As a small and growing development agency, the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAIDC) was able to strengthen its systems and capacity to administer funds by managing European Union (EU) programmes in the context of delegated co‑operation agreements. By focusing on countries and sectors where it already had experience, SAIDC has expanded its presence, professionalised operations, and leveraged EU opportunities to complement its bilateral programme and increase impact.
Strengthening the Slovak Republic’s capacity through EU delegated co‑operation
Abstract
As a relatively new and small development agency, the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAIDC) faces the challenge of building expertise and internal systems, and securing resources beyond its bilateral official development assistance (ODA) to sustain and broaden the scope of its operations. To address this, it has sought funding and delegated co-operation projects from the European Union (EU).
SAIDC has taken a step-by-step approach to building its credibility and delivery capacity as an EU implementing partner.
It obtained ISO 9001 certification on quality management systems in 2019.
SAIDC and the state-owned bank, Eximbanka SR, have successfully completed the EU Pillar Assessment, with SAIDC adding the procurement pillar in 2025. This process is used by the European Union to determine if an organisation is able to directly manage EU funds and comply with EU regulations. As entities that have undergone the EU Pillar Assessment, they can be entrusted to implement various EU projects (i.e. “delegated co‑operation”).
The Slovak Republic focuses on sectors or countries where it has experience to increase its impact and competitiveness in bidding for EU delegated co-operation programmes.
As a result of its gradual, strategic approach, SAIDC has steadily expanded its role in EU-funded development co-operation. Key results include:
Opportunities for strategic partnerships: SAIDC was selected to partner with Enabel (Belgium), Expertise France (France), GIZ (Germany), and SNV (Netherlands) to implement the IYBA-SEED project (Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Supporting the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development), under the umbrella of a Team Europe Initiative, valuing EUR 22.9 million – with direct implementation in Kenya and South Africa. This new partnership has enabled the Slovak Republic to expand bilateral financial co‑operation in support of young entrepreneurs.
Capitalising on regional connections to support EU integration and standards: SAIDC joined two multi-year EU consortia (2024-27) for the management of EU funds in Serbia – a country it knows well from its pre-EU accession support. In Serbia, SAIDC works alongside Spain (FIIAPP) and Italy (AICS) to support EU internal market integration with a EUR 1.9 million grant over 36 months.
Strengthened SAIDC capacity: EU delegated co‑operation has enabled SAIDC to recruit more experts and personnel (4 of the agency’s 19 staff positions are linked to these projects) and increase its in-country presence. Participation in EU consortia and practitioners’ networks have also helped SAIDC improve its systems beyond the initial requirements of the EU Pillar Assessment.
Participation in blended finance operations: SAIDC and Eximbanka SR secured support from the EU Ukraine Investment Framework for the blended finance project “EU support to Ukraine – Slovakia Energy Security and Grid Stability Investment Programme.” Eximbanka SR will provide loans and guarantees while SAIDC provides investment grants and technical assistance. The initiative offers Eximbanka SR valuable experience to actively start using concessional export credit loan finance, where it has struggled to gain traction in the past.
Learning from partners has helped SAIDC professionalise. As a relatively small agency, SAIDC has demonstrated agility and a strong capacity to adapt. Working in consortia with more experienced partners has helped strengthen internal systems – particularly in procurement and risk management – and contributed to its credibility as an implementing partner.
Prioritising countries and sectors with prior engagement is a key factor of success. For example, from 2017‑21, SAIDC co‑ordinated an EU-funded Visegrad Four (V4) countries project supporting organic and fair trade certification of smallholders in Kenya, a country where it has engaged bilaterally since 2003. Similarly, from 2022-24, SAIDC led its first EU delegated co‑operation project on supporting local media in Moldova. Both examples show how building on long-standing bilateral engagement creates natural entry points for delegated co‑operation and increases the chances of success.
Balancing focus with visibility remains a challenge. With a modest bilateral programme, the Slovak Republic faces a tension between focusing on fewer sectors or regions to maximise the impact of its bilateral programme, and maintaining a broader presence to enhance visibility and competitiveness in EU consortia. Focusing EU delegated co-operation in areas of bilateral comparative advantage can help reconcile the two.
Co-financing and aligning bilateral programmes with the EU-funded programmes can enhance coherence and impact. For example, the V4 project in costal Kenya allowed the Slovak Republic to forge new partnerships and subsequently expand its bilateral co‑operation to young entrepreneurs. Similarly, SAIDC’s history and network supporting the digital skills and entrepreneurship of Kenyan youth helped during the co-creation of the IYBA-SEED project with consortium partners.
Co‑ordinating and exchanging information at country level is vital for smaller EU Member States. Limited Slovak embassy staff makes the convening power of the EU and information sharing by EU delegations critical to aligning programmes with partner country priorities, and accessing information about EU funding opportunities.
SlovakAid’s European projects: https://slovakaid.sk/en/european-projects/.
OECD (2025), OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Slovak Republic 2025, OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, (forthcoming).
To learn more about Slovak Republic’s development co-operation, see:
OECD, "Slovak Republic", Development Co-operation Profiles, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://read.oecd.org/10.1787/f7504622-en.
More In Practice examples from the Slovak Republic are available on Development Co-operation TIPs • Tools Insights Practices.
