Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland / Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych

Poland is involved in development cooperation for the benefit of developing countries. As a United Nations, European Union and OECD member, Poland is under a number of political obligations to increase its activity on the international arena for the reduction of poverty.

Our involvement is motivated by international solidarity. The world heading in the direction of equalising development chances, observation of human rights, good governance, environmental protection and sustainable development is a world safer, more stable and population-friendly.

Polish activities in the scope of development cooperation also support the country’s foreign policy, strengthen European development policy and fulfil Poland’s international obligations under the Millennium Development Goals.

Apart from development cooperation, Poland actively supports granting aid, care and security to people who suffered from consequences of armed conflicts, natural disasters, or other humanitarian crises, natural or man-made. Poland also undertakes educational initiatives in order to promote awareness and understanding of global issues among its citizens.

The primary goal of Poland’s development cooperation is to create conditions for sustainable development for developing countries, mainly through the promotion and consolidation of democracy, observation of human rights and support for the creation of modern and efficient state institutions, support for long-term social and economic development, actions aiming at poverty reduction, improvement of population’s health conditions and the increase of the education and professional qualifications level.

Polish development cooperation is implemented through programmes and projects, addressed to specific groups of beneficiaries (bilateral assistance), as well as member fees and voluntary contributions to international institutions, funds and organisations (multilateral assistance). A substantial part of the funds is directed at priority countries of the Polish development aid programme in cooperation with Polish nongovernmental organisations, public financial sector units, Polish Academy of Sciences and universities. Polish aid projects are also carried out in cooperation with Polish representations and diplomatic missions.