ADA – Austrian Development Agency

Combating poverty, ensuring peace and preserving the environment: these are the three major concerns of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of the Austrian Development Cooperation. ADA currently funds projects and programmes with a total volume of 500 million euros to improve living conditions in developing countries.

Together with the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (MFA), partner countries, public institutions, civil society organizations and businesses, ADA seeks to ensure that sustainable development works to the benefit of all people in Africa, Asia, Southeast Europe and the South Caucasus.

DONORS/PARTNERS:

The Austrian MFA allocates the ADA budget. Other federal ministries and donors like the EU draw on ADA’s expertise, too. Since 2008, the ADA has been conducting programmes for the European Commission. The private sector is another major partner within the field of development cooperation. Since 2008, ADA has been allocating private funds for development cooperation. With its financing instrument of business partnerships, ADA promotes projects of companies in developing countries and emerging nations given that they contribute to improving the living conditions of the local population. Most funds are invested in key regions and priority countries of the Austrian Development Cooperation.

KEY ACTIVITIES:

ADA is primarily engaged in sectors where Austria can contribute its professional knowhow and long-standing experience: water supply and sanitation, renewable energy, climate protection, agriculture and forestry, private sector and development as well as human security, human rights and rule of law.

In pursuit of the SDGs, the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) supports sustainable and inclusive land-use planning in its partner countries as well as tenure and use rights for the local population. ADA further promotes the empowerment and participation of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in decision-making processes.

ADA supports smallholder farmers (family farms) to produce in an environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient manner as well as in improving access to local and regional markets. Investments in local infrastructure (such as improvements in storage and processing of agricultural production) as well as extension and financial services for smallholder farmers and producer associations contribute to local value added.

SIGNATURE PROJECTS/TOOLS:

• WP-ÄTH-HRNS; Kaffeeallianz für Äthiopien – Coffee Alliances for Ethiopia (CAFE) Phase 2: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/wp-aeth-hrns-kaffeeallianz-fuer-aethiopien-coffee-
• First inclusive and barrier-free Bakery and Coffee Shop in Gyumri: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/first-inclusive-and-barrier-free-bakery-and-coffee
• WP-ÄTH-HRNS; Coffee Alliances for Ethiopia (CAFÉ): Improved livelihoods of 2,500 smallholder farming households through improving their production and value addition of coffee and other crops in a sustainable way: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/wp-aeth-hrns-coffee-alliances-for-ethiopia-cafe-im
• Strengthening Implementation of the Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/strengthening-implementation-of-the-yayu-coffee-fo
• Formation and Strengthening of Farmer Organizations for the Provision and Marketing of High Quality Coffee: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/formation-and-strengthening-of-farmer-organization
• UP/Sustainable Coffee Production and Processing coupled with Income Diversification in Mbeya Rural and Mbozi District: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/up-sustainable-coffee-production-and-processing-co
• Strengthening the Uganda Business Information Network: https://www.entwicklung.at/en/projects/detail-en/strengthening-the-uganda-business-information-netw

PRIORITY COUNTRIES:

Armenia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania.