading 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 development finance for gender equality dashboard.
In 2023-2024, Poland committed 9.1% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 21.4 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 3.9% in 2021-2022. The DAC average was 39%. In addition:
6.2% of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.2%.
4.8% of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 11.1 million) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 35.4%), up from 2.7% in 2021-2022. Poland had a greater focus on mitigation (5.2%) than on adaptation (5.1%) in 2023-2024.
1.2% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 1.7 million) focused on biodiversity overall (the DAC average was 8.6%), up from 0.8% in 2021-2022.
0.9% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 1.3 million) focused on desertification overall (the DAC average was 4.2%), down from 1% in 2021-2022.
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
In 2024, Poland:
Allocated 1% of its bilateral ODA (USD 7.2 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by SDG 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation, multisector aid for basic social services) and development food aid. In addition, 0.1% of bilateral ODA (USD 0.9 million) went to social protection support. Learn more by exploring the Reducing poverty and inequalities through ODA data explainer.
Committed USD 4.1 million (2.1% 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, health and unallocated/unspecified.
Committed USD 15.2 million (7.9% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Did not commit ODA to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Poland sometimes seeks exceptions. It does not have a general policy and it makes information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 52.4 million (27.1% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2024. Learn more by exploring the Aid for Trade dashboard.
In 2024, total official and private flows from Poland to developing countries amounted to USD 2.6 billion in net terms. Official sources accounted for USD 1.8 billion while USD 794.1 million originated from private sources.
Total official support for sustainable development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases the transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs received by developing countries (Pillar 1) and for addressing global challenges (Pillar 2). In 2024, activities reported by Poland as TOSSD totalled USD 2 billion, marking a 35% decrease compared with the previous year. Poland’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 3 (good health and well-being).
Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The MFA co-ordinates development co-operation policy under the brand “Polish Aid”. Through the Department of Development Cooperation, it manages most bilateral co-operation and is also responsible for EU co-operation. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for contributions to the EU budget and provides concessional lending after co-ordination with other ministries. The Solidarity Fund, a State Treasury foundation, implements a number of bilateral programmes and can sub-grant to local partners. The Ministry of Education and Science supervises the implementation of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange’s scholarship programmes. Within the MFA, 48 staff work on development. In addition, about ten staff are based in Poland’s country offices and embassies and work on development; half of them are full time.
An important mechanism for consulting stakeholders is the Development Cooperation Policy Council. The council includes representatives of the MFA and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, as well as other actors from the public administration, the national parliament, academia, non‑governmental organisations and employers’ organisations. It meets at least twice per year. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate under the umbrella body Grupa Zagranica.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development placed a renewed emphasis on strengthening the effectiveness of all forms of development co-operation by upholding and elevating the Effectiveness Principles. Adherence to these principles is measured through the partner country-led monitoring exercise of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the delivery of Poland’s development co-operation. The table below highlights select features.
Access the full list of development co-operation providers at: Development Co-operation Profiles.
2023 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Poland: https://doi.org/10.1787/deae8fba-en.
2019 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Poland: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2024)3/30/en/pdf.
CSO umbrella organisation Grupa Zagranica: https://zagranica.org.pl.
Polish Aid: https://www.gov.pl/web/polishaid.
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA): https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy.
Poland has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 2013.
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”.
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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. 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. It estimates how much ODA each person in extreme poverty would receive if total ODA was divided evenly among the extreme poor. This metric does not measure the amount of ODA actually received by each person in extreme poverty, nor does it measure how much ODA goes to poverty reduction. It instead highlights patterns in total ODA allocations relative to the number of people living 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. See the methodological notes for further details.