Polish aid

Polish Aid is a brand which covers Poland’s development cooperation coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented in cooperation with government administration bodies, civil society organisations, and local stakeholders in partner countries. It also stands for activities carried out at international organisations of which our country is a member. 

Polish Aid is not only part of Poland’s foreign policy. It also reflects the solidarity and humanity among Polish people. By engaging in development cooperation, Poland seeks to contribute to building a more sustainable world for present and future generations.

Polish Aid is recognised at home and abroad by its logo, with which development assistance, humanitarian aid, and global education projects are branded. Development cooperation encompasses development assistance, humanitarian aid, and global education.

Polish Aid is carried out pursuant to the Development Cooperation Act of 16 September 2011 and the Multiannual Development Cooperation Programme 2021–2030. Solidarity for Development.

Closely correlated with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the programme and its priorities are based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As climate change is now inextricably linked to the growing development challenges, climate protection is one of Polish Aid’s two horizontal priorities, alongside measures to promote equal opportunities for women and men. As is the case with other signatories of the 2030 Agenda, the “leave no-one behind” principle is also important for Poland. It is reflected in the implementation of development projects supporting people with disabilities and special needs, older people, and women and children.

Polish Aid motto: In the past we received help, today it’s us who support others.

Fulfilling the objectives of the Solidarity for Development multiannual programme, government institutions collaborate with non-governmental organisations, entities of the public-finance sector, the Polish Academy of Sciences with its subordinate entities and universities on the national level, as well as international organisations (the European Union, United Nations, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).

Development assistance programmes are also pursued via Polish diplomatic missions abroad, activities of the Eastern Partnership Academy of Public Administration, and scholarship programmes.

The primary objective of Polish Aid is to support sustainable social and economic development of developing countries, reduce poverty, improve health condition of the population, raise education level and professional qualifications of the populations, support democratisation processes and state reforms, build modern state institutions, promote human rights, and support civic society.

Polish Aid mission: By engaging in development cooperation, that is humanitarian aid, development assistance and global education, Poland seeks to contribute to building a more sustainable world for present and future generations.

Vision: Our vision is the active participation of Polish aid in building a better, more sustainable world for present and future generations.

 

Development assistance

Development assistance involves supporting development in Polish Aid partner countries (Belarus, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kenya, Lebanon, Moldova, Palestine, Senegal, Tanzania, and Ukraine) as part of selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in line with the thematic priorities set out in the strategic documents and with the aim of channelling support specifically towards those most in need on a “leave no-one behind” basis.

Polish Aid thematic priorities:

• peace, justice, and strong institutions
• equal opportunities (education, decent work, entrepreneurship, reducing inequalities, sustainable cities, regional development planning and rural development)
• health
• climate and natural resources (clean water and sanitary conditions, forests and biodiversity, renewable energy sources)

that is, Sustainable Development Goals: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Climate Action (SDG 13).

 

Humanitarian aid

Poland’s humanitarian aid is provided mainly as financial contributions to international institutions and as the co-financing of activities which are carried out by Polish non-governmental humanitarian organisations. Humanitarian organisations and agencies have a permanent and extensive aid distribution network. Polish diplomatic missions abroad, chiefly embassies, are also actively involved in humanitarian aid operations. To address humanitarian needs it is necessary to identify the most vulnerable groups in the affected population—taking into account the specific needs of women, children, as well as people who are old, ill and with disabilities. Poland provides humanitarian aid in line with principles which are derived from the international humanitarian legal experience and which include, but are not limited to, independence, impartiality, neutrality, and humanity.

 

Global education

Global education stands for educational activities carried out in Poland and devised to increase awareness and understanding of global issues. Global education involves disseminating knowledge and information about the contemporary world as a whole. It makes the public aware of economic, social, political, cultural, environmental, and technological interdependencies between countries, as well as explaining the source and nature of problems facing the modern world. It helps to understand what factors, and how, shape international development. Learning about the world’s diversity and the mechanisms that affect its functioning prompts recipients of global education to critically and consciously reflect on their own lifestyles and everyday choices which have a positive or negative impact on the quality of human life and the environment in other countries.

 

How do we help? – tools for implementing development cooperation