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. Other than 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 decreased in 2024 to USD 2.1 billion (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 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. The latest plan is for 2025.
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 2025, illegal trade in endangered plant and animal species and responsible business conduct are priority areas.
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 alignment of 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 (TIPs).
Poland provided USD 2.1 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 1.9 billion in constant terms), representing 0.24% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 26.8% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2023. 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 due to a surge in in-donor refugee costs (62.7% of total ODA). These costs declined in 2023, causing Poland’s ODA volume to decline. In 2022 and 2023, Poland met its commitment to provide 0.33% of GNI as ODA for the first time, as part of the collective EU commitment to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Within Poland’s ODA portfolio in 2023, 98.4% was provided in the form of grants and 1.6% in the form of non-grants.2
In 2024, Poland ranked 23rd among DAC member countries 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 2023, Poland had the highest share of gross bilateral ODA allocated to in-donor refugee costs, and the third highest as a share of total ODA.
Poland 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.
Poland provided most of its ODA bilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 66.1% of total ODA disbursements. Less than 1% of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Poland provided USD 892.7 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, a fall of 9.8% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 878.4 million was core multilateral ODA (33.9% of total ODA), while USD 14.2 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 0.1% of Poland’s non‑core contributions whereas 99.9% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The United Nations (UN) system received 4.8% of Poland’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 7.7 million (17.8%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 43.2 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Poland’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the UN Secretariat (USD 12.7 million), the Food and Agriculture Organization (USD 5.4 million), and the World Health Organization (USD 3.6 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, Poland’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 1.7 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 45% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 94 million, or 5.5% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 1.3 billion in 2023 representing 77.5% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA. This was a decrease of 47.9% in real terms over 2022.
In 2023, Poland channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector. Technical co-operation made up 6% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, CSOs received USD 30.1 million of gross bilateral ODA, none of which was directed to developing country-based CSOs. All Polish bilateral ODA channelled through CSOs was to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding) in 2023. No bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions. From 2022 to 2023, Poland’s funding for CSOs increased slightly as a share of bilateral ODA, from 1.2% to 1.8%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Poland’s bilateral ODA focused on ODA-eligible countries in Europe. USD 313.1 million was allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 73.3% was for Ukraine) and USD 34.9 million to countries in Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 18.2% and 2% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 16.9 million was allocated to the Middle East. Europe was also the main regional recipient of Poland’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations in line with its strong focus on its near neighbourhood.
In 2023, 19.9% 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 77.9%, of which 99.5% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Poland allocated 0.01% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Poland allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (15.3%) to lower middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 77.9% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 0.5% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 8.1 million). Additionally, Poland allocated 1.2% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 19.8 million.
Looking at the distribution of Poland’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 0.1 per person in LDCs, USD 1.3 in lower middle-income countries and USD 1.9 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2024, Poland provided USD 191.7 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 23.6% decrease from 2023 in real terms. USD 0.2 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 99.8% decrease from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 29.9 million in 2023, representing 1.7% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA. Twenty-five per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 9.5% in 2022, while 1.8% was allocated to peace, a decrease from 2.7% in 2022. Less than one per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, a similar level to 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, more than two-thirds of Poland’s bilateral ODA was allocated to support refugees in donor countries (USD 1.3 billion). ODA for social infrastructure and services totalled USD 193.7 million, with a focus on education (USD 143.8 million). Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 102.4 million (6% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations focused predominantly on other macro sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Poland committed 10.9% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 3.2% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 10.9 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 2.7% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Poland includes gender equality objectives in 13.9% of its humanitarian aid, significantly below the 2022-23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Poland screens less than half of bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (31.2% in 2022-23).
Poland allocated USD 100 000 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, Poland committed 4.5% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 14.7 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up slightly from 4.4% in 2020-21. In addition:
Five per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 9.6%.
Three per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 10.6 million) focused on climate change overall, down from 3.8% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Poland had a greater focus on mitigation (0%) than on adaptation (0%) in 2022-23.
One per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 1.3 million) focused on biodiversity overall, up slightly from 0.8% 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.
In 2023, Poland:
Allocated 0.2% of bilateral ODA (USD 4.1 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, and water supply and sanitation) and development food aid. A further 0.1% of bilateral ODA (USD 1 million) went to social protection support.
Committed USD 17.6 million (7% 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; government and civil society; and agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Committed USD 11.8 million (4.7% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Sometimes seeks exemptions from local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services. Poland does not have a general policy in place. It reports this information on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 39.2 million (15.6% 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 Poland as TOSSD totalled USD 2.7 billion, down from USD 4.2 billion in 2022. Poland’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 1 (no poverty) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). 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 is able to 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, less than 50 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.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Poland’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 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
Polish Aid: https://www.gov.pl/web/polishaid
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA): https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy
CSO umbrella organisation Grupa Zagranica: https://zagranica.org.pl
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”.
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.
© OECD 2025
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Attribution – you must cite the work.
Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid.
Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.
Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement.
You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.
Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.
← 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.