Estonian development cooperation
Estonian development cooperation aims to improve global peace and stability, contribute to the eradication of poverty, and help attain sustainable development goals (SDGs) by sharing its reform experience with transition countries.
The Estonian government's Foreign Policy Strategy 2030 emphasizes development cooperation and sustainable development as key instruments for Estonian foreign and security policy. The government’s Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Strategy 2024-2030 outlines target countries and focus areas of cooperation based on the development needs of partner countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets the policy and objectives, while the Estonian Centre for International Development - ESTDEV oversees implementation, as detailed in the Implementation Plan 2024-2026.
Cooperation with partner countries focuses on strengthening governance, supporting the availability and quality of education and health care, contributing to economic development, and fostering digital transformation, all while increasing peace and stability in civil society. Estonia is committed to human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability.
Estonia’s official development assistance
Estonia's official development assistance (ODA), including the entire public sector's foreign cooperation activities with partner countries and refugee support, reached 101 million euros in 2023. This comprises 0.28% of Estonia’s gross national income (GNI). Estonia has made an international commitment to increase this amount to 0.33% by 2030.
When calculating ODA excluding domestic expenditure for Ukrainian refugees, Estonia’s ODA reached 70 million euros in 2023, 0.19% of the gross national income. This shows a decrease of nearly 51.4% only because OECD rules state that domestic spending on refugee support can only be included in ODA reporting for the first twelve months. Even without including spending on refugee support, Estonia’s ODA has increased significantly compared to the period before the war in Ukraine, when ODA plateaued at 0.16% of the GNI.
Estonia's priority continues to be supporting Ukraine. In 2023, 9.6 million euros were allocated for bilateral development cooperation and humanitarian aid in Ukraine, comprising 9.5% of Estonia’s total ODA.
Estonian development cooperation priorities
Estonia's development cooperation focuses on eradicating global poverty and achieving sustainable development goals through several key areas:
- Democracy and Rule of Law: Estonia aims to enhance social stability in partner countries. For those seeking closer ties with or membership in the European Union, it’s important to align development cooperation efforts with euro-integration processes.
- Economic Development: The objective is to help developing countries thrive in a global open market, boost the entrepreneurial capacity of vulnerable populations, and reduce the shadow economy.
- Quality Education: Promoting quality education is essential for advancing the social and economic progress of partner countries.
Environmental Solutions: As a leader in digital innovation, Estonia emphasizes the integration of green and digital transitions. The focus is on sustainable solutions that meet community needs and lay the groundwork for future development.
Horizontal priorities
- Gender Equality: Women and girls are the most vulnerable target group in developing countries, often lacking access to adequate education and opportunities for self-fulfillment. Gender equality is not only a key element among sustainable development goals but also a cornerstone of European Union external actions.
E-Governance and Cybersecurity Development: Digitalization is not an end in itself but a means to achieve specific development or change. Estonia is a recognized global advocate for digital and cybersecurity issues, with significant interest in its experiences worldwide. By focusing on priority areas in development cooperation, Estonia aims to implement digital solutions and e-governance opportunities. Additionally, Estonia emphasizes the importance of upholding human rights and gender equality in its development cooperation efforts.