Priority countries

In 2004, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first time defined a group of countries to receive Polish development aid on a priority basis: Afghanistan, Angola, Georgia, Iraq, Moldova and Vietnam. In 2005, the Palestinian Autonomy was included on the list of priority countries; in 2006, Ukraine and Belarus; in 2007, Tanzania. 

Due to the limited possibilities for practical co-operation, Vietnam was removed from the priority countries list in 2007. However, projects implemented in the framework of the Small Grants Fund are still being continued. In 2008, due to dangers to the lives of people directly involved in implementing development tasks, Iraq was taken off the list of priority countries of the Polish foreign aid programme. This does not imply that aid activities in Iraq have been terminated. Depending on the situation, humanitarian aid and projects supervised by the Polish Embassy in Baghdad are still implemented in the country. In 2009, in connection with the decision to close the Polish diplomatic mission in Dar es Salaam and the ensuing decrease in co-operation opportunities, Tanzania was taken off the list of priority countries. The country still receives support in the form of projects implemented by NGOs.

Currently, the countries receiving Polish priority aid:

• Belarus
• Ukraine
• Moldova
• Georgia
• Afghanistan
• Palestinian Autonomy
• Angola

Priority aid areas in 2011:

• good governance
• migration and border management
• development of rural areas and agriculture
• small and medium enterprises

Remaining countries

Priority countries are important, but are not the only beneficiaries of the Polish bilateral aid. This type of aid also covers selected countries in Southeastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Serbia), the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). 

A significant part of Polish development co-operation funds is also directed towards projects in countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. 

The areas in which assistance is granted depend on the needs the conditions prevailing in the region. Most projects, however, relate to education, healthcare, access to drinking water, development of public infrastructure, agriculture, post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as support for social and economic reforms, democratization processes, civil society building and cultural heritage protection.

Small Grants Fund

In the framework of the Small Grants Fund, Polish diplomatic mission pursue small-scale initiatives (e.g. renovating school roofs, purchasing computers for cultural centres culture and building wells) which bring positive effects for the everyday lives of local communities. Such projects are financed in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.  For more information, see Small Grants Fund.