The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation is responsible for developing Italy’s official development assistance strategy and priorities. This ministry also oversees the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, which examines, develops, finances, manages, and controls cooperation initiatives.
Italy’s development cooperation priorities are outlined in the Programming and Policy Planning Document for 2021–2023. The priority intervention areas are centered around five strategic pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peacebuilding, and Partnerships. The “People” pillar includes food security, sustainable agriculture, and health; education, cultural and natural heritage; promoting sustainable tourism, social, economic, and political inclusion; and migration. The “Planet” pillar focuses on protecting the environment, managing natural resources, combating climate change, and ensuring access to reliable and sustainable energy. The “Prosperity” pillar encompasses inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work. The “Peacebuilding” pillar involves promoting democracy, effective and responsible institutions, the rule of law, and human rights for all. The “Partnerships” pillar supports the mobilization of domestic resources, debt relief and restructuring, promoting triangular cooperation and public–private partnerships, engaging civil society actors, and strengthening statistical skills. The focus will be on the three “Ps”: People, Planet, and Prosperity.
In Asia, the main objective is to promote institutional stability, with priority given to Afghanistan and Myanmar.*
Italy is a founding member of ADB and has contributed $1.3 billion to ADB special funds since 1966. Of this commitment, $1.2 billion is for the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The ADF provides grants to ADB’s low-income, developing member countries to help reduce poverty and improve the quality of life.
*Effective 1 February 2021, ADB placed a temporary hold on sovereign project disbursements and new contracts in Myanmar.
