Sustainable development policy calls for global solutions. This is why consultations with partner countries on programmes and projects in international organisations and institutions play an increasing role. The aim is to bundle strengths and harness synergies. Signed by about 100 advanced and developing countries and numerous international organisations, the Paris Declaration is a seminal guideline on how to do this.

Austrian Development Cooperation is also engaged internationally and collaborates in the bodies of the United Nations (UN), the World Bank Group, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and in the development cooperation committees of the European Union.

Getting more done together

As a prominent member of the United Nations, Austria seeks to ensure concerted and efficient development cooperation within the UN. It does this by cooperating with various UN agencies and taking part in numerous conferences on development-policy issues (Doha Development Round of the WTO in 2001 and 2008, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002, Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development in 2003). Close cooperation amongst the UN member states also enables them to respond swiftly to unforeseeable developments, such as environmental disasters or conflicts.

Statistics, reports and consultations

Besides its membership in the United Nations, Austria belongs to the OECD as of 1961 and maintains its own mission at the OECD headquarters in Paris. The 30 member states of the OECD spend more than EUR 100 billion on development cooperation every year, more than 90 per cent of official development assistance worldwide. It is in the interests of donor and recipient countries alike to put these funds to efficient and purposeful use and coordinate the various activities for greater effectiveness. This is one reason why the OECD keeps precise statistics on the volume and pattern of development aid. The data is broken down by donor and recipient countries and by aid provided via bilateral channels or multilateral development organisations. In the annual Development Co-operation Report, the chairperson of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) gives an account of the current status of development cooperation and also records development assistance in the form of debt relief.

HIPC Initiative

Debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative introduced in 1996 by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reduces the burden on heavily indebted poor countries to facilitate their economic and social development. Decisions on admission to this programme of bilateral debt cancellations are made on the basis of the national Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) to be drafted by the respective countries. Austria takes part in this initiative.

International transfer of know-how and funds

Austria is also involved in drafting policy and in capital replenishment for international financial institutions, the World Bank Group above all. These organisations play an essential role in global development cooperation by transferring financial resources and know-how to less developed countries. They pay special attention to setting up and strengthening the institutional and political framework for economic and social development in the recipient countries.