One of seven sections in the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (MFA) is in charge of all matters to do with Austrian Development Cooperation. The development-policy positions and strategic framework for Austrian Development Cooperation are drafted in Section VII, Development Cooperation.

Know-how clusters

Section VII is divided into five departments:

• Department VII.1 is in charge of multilateral development cooperation. It conducts ongoing dialogue with the bodies of the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and other international development organisations.
• Department VII.2 is responsible for the strategic planning of Austrian development policy and its evaluation.
• Humanitarian aid, food aid, disaster relief and environmental and sustainability aspects of development policy are dealt with in Department VII.3.
• Department VII.4 informs Austrians about the services of Austrian Development Cooperation, coordinates developmental activities in the interior and bears responsibility for security, development and governance in development policy.
• In consultation with the Austrian Development Agency, Department VII.5 is in charge of charting the strategic course of cooperation with the partner countries and regions.