Kuwait became a Participant in the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) on 30 January 2018.

With Kuwait, the DAC has the opportunity to learn from and integrate the perspectives, lessons learnt and experience of an important Arab provider of development co-operation. In 2016, Kuwait disbursed USD 1 billion in net official development assistance (ODA). The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has acted as the main implementing agency on behalf of the Kuwaiti government since 1961.

For its part, Kuwait can benefit from the knowledge, experience and good practice of DAC members on managing development co-operation, including on statistics and evaluation. When accepting the OECD’s invitation to become a Participant of the DAC, the Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, noted that the DAC is a “leading platform for the exchange of experiences in international development and related issues”.

As a Participant, Kuwait can attend formal meetings of the DAC, including its high and senior-level meetings and the meetings of the DAC subsidiary bodies. Kuwait can contribute to debates but does not take part in formal decision-making processes. Kuwait will not be bound by the DAC’s conclusions, decisions or recommendations.

Kuwait is the third Participant in the DAC, along with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.