OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Greece 2019
The OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts periodic reviews of the individual development co-operation efforts of DAC members. The policies and programmes of each DAC member are critically examined approximately once every five years. DAC peer reviews assess the performance of a given member, not just that of its development co-operation agency, and examine both policy and implementation. They take an integrated, system-wide perspective on the development co-operation and humanitarian assistance activities of the member under review.
Since its last peer review, a severe economic recession brought about significant cuts to Greece’s national budget – including official development assistance. However, Greece has maintained its commitment to development co-operation. In response to the refugee and migration crisis Greece mobilised resources and its population to provide significant support to asylum seekers and refugees, and adapted its domestic policies to create conditions for peaceful co-existence between refugees, asylum seekers and the Greek population. As the economy recovers and Greece considers stepping up its development co-operation, this review recommends a number of steps that the government might take including building a new vision for development co-operation and putting in place the structures and systems to achieve it.
Greece's global efforts to support sustainable development
This chapter examines Greece’s approach to global sustainable development, including its response to global challenges, action to ensure coherence between domestic policies and global sustainable development objectives, and efforts to raise awareness of global development issues at home. Greece engages in global processes to resolve challenges facing the Mediterranean, Southeast Europe and the Middle East, and advocates for a safe marine environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece recognises the importance of policy coherence for sustainable development, but has not updated its legal framework to determine leadership, responsibility and accountability, or established a co-ordination mechanism for it. While Greece has intensified efforts to combat trafficking in human beings, greater efforts are needed to prevent corruption and illicit financial flows, and combat bribery. The solidarity shown to migrants provides a good foundation for public support for development co-operation. Engaging the public on the sustainable development goals could enhance global awareness among Greeks.