OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: Slovenia 2024

Annex B. Progress against OECD legal instruments under the responsibility of the DAC

Recommendations adopted by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC)

DAC Recommendation on the Terms and Conditions of Aid (1978) [OECD/LEGAL/5006]

Slovenia provides all its ODA in the form of grants. Were Slovenia to offer loans, it would need to comply with the DAC Recommendation on the Terms and Conditions of Aid.

DAC Recommendation on Untying Official Development Assistance (2001) [OECD/LEGAL/5015]

In 2022, 99.6% of Slovenia’s ODA covered by the Recommendation was reported as untied, up from 92.6% in 2021. Slovenian tied aid is mainly driven by COVID‑19 vaccine donations and small grants to CSOs whose size might not justify international calls. For government‑to‑government support, Slovenia's partner countries are in charge of project procurement in accordance with their national legislation and through their own systems in most instances except when Slovenia provides the majority of a project funding, which is good practice. Slovenia should ensure that its aid is both de jure and de facto untied and that tendering processes are transparent. Slovenia should also ensure that its earmarked contributions to multilaterals are not tied to Slovenian institutions.

DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance (2019) [OECD/LEGAL/5020]

On Pillar 1, all of Slovenia’s contracts with implementing partners require compliance with the UN Secretary‑General’s Bulletin on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (SEA) and with relevant Slovenian regulations. This ensures that implementing partners take the necessary steps to prevent SEA.

On Pillar 4, Slovenia has deployed training for its implementing partners to ensure that communities care for SEAH survivors and prevent new victims, including through its Peace Operations and Training Centre.

On Pillar 5, Slovenia engages in the Gender Action Plan III for like-minded member states dealing with European legislation and gender quality in development co-operation. It also participates in the DAC Network on Gender Equality (GenderNet), although its involvement in the Working Group on ending SEAH is limited.

DAC Recommendation on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (2019) [OECD/LEGAL/5019]

Slovenia's strategy follows the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus principles, and its humanitarian efforts focus on emergency response, post-crisis support, building resilience and preventive measures.

In terms of co‑ordination, Slovenia analyses the situation on the ground for its humanitarian assistance with the help of information from its diplomatic networks, the EU, and its implementing foundations and NGOs. This approach allows for an informed analysis of a conflict’s root causes. Slovenia also financially supports the UN Resident Coordinator in such contexts, thereby enhancing cost-effective co‑ordination across partner countries' humanitarian, development and peace architecture. Slovenia encourages collaboration among staff working on humanitarian and development assistance within the same departments of the MFEA Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid.

In terms of programming, Slovenia integrates its crisis responses within the EU civil protection mechanisms. Slovenia contributes to peacebuilding and crisis prevention, for example providing resources for UN peacekeeping operations such as those in Kosovo, Lebanon and Syria. Slovenia specialises in peace ODA, notably in demining in collaboration with the ITF Enhancing Human Security. It also provides bilateral humanitarian aid through the strategic partnership with the ICRC and a selected NGO (Karitas Slovenia in 2021‑23). Slovenia emphasises gender equality in its projects, requiring gender mainstreaming as a mandatory component in all project proposals. The women, peace and security agenda is among Slovenia’s priorities for its 2024-25 UN Security Council membership.

In terms of financing, Slovenia provides non-earmarked or softly earmarked contributions to international organisations working on crisis responses. Through its strategic partnerships, Slovenia provides multi‑annual funding to ICRC, World Food Programme, and other international organisations and a selected NGO partner. However, limited contingency funds at the MFEA level restrict Slovenia’s ability to respond swiftly to crises.

DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance (2021) [OECD/LEGAL/5021]

On respecting, protecting and promoting civic space (Pillar I), Slovenia’s priorities include support for the rule of law and democracy, particularly in the Western Balkans (Republic of Slovenia, 2018[1]). However, its NGO guidelines do not specifically address civic space (Republic of Slovenia, 2023[2]), and current projects do not expressly focus on promoting civic space as understood in the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society. Participation in the DAC Community of Practice on Civil Society could help Slovenia learn from other DAC members’ strategies and tools for addressing civic space – including, for instance, engaging and co‑ordinating with partner NGOs on civic space to learn from their experiences and challenges in partner countries.

Regarding supporting and engaging with civil society (Pillar II), Slovenia considers NGOs to be important implementing partners in its development co‑operation and humanitarian aid. The recently updated 2023 NGO guidelines set forth the framework for Slovenia to engage with NGOs as project implementers and establishes the basis for dialogue with NGOs (Republic of Slovenia, 2023[2]). The guidelines also regulate the strategic partnership modality, a strengthened partnership approach to partner with selected humanitarian NGOs. The share of Slovenia’s total bilateral ODA funding to and through NGOs decreased from 6.9% in 2021 to 6.7% in 2022, even after adjusting for the exceptional clearing of Angola's debt in 2022 (OECD, 2024[3]). This share was lower than the OECD DAC average of 11.6% in 2022. To date, Slovenia provides minimal core support to NGOs, primarily offering small amounts through the strategic partnership modality for humanitarian aid. Slovenia does not provide direct financial support to non‑Slovenian NGOs through its regular calls for proposals. Slovenian NGOs are required to partner with local institutions and organisations to implement their projects in partner countries.

Regarding incentivising CSO effectiveness, transparency and accountability (Pillar III), Slovenia requires gender and/or human rights analysis of all NGO projects. Slovenia promotes co-ordination and dialogue between the MFEA and SLOGA, the Slovenian NGO umbrella, as well as among SLOGA members. Slovenia does not provide core support to NGOs beyond the limited unearmarked funding provided through the strategic partnership modality. Core funding would help strengthen NGO capacities and address NGOs’ vulnerabilities.

Recommendations adopted by the Council

OECD Recommendation on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (2010) [OECD/LEGAL/0381]

Slovenia has committed to the principle of PCSD in the 2017 Resolution and the 2018 Strategy. The 2018 Strategy provides for the establishment of focal points in the ministries to monitor the development of internal policies and report on possible inconsistencies between development co‑operation policies and other policies. Focal points were appointed in ministries but have not met regularly as an inter-ministerial group since the outbreak of COVID-19. The MFEA co-financed the SLOGA platform project, which set up a website (https://www.skladnost-politik.si/). to raise awareness and highlight the importance of policy coherence. At the end of 2023, the MFEA and the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency commissioned the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana to review PCSD. Building on this upcoming PCSD study, selecting key topics and appointing focal points within line ministries will be key to ensure coherence.

The OECD Recommendation of the Council for Development Co-operation Actors on Managing the Risk of Corruption (2016) [OECD/LEGAL/0431]

The Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the MFEA has no specific code of conduct on corruption to date, although the MFEA has been providing training to staff on anti‑corruption. Slovenia has a focal point in the Legal Affairs and Public Procurement Service of the MFEA who can be contacted by Directorate staff with any questions or suspicions related to possible instances of corruption or conflict of interest.

ODA funds are controlled at three different levels: by the MFEA project manager, by the MFEA financial service and by the Ministry of Finance. The Court of Audit can also perform audits. Audit findings are presented to the MFEA leadership and project implementers. There is a clause on eligible use of funds in co-funding agreements for projects. If irregularities are detected, either expense claims cannot be paid or funds need to be reimbursed. In case of major irregularities, the MFEA may withdraw from the co-funding agreement.

There is scope to develop these risk management tools further, particularly by exerting due diligence prior to the granting of ODA contracts and examining the applicant’s corruption risk management systems and through strengthening of reporting mechanisms. That instances of corruption or irregularities are very rarely observed further suggests there is scope for improvement, for example through identification of potential disincentives for reporting corruption. Evidence from other donor countries highlights the frequent connection between low reporting, low frequency of incidents and limited effectiveness of risk management systems. The Recommendation calls for active and systematic assessment and management of corruption risks, notably through building an evidence base for corruption risk management. Assessing risks beyond the fiduciary dimension (e.g. informational, reputational, do no harm) could also help further strengthen the integrity of Slovenia's ODA.

Recommendation of the Council on Environmental Assessment of Development Assistance Projects and Programmes (2020) [OECD/LEGAL/0458]

Slovenia does not have dedicated staff on environmental issues for its development assistance projects. It does not provide sufficient guidance to ensure that environmental issues inform project design and are systematically monitored. Slovenia started to develop guidelines for mainstreaming environmental protection in its development assistance, but these have not been finalised. Slovenia could make greater use of the DAC Secretariat and the statistical peer review mechanisms to improve the screening and use of the Rio Markers.

OECD DAC Declaration on a new approach to align development co-operation with the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (2021) [OECD/LEGAL/0466]

The 2017 Resolution defines the “fight against climate change, focused on the sustainable management of natural and energy resources” as one of Slovenia’s two general thematic priorities (Slovenia National Assembly, 2017[4]). Environmental protection is also considered a cross‑cutting priority, and contributing to the increased use of fossil fuels through projects and programmes is prohibited. Slovenia’s 2018 Strategy sets a target of 35% of CPA for climate-related interventions by 2022 and 40% for climate interventions by 2030. The environmental protection target was 50% of CPA by 2022 and 60% by 2023. Slovenia is far from meeting these commitments despite its growing engagement in global environmental initiatives. Slovenia is a member of the United Nations Green Group, which issued a call for action to combat climate change at the 2020 UN General Assembly. Slovenia also contributes to multilateral organisations pursuing green objectives such as the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, the Special Climate Change Fund and the Adaptation Fund. Slovenia is developing guidelines on environmental protection that could also cover development co‑operation activities contributing to global climate and biodiversity objectives, for example by introducing a checklist that ensures that all its activities contribute to these goals and do no harm to the environment.

References

[3] OECD (2024), Creditor Reporting System (database), http://data-explorer.oecd.org/s/c (accessed on 29 March 2024).

[2] Republic of Slovenia (2023), Guidelines for Cooperation with NGOs in the Field of International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ljubljana, https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MZEZ/Dokumenti/multilaterala/razvojno-sodelovanje/Smernice-za-sodelovanje-z-nevladnimi-organizacijami-na-podrocju-mednarodnega-razvojnega-sodelovanja-in-humanitarne-pomoci.pdf (in Slovene).

[1] Republic of Slovenia (2018), Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia Until 2030, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ljublana, https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MZZ/Dokumenti/multilaterala/razvojno-sodelovanje/Development-Cooperation-and-Humanitarian-Aid-Strategy-of-the-Republic-of-Slovenia.pdf.

[4] Slovenia National Assembly (2017), “No. 002-01/17-11/”, in Resolution on Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance of the Republic of Slovenia, https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MZZ/Dokumenti/multilaterala/razvojno-sodelovanje/Resolution-on-development-cooperation-and-humanitarian-assistance-of-the-Republic-of-Slovenia.pdf.