Development Co‑operation Profiles: Italy

Italy’s development co-operation is shaped by a strengthened political commitment to Africa, with a focus on agriculture and food security, environment and climate change, risk reduction and energy, health, and water and sanitation. Gender equality and the digital transition are also crucial themes. Since the launch of the Mattei Plan in 2024, development co-operation has been placed more firmly at the heart of foreign policy and mobilised to address global challenges while seeking greater engagement with the private sector. Italy’s total official development assistance (ODA) (USD 7.3 billion, preliminary data) slightly increased in 2025, representing 0.3% of gross national income (GNI).

This profile presents verified data on Italy’s development assistance allocations. See the Development Co‑operation Profiles.

Law 125/2014 sets out the primary objectives of Italian development co-operation: poverty eradication, reducing inequalities, improving well-being and promoting sustainable development; human rights, including gender equality, equal opportunities for everyone, democracy and the rule of law; and conflict prevention, peacebuilding, reconciliation and stabilisation processes, as well as institution building. The law also broadens partnerships, operationalises Italy’s development policy, and strengthens accountability and transparency. The 2024-2026 Three-Year Programming and Policy Planning Document establishes key priorities, focusing on 38 priority countries, 23 of which are in Africa. Sixteen of Italy’s 38 priority partners are categorised as LDCs, all of them in Africa, and 25 of the 38 are considered to be fragile or conflict affected.

Italy remains a strong supporter of multilateralism while promoting innovative financing, including debt-for-development swaps and support to multilateral development banks. It aligns its multilateral engagement with broader foreign policy priorities, including on Africa, climate action and migration, and leverages platforms such as the G7 and the European Union (EU) to advance its agenda.

The 2026 OECD-DAC Peer Review praised Italy’s strong political commitment toward and clear focus on Africa, its whole-of-system approach to programming alongside an expanding financing toolkit, as well as its partnership-based delivery model. The review recommended aligning ODA resources with growing geographic ambitions, improving co-ordination across existing bodies through clearer roles and streamlined procedures, strengthening migration-development linkages, and continuing to reinforce implementation capacity within the Italian Agency for International Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Italy’s development finance institution. The 2026 Peer Review found that Italy had fully or partially implemented all the recommendations made in its previous 2019 Peer Review.

Discover insights from Italy’s 2026 Peer Review and learn from Italy’s practices in Development Co‑operation Tools Insights Practices.

Italy provided USD 7.3 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2025 (USD 6.8 billion in constant terms), representing 0.3% of GNI.1 It increased slightly in real terms and increased in the share of GNI from 2024. Italy’s ODA has stabilised in recent years after fluctuations linked to in-donor refugee costs. Italy intends to align its multi-year trends with international standards on ODA and gradually approach the 0.7% ODA/GNI target of the 2030 Agenda. Within Italy’s ODA portfolio in 2024, 94.7% was provided in the form of grants and 5.3% was extended as loans.

In 2025, Italy ranked 8^th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members in terms of ODA volume and 17th when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. Italy’s allocations reflect strong policy commitments to Africa—particularly under the Mattei Plan—focusing on stability, energy, education, and migration related drivers, aligning ODA closely with its strategic priorities. Italy’s development co-operation is also characterised by a strong focus on the LDCs and partnerships with local civil society organisations (CSOs), with targeted efforts in sectors such as health, education, agriculture/food security, and climate.

Italy is committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.

Italy provided a slightly higher share of its ODA multilaterally in 2024. Gross bilateral ODA was 48.3% of total ODA disbursements. Of this, 20.4% was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).

In 2024, Italy provided USD 4.3 billion of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 12% in real terms from 2023. Of this, USD 3.6 billion was core multilateral ODA (51.7% of total ODA), while USD 690 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 49.3% of Italy’s non‑core contributions, and 50.7% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds). The European institutions (USD 2.8 billion) are by far Italy’s main multilateral partner.

The United Nations (UN) system received 12.2% of Italy’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 367.1 million (69.9%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 525.3 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Italy’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the World Food Programme (USD 51.1 million), the UN Secretariat (USD 50.4 million) and the United Nations Development Programme (USD 46.2 million).

See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.

Learn more by exploring the DAC members’ use of the multilateral system dashboard.

In 2024, Italy’s bilateral spending increased compared to the previous year. It provided USD 3.4 billion of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented an increase of 18.5% in real terms from 2023.

In 2024, country programmable aid amounted to USD 904.6 million, or 26.7% of Italy’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 46.5%.

Italy’s in-donor refugee costs amounted to USD 1.8 billion (53.9% of gross bilateral ODA) in 2024, while humanitarian aid was USD 267.1 million, or 6.5% of gross bilateral ODA.

In 2024, Italy channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector and multilateral organisations. Technical co-operation made up 4.8% of gross ODA in 2024.

In 2024, CSOs received USD 191.7 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 34.7% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 3.2% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 2.4% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2023 to 2024, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs decreased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 7.4% to 5.7%.

Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid and by exploring the ODA to civil society organisations dashboard.

In 2024, Italy’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on countries in Africa. USD 794.6 million was allocated to countries in Africa and USD 177.6 million to the Middle East, accounting respectively for 23.5% and 5.2% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 104.9 million was allocated to America. Countries in Africa were also the main regional recipient of Italy’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations. This strong focus on Africa is in line with Italy’s policy and geographic priorities set out in the 2024-2026 Three-Year Programming and Policy Planning Document.

In 2024, 18.2% of gross bilateral ODA went to Italy’s top 10 recipients. Italy’s top 10 recipients are in Africa and the Middle East, where Italy has programmes with a total of 28 countries. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 68.9%, of which 78.3% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.

In 2024, Italy allocated 0.05% of its GNI to the LDCs. Italy allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (12.2%) to least developed countries in 2024 (USD 414.4 million), noting that 68.9% was unallocated by income group. Additionally, Italy allocated 9.4% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2024, equal to USD 317.8 million.

The distribution of Italy’s ODA in net terms in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”2 was USD 1.1 in the LDCs, USD 4.1 in lower middle-income countries and USD 4.7 in upper middle-income countries.

In 2025, Italy provided USD 220.7 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, a 156.1% increase from 2024 in real terms. USD 0.6 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2025, a 66% decrease in real terms from 2024.

Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 645.7 million in 2024, representing 19.1% of Italy’s gross bilateral ODA. Of this ODA, 21.6% was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 28.2% in 2023, while 8.3% was allocated to peace, an increase from 7.6% in 2023. Conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, represented 2.9% of gross bilateral ODA, increasing from 0.4% in 2023.

Learn more about the States of Fragility platform.

In 2024, the largest focus of Italy’s bilateral ODA was other macro sectors. Investments in this area accounted for 50.9% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 2.1 billion), with the largest focus on support to refugees in donor countries (USD 1.8 billion), general budget support (USD 128.9 million) and administrative costs of donors (USD 98 million). ODA for social infrastructure and services totalled USD 618.5 million, with a focus on education (USD 327.7 million). Multi-sector ODA amounted to USD 529.6 million (13% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on economic sectors and social sectors in 2024.

In the period 2023-2024, Italy committed 40.6% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment compared to 39.2% in 2021-2022 and a DAC average of 48.2% in 2023-2024. This is equal to USD 549.6 million of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:

• The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 3.9% in 2023-2024, compared with the DAC average of 4.2%.

• Italy includes gender equality objectives in 69.6% of ODA for humanitarian aid, above the 2023‑2024 DAC average of 21.5%.

• Italy screens the majority of bilateral allocable ODA against the DAC gender equality policy marker (84% in 2023-2024).

• Italy committed USD 16.1 million of ODA to end violence against women and girls, and USD 9.9 million to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average per year in 2023-2024.

Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the development finance for gender equality dashboard.

In 2023-2024, Italy committed 43.1% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 694.9 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 24.6% in 2021-2022. The DAC average was 39%. In addition:

• 23.5% of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.2%.

• 35.6% of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 574.2 million) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 35.4%), up from 19.9% in 2021-2022. Italy had a greater focus on mitigation (37.2%) than on adaptation (23.8%) in 2023-2024.

• 13.4% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 174.4 million) focused on biodiversity overall (the DAC average was 8.6%), up from 8.7% in 2021-2022.

• 12% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 155.3 million) focused on desertification overall (the DAC average was 4.2%), up from 9.1% in 2021-2022.

Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The OECD’s tracking of ODA for the sustainable ocean economy shows that Italy committed USD 14.2 million in support of the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean in 2024, USD 6.2 million more than in 2023. The 2024 value is equivalent to 0.7% of Italy's bilateral allocable ODA.

In 2024, Italy:

• Allocated 2.3% of its bilateral ODA (USD 77 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation, multisector aid for basic social services) and development food aid. In addition, 0.5% of bilateral ODA (USD 15.6 million) went to social protection support. Learn more by exploring the Reducing poverty and inequalities through ODA data explainer.

• Committed USD 308.6 million (14.8% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as emergency response, agriculture, forestry, fishing and other multisector.

• Committed USD 190.5 million (9.1% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

• Committed USD 600 000 to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries. Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Italy seeks exemptions and makes this information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.

• Committed USD 594 million (28.4% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2024. Learn more by exploring the Aid for Trade dashboard.

In 2024, total official and private flows from Italy to developing countries amounted to USD 10.3 billion in net terms. Official sources accounted for USD 10.1 billion, while USD 269.4 million originated from private sources.

To help build markets in developing countries and incentivise greater mobilisation of private resources for development, many providers, including Italy, have established development finance institutions and similar vehicles that extend private sector instruments (PSI). Italy does not account its PSI in ODA.

In 2024, CDP extended USD 188.5 million in the form of PSI to developing countries.3 Of this, loans accounted for 51.4% whereas equities accounted for 16.6%. Other PSI included grants.

In 2024, USD 4.3 million (2.3%) of Italy’s PSI were allocated to the LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs). By contrast, 73.1% was received by middle-income countries, notably upper middle-income countries (58.9%). USD 46.5 million was unallocated by income. Italy’s PSI primarily supported projects in the industry, mining, construction (65.5%) and energy (13.7%) sectors.

Italy uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2024, CDP and Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (funds administered by CDP) mobilised USD 108.8 million from the private sector through simple co-financing.

Private finance mobilised by Italy in 2023-2024 mainly targeted middle-income countries, representing 95.3% of its total mobilised, noting that 4.7% was unallocated by income.

Mobilised private finance by Italy in 2023-2024 related mainly to activities in industry, mining, construction (64.3%) as its top sector. Furthermore, over this period, 100% of Italy’s total mobilised private finance was for climate action.

Learn more by exploring the Mobilisation of private finance for development dashboard.

Total official support for sustainable development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases the transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs received by developing countries (Pillar 1) and for addressing global challenges (Pillar 2). In 2024, activities reported by Italy as TOSSD totalled USD 8 billion, marking a 28% decrease compared with the previous year.4 Italy’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG17 (partnerships for the Goals).

Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), through its Directorate General for Development Cooperation, is responsible for strategically steering, overseeing and co-ordinating the implementation of Italy’s development co-operation policy, including international political representation in the broader context of Italy’s support for sustainable development. The Ministry of Economy and Finance, in co-ordination with MAECI, is responsible for liaising with multilateral development banks and funds for funding, debt relief operations and soft concessional loans. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the Ministry of Interior allocate ODA to climate- and biodiversity-related entities and activities, and for in-donor refugee costs, respectively.

Italy delivers its bilateral development programmes mainly through AICS. Operating within the framework of the MAECI political guidelines, the Agency is responsible for the technical and operational phases of co-operation initiatives. It operates in partner countries through its 20 country offices. CDP, Italy’s development finance institution, manages concessional finance, co-financing with partners and implementation of EU funds, with a strengthened mandate following the creation of the Italian Climate Fund in 2022.

As of 31 December 2024, the MAECI had 114 staff working on development co-operation at headquarters. By January 2025, AICS had 679 staff working on development co-operation, 525 of whom were in country offices. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has 39 staff members working on development co-operation; none serve abroad. As of end 2025, CDP had 73 staff members working on development co-operation, 6 of whom were abroad.

The National Council for Development Cooperation is Italy’s main mechanism for consulting stakeholders. It was established by Article 16 of Law 125/2014 and brings together CSOs and networks, public institutions, local authorities, and private sector actors, and serves as a permanent multi‑stakeholder advisory platform. Most CSOs are active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education and co-ordinate through the umbrella body, Concord Italia.

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development placed a renewed emphasis on strengthening the effectiveness of all forms of development co-operation by upholding and elevating the Effectiveness Principles. Adherence to these principles is measured through the partner country-led monitoring exercise of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC).

Internal systems and processes help ensure the delivery of Italy’s development co-operation. The table below highlights select features.

Access the full list of development co-operation providers at: Development Co-operation Profiles.

2026 OECD-DAC peer review of Italy: https://doi.org/10.1787/6b00e143-en

2022 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Italy: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/AR(2024)3/12/en/pdf.

Agency for International Development Cooperation (AICS): https://www.aics.gov.it.

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP): https://www.cdp.it/sitointernet/en/cooperazione_internazionale.page.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation: https://www.esteri.it/en/politica-estera-e-cooperazione-allo-sviluppo.

Italy has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 1960.

The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.