Slovak Republic
The Slovak Republic’s development co-operation programme is based on its own transformative experience of building independent state institutions, developing a market economy and fulfilling the principles of democracy. The majority of the Slovak Republic’s official development assistance (ODA) is delivered multilaterally through the European Union (EU) institutions. The Slovak Republic’s total ODA (USD 171 million, preliminary data) increased in 2022 due mostly to increased contributions to international organisations, representing 0.15% of gross national income (GNI).
Find the methodological notes behind the profile here.
A mid-term strategy for development co-operation of the Slovak Republic 2019-23 was launched in January 2019. The strategy identifies six focus sectors and a geographical focus on the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership of the EU, East Africa and the Middle East. The Slovak Republic’s main programme countries are Georgia, Kenya and Moldova. New country strategies are strengthening the thematic focus of the Slovak Republic’s engagement. The next mid-term strategy will define a limited set of priorities in line with the Slovak Republic’s strengths.
The Slovak Republic is a strong supporter of a rules-based international system and has demonstrated leadership in international fora such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Human Rights Council, and the United Nations General Assembly. Peace and security is one of its priorities and conflict prevention was a focus of the Slovak Republic’s 2019 Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Findings from OECD-DAC reviews
The 2022 OECD-DAC mid-term review commended the Slovak Republic for strengthening its strategic focus by reducing geographic and thematic fragmentation as well as developing country strategies and guidance on cross-cutting issues. It also highlighted efforts to enhance partnerships with civil society organisations (CSOs) and encouraged continued dialogue on support for CSOs. The mid-term review stressed the need for a cross-government effort to increase ODA and noted that human resources remain a concern for sustaining the reform dynamic. Learn more about the Slovak Republic’s 2022 DAC mid-term review.
The Slovak Republic provided USD 171 million (preliminary data) of ODA in 2022 (USD 179.2 million in constant terms), representing 0.15% of GNI.1 This was an increase of 15.4% in real terms in volume and an increase in share of GNI from 0.14% in 2021. The Slovak Republic has adopted an informal roadmap to reach its European commitment to achieve 0.33% ODA/GNI and collectively achieve a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. The Slovak Republic provided all of its ODA as grants in 2021.
The Slovak Republic ranks 30th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries in terms of ODA/GNI ratio. In the past five years, its ODA/GNI has not increased substantially. The Slovak Republic is among DAC members with highest share of ODA as core contributions to multilateral organisations (76.4%). It has a high share of bilateral ODA for the health sector (35.9% of gross bilateral ODA).
The Slovak Republic is committed to several international targets, Development Assistance Committee standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC recommendations.
The Slovak Republic provided a higher share (76.4%) of its ODA multilaterally in 2021. Gross bilateral ODA was 23.6% of total ODA. Thirty-three per cent of gross bilateral ODA was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions). The Slovak Republic allocated 76.4% of total ODA as core contributions to multilateral organisations.
In 2022, the Slovak Republic provided USD 8.6 million of gross bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression, of which USD 6.5 million was humanitarian assistance (preliminary data). In 2021, it provided USD 1.5 million.
In 2022, the Slovak Republic provided USD 19.6 million in ODA for the COVID-19 response. Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, donations of excess doses to developing countries accounted for USD 15.4 million of ODA. In 2020 and 2021, the Slovak Republic’s total bilateral support for COVID-19 response was USD 1.6 million and USD 13.3 million, respectively.
In 2021, the Slovak Republic provided USD 130.9 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, an increase of 14.5% in real terms from 2020. Of this, USD 118.7 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 78.5% of the Slovak Republic’s non-core contributions and 21.5% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds).
Ninety per cent of the Slovak Republic’s total contributions to multilateral organisations in 2021 was allocated to EU Institutions, other UN entities and the World Bank (in descending order).
The UN system received 7.3% of the Slovak Republic’s multilateral contributions, mainly in the form of core contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 9.6 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of the Slovak Republic’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the UN secretariat (USD 2.5 million), UNDP (USD 1.1 million) and WTO-ITC (USD 0.9 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, the Slovak Republic’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 36.7 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 7.6% in real terms from 2020. In 2021, the Slovak Republic focused most of its bilateral ODA on addressing the health, poverty eradication and peace goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
In 2021, country programmable aid was 67.2% of the Slovak Republic’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to a DAC country average of 45.2%.
In 2021, the Slovak Republic channelled bilateral ODA mainly through the public sector and multilateral organisations as earmarked funding. Technical co-operation made up 1.9% of gross ODA in 2021.
Civil society organisations
In 2021, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 5.1 million of gross bilateral ODA. Zero per cent of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 13.5% 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 increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 12.5% to 14%. 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, the Slovak Republic’s bilateral ODA was primarily focused on Africa. USD 9.2 million was allocated to Africa and USD 8.7 million to Europe, accounting respectively for 25.1% and 23.8% of gross bilateral ODA. USD million (13.7%) was allocated to Asia (excluding the Middle East). Africa was also the main regional recipient of the Slovak Republic’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, in line with the policy priorities of the overall strategy.
In 2021, 47% of gross bilateral ODA went to the Slovak Republic’s top 10 recipients. Its top 10 recipients are programme countries and countries in priority regions, notably in Europe and Africa, plus Indonesia. The share of gross bilateral ODA that was not allocated by country was 29.8%, with 11% of this unallocated bilateral ODA spent on refugees in the donor country.
In 2021, the least developed countries (LDCs) received 16.9% of the Slovak Republic’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 6.2 million). This is lower than the DAC average of 22.9%. The Slovak Republic allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (30.3%) to lower middle-income countries in 2021, noting that 29.8% was unallocated by income group. The Slovak Republic allocated 20.1% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2021, equal to USD 7.4 million. The Slovak Republic did not allocate gross bilateral ODA to small island developing states (SIDS) in 2021.
Fragile contexts
Support to fragile contexts reached USD 7.4 million in 2021, representing 20.1% of the Slovak Republic’s gross bilateral ODA. Zero point four per cent of this ODA was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, decreasing from 11.1% in 2020, while 1.8% was allocated to peace, increasing from 0.6% in 2020. Two per cent went to conflict prevention, a subset of contributions to peace, representing an increase from 0.6% in 2020.
Learn more about support to fragile contexts on the States of Fragility platform.
Sectors
In 2021, over two thirds of the Slovak Republic’s bilateral ODA was allocated to social infrastructure and services. Investments in this area accounted for 68.9% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 26.2 million), with a strong focus on support to health (USD 13.4 million), government and civil society (USD 7.5 million) and education (USD 2.6 million). ODA for economic infrastructure and services totalled 4.2% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 1.6 million), focusing on business (USD 1.2 million) and energy (USD 0.4 million). Bilateral humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 0.6 million (1.5% of bilateral ODA). In 2021, earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations focused on health, government and civil society and energy.
Gender equality
In 2020-21, the Slovak Republic committed 20.2% of its screened bilateral allocable aid to gender equality and women’s empowerment, as either a principal or significant objective (down from 44.8% in 2018-19, compared with the 2020-21 DAC average of 44.4%). This is equal to USD 4.8 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 2.1% in 2020-21, compared with the DAC average of 4.5%. The Slovak Republic includes gender equality objectives in 1.3% of its ODA for humanitarian aid, compared with the 2020-21 DAC average of 17.5%. The Slovak Republic screens all activities against the DAC gender equality policy marker (100% 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, the Slovak Republic committed 12% of its total bilateral allocable aid (USD 2.9 million) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions (DAC average of 34.3%), down from 13.3% in 2018-19. Unpacking the environmental data further:
Four per cent of screened bilateral allocable aid focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.3%.
Five per cent of total bilateral allocable aid (USD 1.1 million) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 29%), down from 6.9% in 2018-19. The Slovak Republic had a greater focus on mitigation (4.5%) than on adaptation (2.1%) in 2020-21.
Three per cent of total bilateral allocable aid (USD 0.6 million) focused on biodiversity (compared with the DAC average of 6.5%), down from 3.4% 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 0.3 million of bilateral ODA to the mobilisation of domestic resources in developing countries, amounting to 0.9% of its bilateral allocable aid. Regarding the payment of local tax and custom duties for ODA-funded goods and services, the Slovak Republic rarely requests exemptions and makes information available on the OECD Digital Transparency Hub on the Tax Treatment of ODA.
Committed USD 2.9 million (8.6% 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 0.023 million (0.07% 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.
The Slovak Republic uses leveraging mechanisms to mobilise private finance for sustainable development. In 2021, the Slovak Agency for International Development Cooperation (SAIDC Agency) mobilised USD 0.6 million from the private sector through simple co-financing.
In 2020-21, 3.4% of mobilised private finance by the Slovak Republic targeted middle-income countries and 43.5% LDCs and other low-income countries (LICs), noting that 53.1% was unallocated by income. During the same period, the top beneficiary region of this financing was Africa (43.7% of the total).
Mobilised private finance by the Slovak Republic in 2020-21 mainly targeted activities in the health (52.9%) and agriculture, forestry, fishing (42.7%) sectors.
Learn more about the amounts mobilised from the private sector for development.
The Slovak Republic’s development co-operation policy and co-ordination sits with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA), with much of the ministry’s budget implemented by SAIDC Agency. The Slovak import-export bank, EXIMBANKA, is developing concessional loans for businesses looking to invest in emerging markets and developing countries. SlovakAid is the brand for all Slovak development co-operation efforts. The Slovak Development Co-operation Coordination Committee is chaired by the Secretary of State of the MFEA and brings together a wide range of ministries. To strengthen co-ordination, a working group was created in December 2022 to prepare the new mid-term strategy of development co-operation for 2024-30. The working group meets regularly to discuss the principles and objectives of SlovakAid, as well as its sectoral and territorial priorities.
There are roughly 40 staff working on development co-operation in the MFEA and SlovakAid, of which three staff positions – development diplomats – are placed at embassies in partner countries.
The Coordination Committee for Development Cooperation also associates civil society representatives. CSOs active in development co-operation, humanitarian assistance and global citizenship education co-ordinate through the umbrella body Ambrela.
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.
2022 OECD-DAC mid-term review of the Slovak Republic: https://www.oecd.org/dac/peer-reviews/DAC-mid-term-Slovak-Republic-2022.pdf
2019 OECD-DAC peer review of the Slovak Republic: https://www.oecd.org/dac/oecd-development-co-operation-peer-reviews-slovak-republic-2019-9789264312326-en.htm
Medium-term Strategy for Development Co-operation 2019-2023: https://slovakaid.sk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/strednodoba_strategia_rozvojovej_spoluprace_eng_2019-2023_644_stran_final.pdf
Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic: https://www.mfsr.sk/en/european-international-affairs
Slovak Development Agency (SlovakAid): https://www.slovakaid.sk/en
Slovak export-import bank (EXIMBANKA) concessional loans to selected developing countries: https://www.eximbanka.sk/en/english/products/concessional-loans-to-selected-developing-countries.html?page_id=214526
CSO umbrella organisation Ambrela: https://ambrela.org/about-us
Slovak Republic’s practices on the Development Co-operation TIPs: Tools Insights Practices learning platform: https://www.oecd.org/development-cooperation-learning?tag-key+partner=slovak+republic#search
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. Through EU-level processes, the EU countries themselves will contribute to international development assistance to such extent that the overall contribution of the EU member states may reach the desired collective target of 0.15%.