Poland
Poland’s development co-operation focuses on its Eastern European partner countries and select partner countries in Africa and the Middle East. The largest proportion of Poland’s official development assistance (ODA) is provided as core contributions to the multilateral system, particularly to European Union (EU) institutions. Poland’s total ODA (USD 3.4 billion, preliminary data) increased in 2022, representing 0.51% of gross national income (GNI), driven by a surge in in-donor refugee costs, but also higher contributions to international organisations.
Find the methodological notes behind the profile here.
The Multiannual Programme for Development Cooperation for 2021-2030: Solidarity for Development focuses Poland’s bilateral co-operation with its eastern neighbours as well as select partners in Africa and the Middle East, such as Lebanon, Senegal and the United Republic of Tanzania. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, Poland focuses notably on peace, justice and strong institutions, as well as equal opportunities, including in education and labour. Climate action and gender equality are cross-cutting priorities. An annual Development Co-operation Plan sets objectives and actions for Poland’s engagement.
Engagement with the EU is a multilateral priority. Within the EU, Poland has initiated and strongly promotes the Eastern Partnership initiative as a key factor in promoting stability and successful transformation in the EU’s neighbourhood. Poland’s strategy includes a commitment to policy coherence for development (PCD) and identifies several PCD priority areas: illicit financial flows, illegal trade in endangered plant and animal species, and responsible business conduct. In 2022, two new PCD priority areas were added: 1) sustainable cities and communities; and 2) climate (including the environment and seas). These remain priorities under the 2023 annual plan.
Findings from OECD-DAC reviews
The 2019 OECD-DAC mid-term review praised Poland for improving cross-governmental co-ordination on loans and scholarships. Poland has also made progress in making its civil society organisation (CSO) financing more flexible, increasing transparency and engaging with the private sector. The mid-term review highlighted that the introduction of country strategies could help enhance dialogue with partner countries, focus Poland’s programme and promote managing for results. It also underlined that the share of tied aid remains high. Learn more about Poland’s 2019 OECD-DAC mid-term review. Poland’s second OECD-DAC peer review will take place in 2023.
Poland provided USD 3.4 billion (preliminary data) of ODA in 2022 (USD 3.5 billion in constant terms), representing 0.51% of GNI.1 This was an increase of 255.6% in real terms in volume and an increase in share of GNI from 0.15% in 2021 due to a surge in in-donor refugee costs (64.6% of total ODA), but also higher contributions to international organisations. Before 2022, Poland’s ODA volume had been increasing gradually over the past five years. If the 2022 increase in ODA is maintained, Poland will stay on track to meeting its commitment to reach 0.33% of GNI by 2030 as part of the collective EU commitments to achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Within Poland’s ODA portfolio in 2021, 96.7% was provided in the form of grants and 3.3% in the form of non-grants.2
In 2022, Poland ranks 11th among 31 Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member countries when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. The EU remains the most important multilateral channel for Polish ODA. In line with its policy, Poland’s bilateral ODA allocations are highly concentrated in its eastern neighbourhood. Poland’s bilateral ODA remains highly tied.
Poland is committed to several international targets, Development Assistance Committee standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC recommendations.
Poland provided a much higher share of its ODA multilaterally in 2021. Gross bilateral ODA was 30.9% of total ODA. Five per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions). Poland allocated 69.1% of total ODA as core contributions to multilateral organisations.
In 2022, Poland provided USD 226.5 million of gross bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression, of which USD 122.3 million was humanitarian assistance (preliminary data). In 2021, it provided USD 94.9 million.
In 2022, Poland provided USD 14.3 million in ODA for the COVID-19 response. Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, donations of excess doses to developing countries accounted for USD 12.9 million of ODA. In 2020 and 2021, Poland’s total bilateral support for COVID-19 response was USD 21.2 million and USD 67.4 million, respectively.
In 2021, Poland provided USD 702.8 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 6.3% in real terms from 2020. Of this, USD 687.3 million was core multilateral ODA, while non-core contributions were earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 2.9% of Poland’s non-core contributions and 97.1% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
Ninety-one per cent of Poland’s total contributions to multilateral organisations in 2021 was allocated to EU Institutions.
The UN system received 4.9% of Poland’s multilateral contributions, mainly in the form of core contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 34.4 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Poland’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the UN Secretariat (USD 12.1 million), FAO (USD 3.8 million) and WHO (USD 2.9 million).
See the section on Geographic and sectoral focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system. Learn more about multilateral development finance.
In 2021, Poland’s bilateral spending increased compared to the previous year. It provided USD 307.9 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented an increase of 24.5% in real terms from 2020. In 2021, Poland focused most of its bilateral ODA on quality education as well as health and well-being goals of the UN Agenda 2030.
In 2021, country programmable aid was 44.4% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to a DAC country average of 45.2%. Imputed student costs were USD 124.3 million in 2021 and represented 40.4% of Poland’s total gross bilateral ODA. In-donor refugee costs were USD 16.9 million in 2021, an increase of 136.4% in real terms over 2020, and represented 5.5% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA.
Poland disbursed USD 0.12 million for triangular co-operation in 2021. Learn more about triangular co-operation and specific projects at the OECD’s voluntary triangular co-operation project repository.
In 2021, Poland channelled bilateral ODA mainly primarily through the public sector. Technical co-operation made up 14.8% of gross ODA in 2021.
Civil society organisations
In 2021, civil society organisations received USD 22.0 million of gross bilateral ODA. Poland did not provide any ODA as core contributions to CSOs. Of gross bilateral ODA, 7.2% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2020 to 2021, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs decreased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 14.9% to 7.2%. Learn more about ODA allocations to and through CSOs, civil society engagement in development co-operation, and the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid.
In 2021, Poland’s bilateral ODA was primarily focused on Europe. USD 168.8 million was allocated to Europe and USD 68.4 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 54.8% and 22.2% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 30.9 million (10%) was allocated to Africa. Europe was also the main regional recipient of Poland’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, in line with its policy priorities.
In 2021, 71.2% of gross bilateral ODA went to Poland’s top 10 recipients. Its top two recipients by far are priority countries Ukraine and Belarus, while other key recipient countries include priority and non-priority countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The share of gross bilateral ODA that was not allocated by country was 7.1%, with 77.1% of this unallocated bilateral ODA spent on refugees in the donor country.
In 2021, the least developed countries (LDCs) received 11.3% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 34.7 million). This is lower than the DAC average of 22.9%. Poland allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (49.1%) to lower middle-income countries in 2021, noting that 7.1% was unallocated by income group. Poland allocated 8.2% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2021, equal to USD 25.2 million. Poland allocated 0.1% of gross bilateral ODA to small island developing states (SIDS) in 2021, equal to USD 0.2 million.
Fragile contexts
Support to fragile contexts reached USD 57 million in 2021, representing 18.5% of Poland’s gross bilateral ODA. Eight per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, decreasing from 14.6% in 2020, while 1.3% was allocated to peace, decreasing from 3.1% in 2020.
Learn more about support to fragile contexts on the States of Fragility platform.
Sectors
In 2021, over two-thirds of Poland’s bilateral ODA was allocated to social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 78.1% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 240.8 million), with a strong focus on support to education (USD 138.5 million), health (USD 57.5 million) and government and civil society (USD 38.8 million). ODA for economic infrastructure and services totalled 5.3% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 16.2 million), focusing on transport and storage (USD 14.9 million), energy (USD 0.4 million) and business (USD 0.4 million). Bilateral humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 24.4 million (7.9% of bilateral ODA). In 2021, earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations focused on emergency response, government and civil society and debt relief.
Gender equality
In 2020-21, Poland committed 3.2% of its screened bilateral allocable aid to gender equality and women’s empowerment, as either a principal or significant objective (down from 3.8% in 2018-19, compared with the 2020-21 DAC average of 44.4%). This is equal to USD 4.4 million of bilateral ODA in support of gender equality. The share of screened bilateral allocable aid committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 1% in 2020-21, compared with the DAC average of 4.5%. Poland includes gender equality objectives in 5.3% of its ODA for humanitarian aid, compared with the 2020-21 DAC average of 17.5%. Poland screens virtually all activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (99.9% in 2020-21). Learn more about ODA focused on gender equality, the DAC Network on Gender Equality and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation.
Environment
In 2020-21, Poland committed 4.4% of its total bilateral allocable aid (USD 6.2 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions (DAC average of 34.3%), down from 27.7% in 2018-19. Unpacking the environmental data further:
One per cent of screened bilateral allocable aid focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.3%.
Four per cent of total bilateral allocable aid (USD 5.4 million) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 29%), down from 25.9% in 2018-19. Poland had a larger focus on adaptation (3.4%) than on mitigation (1.2%) in 2020-21.
One per cent of total bilateral allocable aid (USD 1.1 million) focused on biodiversity (compared with the DAC average of 6.5%), up from 0.7% in 2018-19.
Learn more about climate-related development finance and the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Committed USD 20.3 million (12.4% of its bilateral allocable aid) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2021.
Committed USD 2.7 million (1.6% of its bilateral allocable aid) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as maternal health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) or agriculture.
Committed USD 3.5 million (2.1% of its bilateral allocable aid) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Regarding the payment of local tax and customs duties for ODA-funded goods and services, Poland does not have a policy guiding exemptions on its ODA-funded goods and services in partner countries and territories. It provides information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA. As an exception, Poland requested an exemption from taxation/duties for firefighting equipment and fire trucks transferred to Ukraine under Polish ODA.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) co-ordinates development co-operation policy under the brand “Polish Aid”. Through the Department of Development Co-operation, it manages most bilateral co-operation and is also responsible for EU co-operation. In addition to contributions to the EU budget, the Ministry of Finance also provides concessional lending after co-ordination with other ministries. The Solidarity Fund, a State Treasury foundation, implements a number of bilateral programmes. The Ministry of Education and Science supervises the implementation of the scholarship programmes of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.
Within the MFA, there are less than 50 staff working on development. In addition, about ten staff are based in Poland’s country offices and embassies and work on development – half of them are full-time.
An important mechanism for consulting stakeholders is the Development Co-operation Policy Council. The council includes representatives of the MFA and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, as well as other relevant actors from public administration, the national parliament, academia, non-governmental organisations and employers’ organisations. It meets at least twice per year. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate through the umbrella body Grupa Zagranica.
The Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation monitoring exercise tracks the implementation of the effectiveness commitments. Following a reform of the exercise during 2020-22, the 4th global monitoring round (2023-26) has resumed. Monitoring profiles for other providers are available here.
2019 OECD-DAC mid-term review of Poland: http://www.oecd.org/dac/peer-reviews/Poland-DAC-Mid-term-review-letter-2019.pdf
2017 OECD-DAC peer review of Poland: https://www.oecd.org/dac/oecd-development-co-operation-peer-reviews-poland-2017-9789264268869-en.htm
Poland’s practices on the Development Co-operation TIPs: Tools Insights Practices learning platform: https://www.oecd.org/development-cooperation-learning?tag-key+partner=poland#search
Polish Aid: https://www.gov.pl/web/polishaid
Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA): https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy
CSO umbrella organisation Grupa Zagranica: https://zagranica.org.pl
Member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 2013.
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 aid, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
Notes
← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2019 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Non-grants include sovereign loans, multilateral loans, equity investment and loans to the private sector.