Development Co‑operation Profiles: Slovenia
Table of contents
Slovenia’s development co-operation focuses on its near neighbourhood in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, including by sharing its experience of accessing the European Union (EU). Over half of Slovenia’s official development assistance (ODA) is delivered multilaterally, and the European Union receives almost all of its multilateral ODA. Slovenia’s total official development assistance (ODA) decreased in 2024 to USD 164.4 million (preliminary data), representing 0.23% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
Slovenia’s legal and policy framework comprises the International Development Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia Act, the September 2017 Resolution, the November 2018 Decree, and the Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Strategy until 2030, providing a framework for multilateral activities and scope to enhance bilateral co-operation. Slovenia’s strategy identifies two thematic priorities: 1) productive employment, decent work and an inclusive society, which includes education, enabling business environments, private sector development, the rule of law and good governance; and 2) sustainable management of natural resources and the fight against climate change, which includes water management and the transition to a circular economy. Gender equality and environmental protection are both cross-cutting priorities.
Slovenia strives for a strong European Union and a strong multilateral system. It pays particular attention to integrating Western Balkan countries into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Slovenia presided over the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021, focusing on bolstering EU resilience, aiding in post-pandemic recovery and advocating for the enlargement towards the Western Balkans. Slovenia also has had a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2024-25 term. This role allows Slovenia to actively participate in global issues, promoting conflict prevention, gender equality and addressing climate change.
The 2024 OECD-DAC Peer Review found that Slovenia punches above its weight as it influences decision making in multilateral organisations in line with its priorities. Partners value its strong support to the Western Balkans, anchored in its EU accession experience, as well as its support to demining efforts around the world. The Development Assistance Committee (DAC) recommended that Slovenia further focus development co-operation on selected priority countries and key multilateral partners to make the most of its expertise and experience. It also encouraged Slovenia to improve the coherence of development co-operation through further cross-government co-ordination, notably in education support. Discover insights from Slovenia’s 2024 Peer Review and 2020 mid-term review, and learn from Slovenia’s practices in Development Co-operation Tools Insights Practices (TIPs).
Slovenia provided USD 164.4 million (preliminary data) of ODA in 2024 (USD 160.7 million in constant terms), representing 0.23% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 1.8% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2023.Slovenia is committed, at the European level, to achieve 0.33% ODA/GNI and collectively a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Slovenia provided all of its ODA as grants in 2022.2
In 2024, Slovenia ranked 24th among DAC member countries when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. In 2023, more than half of its ODA was provided multilaterally, primarily to EU institutions. Bilateral ODA mostly focused on the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, with a focus on education. Slovenia was among the DAC members that provided a higher share of total gross ODA to technical co-operation in 2023 (14%).
Slovenia 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.
Slovenia provided a higher share of its ODA multilaterally in 2023. Gross bilateral ODA was 41.6% of total ODA disbursements. Twelve per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2023, Slovenia provided USD 103.6 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, a fall of 0.6% in real terms from 2022. Of this, USD 95.6 million was core multilateral ODA (58.4% of total ODA), while USD 8 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 13.8% of Slovenia’s non‑core contributions and 86.2% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
The UN system received 9.3% of Slovenia’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 6 million (62.7%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 9.6 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Slovenia’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were World Food Programme (USD 2 million), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (USD 1.3 million) and the UN Secretariat (USD 1.2 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, Slovenia’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 68.1 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 31.2% in real terms from 2022.
In 2023, country programmable aid amounted to USD 11.5 million, or 16.9% of Slovenia’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 43.1%. In-donor refugee costs were USD 17.9 million in 2023, representing 26.4% of Slovenia’s gross bilateral ODA. This was a decrease of 39% in real terms over 2022.
In 2023, Slovenia channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector. Technical co-operation made up 14.4% of gross ODA in 2023.
In 2023, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 8.9 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 0.5% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 2.6% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 10.5% 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 4.9% to 13.1%. Learn more about the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2023, Slovenia’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on ODA-eligible countries in Europe. USD 33.5 million was allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 19.7% was for Ukraine) and USD 4.4 million to countries in Africa, accounting respectively for 49.2% and 6.4% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 4.2 million was allocated to the Middle East. Europe was also the main regional recipient of Slovenia’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations. Slovenia’s geographic focus is in line with its overall policy regional focus.
In 2023, 52.9% of gross bilateral ODA went to Slovenia’s top 10 recipients. Its top 10 recipients are in Europe and Africa, in line with its focus on its immediate neighbourhood and its policy priorities. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 40%, of which 65.9% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2023, Slovenia allocated 0.02% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Slovenia allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (40.8%) to upper middle-income countries in 2023, noting that 40% was unallocated by income group. LDCs received 3% of Slovenia’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 2 million). Additionally, Slovenia allocated 13.9% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2023, equal to USD 9.4 million.
Looking at the distribution of Slovenia’s ODA in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”,3 the amount was USD 0.02 per person in LDCs, USD 0.1 in lower middle-income countries and USD 1 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2024 , Slovenia provided USD 6.9 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s full-scale invasion, a 2.8% increase from 2023 in real terms. USD 2 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2024, a 31.5% decrease from 2023.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 7.1 million in 2023, representing 10.4% of Slovenia’s gross bilateral ODA. Seventy per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, an increase from 4.6% in 2022, while 9.7% was allocated to peace, an increase from 3.2% in 2022. Five per cent of gross bilateral ODA went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing an increase from 2.2% in 2022. Learn more about the OECD States of Fragility platform.
In 2023, the largest focus of Slovenia’s bilateral ODA was social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 46.5% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 34.4 million), with a strong focus on support to education (USD 20.2 million), government and civil society (USD 7.6 million), and water supply and sanitation (USD 4.9 million). ODA for other macro sectors totalled USD 23.2 million, with a focus on refugees in donor countries (USD 17.9 million). Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 13.3 million (17.9% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors in 2023.
In the period 2022-23, Slovenia committed 15.8% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment, compared to 12% in 2020-214 and a 2022-23 DAC average of 45.8%. This is equal to USD 3.3 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 9.3% in 2022-23, compared with the DAC average of 4%.
Slovenia includes gender equality objectives in 1.2% of ODA for humanitarian aid, below the 2022‑23 DAC average of 19.1%.
Slovenia screens the majority of bilateral allocable ODA activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (73.3% in 2022-23).
Slovenia committed USD 0.7 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls and USD 0.1 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, Slovenia committed 20.6% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 5.1 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 12.9% 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%.
Seventeen per cent of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 4.9 million) focused on climate change overall, up from 8.7% in 2020-21 (the DAC average was 34.8%). Slovenia had a greater focus on mitigation (22.3%) than on adaptation (19.9%) in 2022-23.
Three per cent of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 0.7 million) focused on biodiversity overall, up from 0.2% 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, Slovenia:
Allocated 6% of its bilateral ODA (USD 4.1 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. No bilateral ODA (USD 0 million) went to social protection support.
Did not seek tax exemptions on its ODA-funded goods and services in partner countries and territories. It did not make the information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 2.6 million (8.4% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2023.
Slovenia uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2023, Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) mobilised USD 0.3 million from the private sector through simple co-financing.
Private finance mobilised by Slovenia in 2022-23 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 52.2% of its total mobilised. Only 47.3% of total mobilised private finance during this period benefited the LDCs and other low-income countries, noting that 0.5% was unallocated by income.
Mobilised private finance by Slovenia in 2022-23 related mainly to activities in government and civil society (46.6%), as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 49.2% of Slovenia’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 Slovenia as TOSSD totalled USD 170.2 million, down from USD 200.1 million in 2022. Slovenia’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 1 (no poverty) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The MFEA is the national co-ordinator for development co‑operation. It is responsible for co-ordinating development co-operation policies and implementation between line ministries as well as consulting with providers, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders. The Permanent Coordination Group for International Development Cooperation plans, co‑ordinates and monitors the implementation of development co-operation. In 2023, the Ministry of Finance disbursed the largest amount of ODA, primarily to multilateral institutions, followed by the MFEA.
The MFEA has 21 full-time employed staff and 20 full-time equivalents covered by staff working part-time on development co-operation, 70% of which are based in Ljubljana and 30% of which are in country offices/embassies abroad.
The main mechanism for consulting stakeholders is the Expert Council, which advises the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs on development co-operation. It comprises representatives from ministries, foundations, CSOs, academia and businesses involved in development co-operation. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate under the umbrella body Platform SLOGA (Slovenian Global Action).
Internal systems and processes help ensure the effective delivery of Slovenia’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.
2024 OECD-DAC Peer Review of Slovenia: https://doi.org/10.1787/79368eab-en
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid: https://www.gov.si/en/state-authorities/ministries/ministry-of-foreign-and-european-affairs/about-the-ministry-of-foreign-and-european-affairs/directorate-for-development-cooperation-and-humanitarian-aid
Resolution on Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance of the Republic of Slovenia: https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MZZ/Dokumenti/multilaterala/razvojno-sodelovanje/Resolution-on-development-cooperation-and-humanitarian-assistance-of-the-Republic-of-Slovenia.pdf
CSO umbrella organisation Platform SLOGA (Slovenian Global Action): https://sloga-platform.org
Slovenia 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.
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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. More information on this indicator is available 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.