In addition to Austrian Development Cooperation, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank, ministries, federal states and municipalities also contribute with public funds to the national development assistance budget.

Ministries

Federal Ministry of Finance

The Three-Year Programme on Austrian development policy is drawn up by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (MFA) in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). The Austrian Finance Ministry also acts as the advocate of Austrian interests in development and foreign trade policy in dealings with multilateral development banks and is responsible for the operations of the Austrian Development Bank (OeEB). Capital payments and contributions to the funds of international financial institutions (IFIs) are financed from the budget of the Finance Ministry. The contributions to European Union (EU) development cooperation under the European Development Fund (EDF) are also made from this budget. Where classified as official development assistance (ODA), soft loans and internationally agreed debt relief measures in export guarantees under the Club of Paris also come under the purview of the ministry.

Federal Ministry of the Interior

The Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) is responsible for asylum affairs. Besides assisting refugees in Austria, it is responsible for administering and disbursing the annual budget of the European Refugee Fund. This aims at facilitating the return and reintegration of refugees and advancing a common EU asylum policy.

Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management

The Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, the Life Ministry for short, is committed to sustainable agriculture, forestry and water management at home and internationally. The Life Ministry communicates its concerns to the general public by providing information and raising awareness. As part of its sustainable and ecological agricultural and food policy, it advocates fair production conditions, species-appropriate livestock keeping and the conservation of water resources. It also seeks to promote food security in Austria and reduce hunger throughout the world.

Federal Ministry of Defence

The Federal Ministry of Defence (BMLV) contributes to development cooperation through conflict prevention. As a member of many international organisations, Austria implements peacekeeping measures and takes part in international peace support and humanitarian missions as well as disaster relief operations. Since 1960, more than 70,000 Austrian soldiers have been deployed in 83 missions on all five continents.

Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture

Development education in the Education Ministry seeks to impart an understanding of the interconnections amongst local, regional and worldwide concerns and foster responsible behaviour for sustainable development. One focus here is the promotion of the workshop series, World Awareness, which addresses themes ranging from consumer awareness to sociopolitical, socioeconomic and ecological issues. Priority is also attached to awareness measures on the Millennium Development Goals. Other fields of activity at national and international level include initiatives for framing and implementing a strategy for global learning and education for sustainable development.

Federal Ministry of Science and Research

The Commission for Development Issues (KEF) is engaged in research for development on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research (BMWF). The Commission's main tasks include promoting research partnerships between researchers from Austria and developing countries, particularly at project level, as well as policy advice and informational and educational work in research for development (budget for 2008: EUR 350,000). The ministry is also a member of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy (CSTP), which promotes international cooperation in science and research and informs policymakers on the significance of science and technology for sustainable economic growth. Under the auspices of the United Nations, the Ministry of Science and Research together with the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (MFA), which is responsible for UN relations, nominates the Austrian representation for the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD). This assists both the UN General Assembly and the ECOSOC itself in research for development. The ministry coordinates Austrian participation in the 7th EU Research Framework Programme, which also promotes research partnerships in international cooperation with developing countries as well as participation in EU third state programmes in the higher education sector. It is also responsible for bilateral memoranda and agreements in Scientific and Technical Cooperation (STC) with numerous partner countries throughout the world and promotes the international mobility of researchers and students to and from Austria through various programmes.

Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth

The Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth has launched in 2003 "go international", an initiative to promote Austrian exports in close cooperation with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. Within the scope of the broad issue of private sector and development the Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth finances activities of the Austrian Development Cooperation such as the establishment of a representation office in Brussels, co-finances World Bank projects with the ultimate aim of improving the investment climate of South Eastern Europe as well as the publication of an entrepreneurs guide. The information office for private sector and development has been established in 2008 to raise public awareness for the contribution of the private sector to development. The new programmatic guidelines for the Austrian foreign trade and investment policy "Shaping globalisation - success through openness and innovation" has been elaborated under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth and presented to the public in April 2008. It has been laid down in the new programmatic statement of the Austrian government. The guidelines favour a strategic partnership between foreign trade and investment policy and development cooperation and this strategic partnership should generate benefit for developing countries as well as the Austrian private sector.
The Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth also contributes to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund of the WTO to support developing countries' ef-forts to better integrate into the multilateral economic system.

Development Bank

Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank

Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB), the official Development Bank of Austria, acts on behalf of the Federal Government. It is specialised in realising private-sector projects that require long-term financing and that can service their borrowings out of their own cash flow, and have a sustainable impact on the regional economic development. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG (OeKB) - the Export Credit Agency of Austria - it is a private financial entity with a public mandate. At the same time it benefits from the network and international know-how of OeKB Group. In pursuing its objective to find long-term customised financing solutions it is faced with very challenging markets in developing countries where these services and financing products are usually not available. Compared to commercial banks, OeEB can assume higher risks on individual transactions, because of its special mandate (e.g. loan volume, tenors, high-risk countries). OeEB hence takes up the role of closing the gap between services of the ADC, ADA and the financing solutions offered by commercial banks. It is committed to safeguarding the objectives of the ADC, and its projects are designed to contribute to sustainable development.
Accompanying to the financing solutions of OeEB, the Republic of Austria has earmarked special budgetary resources for project-supporting measures, the so-called Advisory Programmes. These can be made available for the purpose of identifying, preparing, inspecting, monitoring and implementing projects, and shall be creditable as ODA.

Federal States

Federal State of Vienna

Vienna supports non-governmental organisations in implementing development projects in Africa, Asia and above all in Eastern Europe. The contents of the projects are geared to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Other substantive priorities are combating international trafficking in women and strengthening Romany communities in Eastern Europe. As part of a climate protection programme, Vienna supports biofarming and fair trade products. It also finances budget support and disaster relief. Specific events on current topics in development cooperation are also held every year in Vienna City Hall. In 1991, the City of Vienna set up a staff unit for relief and emergency measures for the systematic coordination of the previous spontaneous and intermittent disaster relief. As of 2002, the Executive Group for International Relations in the Chief Executive Office is responsible for the foreign aid provided by the City of Vienna.

Federal State of Lower Austria

Development policy in the Federal State of Lower Austria is geared to the international Millennium Development Goals and the objectives of Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). Lower Austrian development cooperation thus focuses on advancing South-North partnerships with the emphasis on Africa, cooperation with Eastern Europe in line with the EU development programmes, development education and public relations, the promotion of fair trade and the implementation of gender mainstreaming as a cross-sectional task of ADC.

As a member of the Climate Alliance for fifteen years now, Lower Austria has been engaged in defending the interests of the indigenous partners on the Upper Rio Negro and actively encourages its municipalities (at present about 300) to join.

Since 2002, the developmental activities of the Federal State of Lower Austria have centred on promoting fair trade and introducing related products in its municipalities and enterprises and as of 2007 it pursues the development objectives of the Global Marshall Plan.

Federal State of Burgenland

Burgenland takes development cooperation seriously and is in the process of building capacity in this sector. It has provided active assistance in Sri Lanka during the reconstruction phase after the tsunami in 2004/2005, focusing on rebuilding a destroyed village and promoting peace in the island nation suffering under ongoing civil war.

Federal State of Upper Austria

For over 40 years, the Federal State of Upper Austria has been involved in development cooperation to improve the local conditions of life for people in other nations and communicate these activities to the public. Every year, Upper Austrian development cooperation supports 100 projects run by organisations, associations and development aid workers in the state. The campaign, Fair Play, supports innovative ideas in Upper Austrian schools. Once or twice a year, the Federal State of Upper Austria holds a development-policy dialogue forum to present the work and projects to a broad public. Together with the Diocese of Linz, the federal state also awards the Eduard Ploier Prize for Development Cooperation and the Eduard Ploier Prize for Journalism every two years.

Federal State of Salzburg

Major goals of Salzburg's development cooperation are the promotion of civil society for democratic, ecological and conflict-mitigating development and regional cooperation in the economic and social sector. Development cooperation in Salzburg focuses on the San Vicente region in El Salvador and Singida in Tanzania with 20 per cent of all development assistance earmarked for each in the federal state budget in agreement with the partner organisations in these countries. Another 20 per cent of total funds is allocated for education and information at home. On the recommendation of the Advisory Board for Development Policy, the Salzburg Regional Assembly decided on providing active support for the Climate Alliance, the Global Marshall Plan Initiative, the Millennium Development Goals and Fair Trade.

Federal State of Styria

Styrian development cooperation supports local groups with personal contacts to other groups in developing countries. These run joint projects based on the principles of partnership, sustainability and help towards self-help. On the recommendation of the Advisory Board for Development Cooperation, the projects are selected applying qualitative criteria with no territorial restrictions. Styrian development cooperation sees its task as maintaining the many different groups engaged in development assistance, interlinking them and supporting them in their work, which is mostly voluntary. With an annual budget in 2008 of EUR 390,000 for supporting its development projects, the Federal State of Styria has now dedicated the largest sum for aid since its inception in 1981. With this, about 40 projects can be implemented worth more than EUR 1 million in all.

Federal State of Carinthia

For the Federal State of Carinthia, it is important that development cooperation projects have a bearing on the region and raise local awareness. They are also conceived as help towards self-help and take special account of the situation of women and youth. In 1991, the Carinthian Regional Assembly decided to appoint an Advisory Board for Development Policy for this. Twice a year as of 1993, this board discusses projects for promoting development cooperation financed from federal state funds.

Federal State of Tyrol

The Federal State of Tyrol supports projects that contribute to improving the economic, social and cultural situation of especially underprivileged people in developing countries. The target areas are developing countries as defined by OECD, the poorer states of Eastern Europe and needy Tyrolean emigrant settlements. Special emphasis is placed on projects that concentrate on educational, health and community facilities. Assisted projects must involve cooperation between a Tyrolean group or organisation and a group in the target area. Keen participation and initiative is expected of the target group; the projects should be self-supporting and capable of being continued on their own.

Federal State of Vorarlberg

The main principle of development cooperation in the Federal State of Vorarlberg is help towards self-help, which also means respecting the cultural and economic self-determination of the target groups. Development actors in Vorarlberg are interlinked and supported. The principles of the Global Marshall Plan are communicated to a broad public. The Vorarlberg Regional Assembly first earmarked funds for development cooperation in 1960. These are used to assist countries in the so-called Third World and in Eastern Europe. The projects promoted are generally intended to meet basic human needs.

Municipalities

Austrian Association of Municipalities

Austria's municipalities maintain cross-border partnerships to learn more about partner municipalities from other countries with similar concerns and to exchange experience. This tradition already goes back decades in Austria. Municipal and town twinning arrangements have also been promoted by the European Union since 1989. Most partnerships are forged with municipalities in the EU/Europe. Several hundred Austrian municipalities now maintain a partnership with counterparts in other countries. More information on this is available on the website of the Austrian Association of Municipalities.