The mid-term review focused on the DAC’s 2019 peer review recommendations, and the developments that have taken place since. Greece has made progress in implementing many recommendations. Greece’s efforts to reform its legislative, institutional and internal systems provide the building blocks for effective development co-operation once the bilateral programme resumes. These reforms have taken place in the context of a decreasing official development assistance (ODA) budget, with a very limited bilateral budget beyond in-donor refugee costs, which has to date provided limited scope to test the reforms.
Key findings
Greece has made significant improvements in streamlining the management of migration and its experience could be of interest to other members of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
Further focusing its thematic priorities can facilitate decision-making once the bilateral programme has resumed.
The new institutional set-up can support more efficient and co-ordinated management of the development co-operation programme.
The reforms aimed at strengthening due diligence mechanisms and evaluation capacity will be tested as Greece progressively rebuilds its bilateral programme.
Renewed senior level commitment to development co-operation has to translate into increased budgets.
Greece seeks synergies with EU development co-operation to strengthen its own programme.
Conclusion
As Greece is finalising the modernisation of the legislative and institutional framework of its development co-operation, increasing the budget for ODA beyond refugee costs will be critical for Greece to be able to implement the priorities set-up in its new four-year national programme. The next peer review in 2026 will be an opportunity to assess whether this will translate into ODA growth and the new framework is fit for purpose.