ADA Austrian Development Agency

Fighting Hunger with Innovation: Kofi Annan Award for Africa

The second presentation of the Kofi Annan Award for Innovation in Africa has now taken place at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The award recognizes digital and technological solutions to improve food security and the fight against hunger in Africa. In this edition, the focus was on SDG 2 - “No Hunger”.

September 9, 2024

Austria's Engagement in Palestine: New Security Measures and Humanitarian Support

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg set an example for humanitarianism by meeting a group of Austrian-Palestinian dual nationals who were recently evacuated from the Gaza Strip. This meeting, which took place at the Foreign Ministry, allowed the Minister to learn first-hand about the difficult conditions in the Gaza Strip and the challenges of the evacuation operation.

December 14, 2023

Austria's Engagement in the Middle East: Solidarity with Israel and Support for Palestine

Amid the tense situation in the Middle East, Austria has reaffirmed its solidarity with Israel and at the same time pledged humanitarian aid for the Palestinian civilian population.

November 12, 2023

Austria Signs Strategic Partnership for Food Aid

In the midst of global humanitarian challenges and in view of the increasing need for international food aid, Minister of Agriculture Norbert Totschnig signed a landmark three-year Strategic Partnership for Food Aid together with Ute Klamert, Associate Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This significant agreement was sealed on the sidelines of the European Forum Alpbach in Tyrol and is intended to help address the current global food crisis.

September 4, 2023

Austrian Minister of Social Affairs Travels to Moldova for Working Visit

In an official trip, the Austrian Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Johannes Rauch, visits the Republic of Moldova to negotiate bilaterally with Moldovan ministerial counterparts and representatives of WHO, EU, and NGOs.

July 26, 2023

Franco-Austrian Cooperation for Clean Water in Eastern Europe

France's Ambassador to Austria, Gilles Pécout, spearheaded a round table discussion in Vienna as part of the "EU4Environment-Water Resources and Environmental Data" program. This initiative, funded by the European Union, the Austrian Development Agency, and the Artois-Picardie Water Agency (France), aims to support Eastern Partnership countries in their journey towards European standards for water resources and environmental data management.

July 5, 2023

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Strengthens Economic Ties with Austria During First Europe Trip

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met for working talks with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna. The visit of the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister to Vienna underlines the interest of both countries in further strengthening economic relations and intensifying cooperation at the geopolitical level.

July 4, 2023

Austria's Foreign Disaster Fund is Increased

Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler and Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg have praised the increase of the Foreign Disaster Fund (AKF) to 77.5 million euros in 2023 before the Council of Ministers.

May 4, 2023

Austria Condemns Hunger as a Weapon

Austria condemns Russia's tactic of using world hunger as a weapon. Austria pledges € 3.8 million to the initiative "Grain from Ukraine" for the delivery of Ukrainian grain to needy people in Ethiopia and Sudan.

November 28, 2022

Austrian Government Adopts New Three-Year Program for Development Policy

The new three-year program of the Austrian development policy from 2022 to 2024 was adopted. According to the government, the three-year program aims to open up sustainable life prospects for people in partner countries by creating an environment of social and political stability on the ground and sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda.

November 16, 2022

Austria Helps Flood Victims in Pakistan

Following massive flooding in Pakistan as a result of the heavy monsoon rains that have been continuing for many weeks, the Austrian government is providing support on the ground with payments from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund. Two million euros in emergency aid from the State Department's Foreign Disaster Fund will help Pakistan with the humanitarian crisis triggered by the climate disaster.

September 7, 2022

Development Policy in Austria: Focus on Combating the Consequences of Pandemics and Poverty

Recently, the Foreign Minister presented an updated version of the goals of Austria's development policy to the Austrian Parliament. If you want to know which goals Austria is aiming for and what this year's focus will be, read on.

August 11, 2022

How the Austrian Development Agency Assists in Moldova

The Austrian Development Agency supports the Republic of Moldova. The Republic of Moldova is characterized by an economy specialized in agriculture. However, the country has many political and economic problems, that need to be addressed.

May 23, 2022

How the Austrian Development Agency Assists in Post-Soviet Conflicts in the South Caucasus

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus states of Armenia and Georgia have been searching for a new political and social identity. The trend goes in the direction of Europe. The EU and Austria are standing by with support.

April 4, 2022

Attack on Ukraine: Austria Extends Aid from Foreign Disaster Fund to a Total of 17.5 Million Euros

The Austrian government has approved another 15 million euros in humanitarian aid for Ukraine from the Foreign Disaster Fund. Read about how the money will be allocated and the daunting projections that suggest Ukraine will almost certainly need more foreign aid.

March 1, 2022

Armenia and Austria Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Foreign Minister Schallenberg is visiting Armenia in an attempt to strengthen bilateral ties. Read about Austrian-Armenian relations and Schallenberg's trip, which includes meetings with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

February 2, 2022

Michael Linhart Named New Austrian Foreign Minister

The current Austrian ambassador in Paris, Michael Linhart (63), will succeed Alexander Schallenberg as Austria's new foreign minister. Linhart was Secretary General at the Foreign Ministry from 2013 to 2018. Learn more about his background.

October 11, 2021

Austrian Development Agency: An Additional 2 Million Euros for Afghanistan

At the United Nations donor conference for the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the Austrian Minister for Integration and Women's Affairs Susanne Raab announced that Austria will provide an additional 2 million euros in aid to Afghanistan. The aid is being made available through funds from the Austrian Development Aid Cooperation of the Austrian Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Austrian Foreign Ministry. The conference resulted in pledges of nearly double the amount of money that the UN had set as its goal.

September 16, 2021

Aid Package for Afghanistan Approved by Austrian Federal Government

The Austrian Federal Government has officially approved 18 million euros in emergency aid for Afghanistan that it had previously promised. The aid will go from the Austrian Foreign Ministry's Foreign Disaster Fund (AKF) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, and the UN World Food Program.

September 9, 2021

Weekly Briefing: End of Lockdown for Vienna and Lower Austria Stirs Up Hope

Now Vienna has also officially confirmed that on May 19 the long-awaited opening will take place. The end of the lockdown in Vienna and Lower Austria and nationally reaching 3 million Covid-19 vaccinations are not the only indications that the Austrian economic recovery gets off the starting blocks. Find out more about this week's developments.

May 6, 2021 · Updated: May 6, 2021; 17:05

Ambassador to China Appointed New CEO of the Austrian Development Agency

Friedrich Stift succeeds Martin Ledolter as CEO of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Who is Dr. Friedrich Stift and what is his background?

May 5, 2021

Libya's Foreign Minister Holds Talk with Schallenberg

The Foreign Minister of Libya's transitional government, Najla El Mangoush, had a telephone conversation with Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg. In the talk, Libya's Foreign Minister expressed her optimism for the future developments in Libya, while Schallenberg assured her of the EU's continued support for the country.

March 26, 2021

World Water Day: Austria Promotes Access to Clean Water

On the occasion of World Water Day 2021, Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Managing Director of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) Martin Ledolter stay committed to promoting access to drinking water in different countries around the world. Funds of almost EUR 7 million will be provided for projects in Ethiopia, Moldova and other countries.

March 23, 2021

Austria Stays Committed to Humanitarian Aid in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine

Austria's Federal Government has decided to release the largest disbursement from the Foreign Disaster Fund for humanitarian aid in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine. Around EUR 13.5 million will be made available to Austrian NGOs providing aid in Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Jordan, and the eastern Ukraine.

March 18, 2021

Schallenberg on the International Women's Day: "Women Must Play a Key Role in Decision-making"

Austria will take over special responsibility for women's policy concerns in the UN Commission on the Status of Women at the end of March. On the occasion of this role and the International Women's Day, which was celebrated on March, 8, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg demands more women in decision-making roles.

March 11, 2021

Bosnia and Herzegovina Receives Support From Austria

The Austrian Foreign Ministry has decided to provide the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) with EUR 1 million for the humanitarian care of refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Foreign Minister Schallenberg is eager to support the affected people with rapid assistance directly in the area.

January 4, 2021

EUR 2.4 Million for Covid-19 Vaccine in Developing Countries

In the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Austria will be supporting the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in a total of 92 developing countries. Foreign Minister Schallenberg warns that the crisis has underlined the "inequalities and fragilities within the community of states" and therefore demands an international approach regarding Covid-19 vaccination.

December 17, 2020

Austria Helps: Covid-19 Accelerates Global Crises

The Austrian government has decided to increase its funding for the Foreign Disaster Fund and the Austrian Development Agency, which are both responding to ongoing crises in the world. In total, the two programs will be able to help people in need with over EUR 175 million in 2021, an increase of almost EUR 40 million compared to 2020.

December 15, 2020

Foreign Disaster Fund Alleviates Covid-19 Consequences Abroad

In order to fight the impact of Covid-19 in developing countries and for people in fragile situations, the Austrian government has decided to release EUR 12 million of the Foreign Disaster Fund to NGOs that will be distributing the money as needed in the particular areas.

October 21, 2020

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Schallenberg Ensures Contribution

On the occasion of World Food Day and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Foreign Minister Schallenberg ensures that the "reduction of poverty is the most important goal of the Austrian Development Agency". This has been underlined with the doubling of the Foreign Disaster Fund.

October 16, 2020

Foreign Ministry Announces First Special Representative for Humanitarian Aid

Austria's first-ever Special Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid will be appointed by the Foreign Ministry in order to assure the proper coordination of humanitarian aid projects. Effective allocation of funds which amount to EUR 50 million will also be part of the duties of Mr. Christoph Schweifer.

October 6, 2020

Austrian Assistance to Palestinian Refugees with EUR 8.1 Million

Over the period 2020 to 2022, Austria will pay a total of EUR 8.1 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

August 19, 2020

Austrian Government Provides Humanitarian Assistance for Lebanon

Austria provides supplies and financial aid for severely impacted Lebanon after explosion disaster at the beginning of August. In total, about EUR 2 million are provided.

August 19, 2020

Vienna Energy Forum 2020 as a Hub for Innovative and Sustainable Energy Solutions

During high-level talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 25), Maria Patek, Austria's Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism, announced the hosting of the Vienna Energy Forum (VEF) 2020.

December 11, 2019

Syria Conflict: Humanitarian Assistance to Jordan and Lebanon

Austria has decided to disburse humanitarian funds totalling EUR 1 million for Syria's most severely affected neighbouring countries. The funds from the Foreign Disaster Fund will each amount to half a million euros for Jordan and Lebanon.

September 12, 2019

Austria to Support Syria and Mali with EUR 2.5 Million

The Austrian Council of Ministers approved a total of 2.5 million euros in aid payments from the Foreign Disaster Fund for humanitarian aid in Mali and Syria. The money is intended for refugees in the two crisis areas.

July 31, 2019

Albania and North Macedonia: No EU Accession Negotiations for the Time Being, but Austria Still in Favor of It

The decision to start accession negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia was postponed. Several EU states are blocking enlargement in the Balkans. The EU committee of the Austrian Federal Council demands that the Western Balkans become part of the EU. The Austrian Federation of Trade Unions, on the other hand, warns against hasty new admissions.

June 20, 2019

Austrian Development Cooperation until 2021 - Sustainable Development Reaching People

In the next three years, the Austrian Development Cooperation will focus above all on the promotion of women and local development assistance.

January 24, 2019

Austria Signed Memorandum with Economic Chambers of Western Balkan States

The representatives of the Economic Chamber and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Harald Mahrer and Karin Kneissl, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Economic Chambers of the Western Balkan states Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. The aim is to strengthen regional cooperation at the economic level, particularly in the area of dual vocational training.

January 18, 2019

EU-Africa Forum - Heads of State Share Vision on Cooperation Between Africa and Europe

The High-Level Forum Africa-Europe met at the ACV-Austria Center Vienna to focus on "Taking cooperation to the digital age". The debates focused on the cooperation between the European Union and African countries in the areas of innovation and digitisation, in particular the question of how the benefits of digital change can benefit everyone.

December 19, 2018

High-Level Forum Africa-Europe - EIB Signs 3 Africa Projects Totalling Half a Billion Euros

At the Africa‑Europe High‑Level Forum in Vienna the European Investment Bank formally agreed a total of EUR 495 million of new financing for three projects in ten countries to support sustainable transport, clean energy and internet access projects in North, West and East Africa.

December 19, 2018

Austrian Development Agency Receives More Funds from the Green Climate Fund

The ADA (Austrian Development Agency) reports that after a three-year process at the 21st board meeting of the Green Climate Fund in Manama, Bahrain, the accreditation of the ADA was completed on 20 October 2018.

November 12, 2018

Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit 2018: Feedback of a Participant

At the Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit recently held in Vienna, Beatriz Mayor of IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis also participated, who shares her interesting insights as follows.

June 6, 2018

Austrian Development Agency Supports WHO in Palestine

To improve health care in Gaza, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) is supporting the World Health Organization (WHO) with 300,000 euros.

June 5, 2018

Vienna Energy Forum 2018: Sustainable Energy Provision as a Key to Tackling Poverty

The sixth Vienna Energy Forum 2018 was held from 14 to 16 May, 2018, at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and the Hofburg Imperial Palace. It was attended by over 1,800 participants from 130 countries, including prime ministers, ministers, high-level government officials, permanent mission representatives, chairs of the regional groups, donors, as well as representatives of the EU, the private sector and development finance institutions.

May 16, 2018

Top Energy Events Put Vienna in the Focus of the Global Clean Energy Economy

The Vienna Energy Forum 2018 in May in Vienna brings together a multitude of people and institutions to discuss and solve the key questions of the present on the topic of energy. Among them are heads of state, ministers, energy experts, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector. The PFAN Climate and Clean Energy Investment Forum and the R20 Austria World Summit are also part of this huge event. This event, sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a high-level summit about leadership on implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

April 19, 2018

Austrian Support for Peace and Security Programm in Horn of Africa Region

Vienna based ADA - Austrian Development Agency signs an agreement on peace and security in the Horn of Africa with EU and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). The EUTF - EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa provides 40 million euros. 35 million of this will be made available to ADA and 5 million directly to IGAD. The ADA passes on one million euros to IGAD. The Swedish International Development Agency SIDA will also contribute one million euros..

March 26, 2018

Austria Contributes EUR 3 Mln to New EU-Aid Programme for Africa

On the occasion of the establishment of the EU-trust-fund, which aims at combating the reasons for migration and flight in Africa, against the backdrop of the EU-summit in La Valletta, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Kurz underlined the necessity that Europe provides suitable answers to the challenges posed by the current refugee crisis. Austria will support the fund with EUR 3m from the Austrian Development Agency’s (ADA) budget.

November 19, 2015

UN's Lakshmi Puri on Enhancing Women's Share in Peace and Security: "This is a historic moment!"

At the Austrian Parliament a high-level panel of international politicians and prominent activists have discussed significant achievements and major obstacles in the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda. The speakers included Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, Ursula Plassnik, former Austrian Foreign Minister, Lakshmi Puri, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, May Chidiac of the Chidiac Foundation and Hanan Ashrawi, PLO Executive Committee Member.

November 4, 2014

Austrian Development Agency Celebrates 10 Years, 3.000 Projects and EUR 900 Mln Invested

„In the last 10 years, we have contributed to the improvement of the lives of millions of people in our partner countries with 3.000 projects and approximately €900m”, says Federal Minister Sebastian Kurz on the occasion of the Austrian Development Agency’s (ADA) anniversary, in the Museum of Ethnology in Vienna. The ADA is active in 11 core countries on four continents, combating poverty, securing peace and working for improved environmental protection.

October 17, 2014