Romania first country to obtain associate member status in OECD DAC

Romania has become the first country to obtain associate member status in the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the international forum responsible for coordinating official development assistance to developing countries.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania’s accession to the Development Assistance Committee is the result of the steady increase in the volume of official development assistance provided by the country in recent years, as well as of "strengthening Romania’s profile internationally as a consistent, predictable, and reliable donor," CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

"This status confirms a major change in mindset and position for our country: Romania is no longer just a state that expects support, but a strong and mature nation capable of offering help to those in need. Being the first country accepted as an associate member of this committee shows that international partners view us with trust and respect," the statement said. According to the source, Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu added: "In practice, we have shown that we are ready to sit at the same table with the world’s leading economies and jointly determine ways to build a safer future."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that in 2024, the total value of Romania’s official development assistance reached USD 539.1 million, representing 0.16% of gross national income—the highest level recorded by the country to date.

The increase was driven mainly by higher multilateral contributions, particularly through allocations to the European Union’s development budget. Romania’s international development cooperation policy is based on the development needs of partner states and existing national expertise and capacities, with a focus on areas such as institutional development, green transition, environmental protection and combating climate change, as well as human development.

As reported by CE Report, according to the ministry, official development assistance activities are directed toward ten countries in the Black Sea region, the Western Balkans, the Middle East, and Africa, with the Republic of Moldova being Romania’s priority partner.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that Romania actively supports the European path of its neighboring state, including through the Strategic Partnership for the European integration of the Republic of Moldova.

The ministry further stated that associate member status in the OECD Development Assistance Committee gives Romania the opportunity to make more effective use of its experience and comparative advantages as a donor, while also contributing to strengthening and improving the efficiency of the national system for providing official development assistance and increasing the impact of international development cooperation activities for the benefit of partner states.

The OECD Development Assistance Committee was established in 1961, with its origins in the Development Assistance Group created within the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) in 1960.

The committee brings together the world’s main providers of official development assistance and aims to promote development cooperation and policies that contribute to sustainable development, poverty reduction, reduced inequalities, and improved living standards in developing countries.