The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts peer reviews of individual members once every five to six years. Reviews seek to improve the quality and effectiveness of members’ development co-operation, highlighting good practices and recommending improvements.
The peer review of Italy, led by Germany and Iceland, examines how Italy is adapting its development co-operation to a context of heightened political attention. Since the launch of the Mattei Plan in 2024, development co-operation has been placed more firmly at the heart of foreign policy, with a growing engagement in Africa as the main geographic priority, and increased attention to migration and private sector engagement. Italy has maintained its official development assistance (ODA) levels and continues to play an active multilateral role, while expanding its financing toolkit. The report underlines the need for resources to keep pace with growing ambitions, while maintaining coherence and effectiveness across an increasingly complex system. Strengthening strategic focus, implementation capacity, and co-ordination will be essential to fully realise Italy’s development co-operation objectives.
