The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is in charge of implementing all bilateral projects and programmes of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). For this, ADA has various financing instruments at its disposal.
In priority countries and key regions, ADC contributes to implementing national development plans or regional strategies. Increasing use is made of the capacities in the partner countries themselves or programme-based approaches. In most cases funding agreements are concluded with partner country institutions and organisations. In addition programmes and projects can also be implemented by project executing agencies selected by means of calls to tender or an application procedure.

For all developing countries, ADA provides the following aid instruments:

• NGO cooperation international finances projects and programmes of Austrian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) aiming at improving the conditions of life and development prospects of people in partner countries.
• Humanitarian aid funds emergency measures in the event of disasters as well as disaster prevention and reconstruction projects in crisis regions.
• Development communication and education in Austria promotes projects to raise the awareness of the Austrian population for development-policy issues and the global context.
• Business partnerships support enterprises from Austria or the European Economic Area (EEA) that make long-term investments in developing countries and take active measures to improve the local social, ecological or economic environment.

There are precise guidelines for the various finance instruments, specifying the stakeholders, formal criteria, procedures and responsibilities.