STRENGTHENING LITHUANIA'S DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION ECOSYSTEM: COHERENCE, PARTNERSHIPS, IMPACT

The project aimed to strengthen co-ordination and effectiveness by reinforcing the role of the National Development Co-operation Commission and the Fund for the Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid, ensuring a whole-of-government and all-of-society approach.

ABOUT

Lithuania’s development co-operation has expanded in recent years, driven by humanitarian and reconstruction support for Ukraine and a broader ambition to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Lithuania joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2022, signalling commitment to align with international standards and scale up its role in global development. Development co-operation is concentrated in the European Union's Eastern Neighbourhood, as well as in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with priorities in areas of comparative strength, such as democratic governance, structural reforms, human rights, education, green energy and digitalisation.

Lithuania’s development co-operation system is still relatively young, with limited financial and human resources. Policies, instruments and delivery mechanisms remain fragmented; partnerships with civil society and the private sector need strengthening. Addressing these aspects is critical to an impactful, coherent policy aligned with European Union priorities such as sustainable development, resilience and inclusive recovery.

The main beneficiary of this project is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, which is responsible for shaping the country’s development co-operation policy and strategy, as well as overseeing its implementation and related instruments. Other beneficiaries include the Office of the Government, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), the national development bank (ILTE) , and civil society platforms, such as the the Non-Governmental Development Co-operation Organisation (NGDO) platform. This project also engaged private sector associations – including the Lithuanian Business Confederation, Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, and INFOBALT (an information and communication technology organisation). These actors form the core of Lithuania’s development co-operation ecosystem.

OBJECTIVES

The project addressed Lithuania’s need for a more coherent, results-oriented, and partnership-based development co-operation system.

Specific aims of the project were to:

create enabling conditions for partnerships with civil society and the private sector;
enhance coherence between bilateral, multilateral, and EU-level activities;
build institutional capacity and tools to improve monitoring, evaluation and results-based management;
develop innovative financing instruments and approaches to leverage private resources for development; and
increase awareness and engagement across society, ensuring that development co-operation is understood and supported domestically.

METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH

The OECD, partnering with Lithuania and the European Commission, adopted a phased, participatory approach. The project began with a diagnostic of Lithuania’s development co-operation framework via desk research, stakeholder mapping and international benchmarking, consultations with government, civil society, and private sector actors.

Co-creation was fundamental. Project participants engaged in workshops, trainings, peer learning missions and multi-stakeholder sessions to identify practical solutions. A learning-by-doing approach guided work on partnership framework and on results and monitoring and evaluation systems, ensuring outputs met international standards that align with Lithuania’s institutional and political context.

KEY OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

The project delivered a comprehensive set of outputs, structured around diagnostics, capacity building, and implementation. Key outputs and activities are listed below.

Diagnostic Report. Inventory and analysis of existing policies, instruments and institutional arrangements, highlighting strengths, gaps, and opportunities.
Action Plan. Recommendations for legislative, institutional, and policy changes to strengthen partnerships, results management, and financing mechanisms.
Pilot Partnerships. Partnership frameworks under discussion with private sector and civil society; legal frameworks being revised, formal adoption procedures are ongoing.
Capacity Development. Training, workshops and toolkits on effective partnerships, civil society and results-based management.
Study Visits. Peer learning with DAC members to share best practices in private sector and civil society engagement.
Communication and Outreach. Social media content, visuals and a public brief to increase visibility and awareness of development co-operation in Lithuania.

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Consultation with national authorities, civil society representatives and business associations shaped the analysis, the action plan and the drafting of the ongoing recommendations. Multi-stakeholder workshops ensured broad participation and ownership. This inclusive approach improved output quality and fostered trust and dialogue among actors.

KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNT

Ukraine’s reconstruction drives political support to Lithuania’s development co-operation. Implementing ongoing reforms can maximise impact.
Partnerships with civil society are essential; clearer frameworks, predictable funding and tailored incentives are being defined.
Monitoring and evaluation systems are being adapted to meet Lithuania’s ambitions, with a focus on with results and constant learning.
Financial instruments to engage the private sector, including blended finance and calls for proposals and other innovative financing mechanisms, are essential to mobilise additional resources; legal and institutional adjustments are ongoing.
Clear mandates, strong institutional capacity and adequate human resources are essential; sequencing reforms and sustained capacity-building are key to lasting impact.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Lithuania's institutional architecture strengthened by working to reinforce its capacity for results, based management through new tools, indicators, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms

Systems are being adapted with a focus on results and constant learning. Lithuania is enhancing its ability to plan, monitor and report on results, including through new project designs, staff training, and annual reports that showcase global impact.

A national development co-operation brand is being shaped to improve communications across government and with the public.

Annual conferences and stakeholder platforms are being used to present achievements and foster collective ownership, focusing on results.

Lithuanian CSOs capacities strenghtened and increasing engagement with local actors in partners countries

The establishment of the Fund for Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid has strengthened Lithuania’s collaboration with civil society organisation (CSOs).
The system is shifting from short-term, project-based funding to longer-term, flexible programme-based support.
Dialogue and capacity-building mechanisms for CSOs are being enhanced, including finding solutions to challenges related to co-funding and working capital.

A dedicated and coherent strategy developed by Lithuania to engage the private sector as a partner in development

Innovative financing tools are being explored to support digitalisation, green innovation and infrastructure development.
Co-financing programmes and innovative financing instruments are being considered to encourage Lithuanian business engagement in partner countries, particularly in Ukraine.
These efforts reflect a shift towards more modern partnerships, where business engagement is guided by development impact and contributes to long-term, equitable co-operation.

EXPECTED IMPACT

The project is informing legislative and institutional reforms and strengthening capacities across government, civil society and the private sector through training and toolkits. The new monitoring and evaluation system will improve results tracking and accountability. It lays the foundation for a more coherent, partnership-oriented and impactful development co-operation ecosystem, enabling Lithuania to contribute more effectively to Team Europe, support Ukraine’s reconstruction and advance the 2030 Agenda.

THE TOOLKITS

These toolkits were developed in the context of the “Strengthening Lithuania’s development cooperation ecosystem: coherence, partnerships, impact” TSI project. We are sharing the results of the European Commission and OECD SG Reform project for strengthening the effectiveness of Lithuania’s Development Cooperation system:

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OECD, EC and SG Reform Development Cooperation Project