Bucharest – Romania has become the first country to obtain associate membership of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the international body that coordinates official development assistance to developing countries. The announcement was made on Friday by Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), which highlighted that this achievement reflects the country’s steadily growing contributions to international development aid and its enhanced reputation as a reliable and credible donor.
According to the MFA, Romania’s accession to the DAC marks a significant change in its international role. Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu emphasized that Romania is no longer merely a recipient of support, but a mature and capable state able to provide assistance to countries in need. Being the first associate member of the DAC demonstrates the trust and respect Romania has earned among its international partners and confirms its readiness to participate alongside the world’s major economies in shaping global development policies.
In 2024, Romania’s official development assistance reached a record level of 539.1 million US dollars, equivalent to 0.16 percent of its gross national income. This increase was largely driven by higher multilateral contributions, particularly through allocations to the European Union’s development budget. Romania’s development cooperation policy focuses on partner countries’ needs and national expertise, prioritizing areas such as institutional development, green transition, environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and human development.
Romania’s assistance targets ten countries in the extended Black Sea region, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and Africa, with the Republic of Moldova as its main priority. The country strongly supports Moldova’s European integration, including through a strategic bilateral partnership.
Associate membership in the DAC offers Romania the opportunity to strengthen its development assistance system, better use its comparative advantages, and increase the impact of its international cooperation efforts.
