Foreword

The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts reviews of the development co-operation efforts of DAC members every five to six years. DAC peer reviews seek to improve the quality and effectiveness of development co-operation policies, programmes and systems, and to promote good development partnerships for greater impact on poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries.

At the beginning of the process, the reviewed member submits a self-assessment. Based on this, staff from the Secretariat and two DAC members designated as peer reviewers visit the member’s capital to interview officials and parliamentarians, as well as representatives of civil society, non-government organisations and the private sector. This is complemented by exchanges with representatives in partner countries. The team then compiles the findings of these consultations and prepares a set of recommendations which are then discussed during a formal meeting of the DAC prior to finalisation of the report. During the whole process, the OECD Development Co-operation Directorate provides analytical support and is responsible for developing and maintaining, in close consultation with the DAC, the methodology and analytical framework within which the peer reviews are undertaken.

Hungary joined the DAC in 2016. Following the accession review in 2016 and a mid-term review in 2019, this is Hungary’s first full peer review. Hungary and the OECD therefore agreed to establish a comprehensive baseline that enables the government of Hungary and stakeholders in the Hungarian co-operation system to identify where adjustments are needed. Accordingly, the peer review, conducted by peer reviewers from Greece and Iceland together with the OECD Secretariat, assessed Hungary’s efforts against all components of the DAC peer review analytical framework rather than focusing on select themes (www.oecd.org/dac/peer-reviews/about-peer-reviews.htm).

To support learning between DAC members, the report highlights a number of valuable practices from the reviewed member, from which peers can draw inspiration and learning. These are documented in further detail on the Development Co-operation TIPs ∙ Tools Insights Practices online peer learning platform (www.oecd.org/development-cooperation-learning), that offers insights into making policies, systems and partnerships more effective. The peer review report is complemented by Hungary’s development co-operation profile (https://doi.org/10.1787/a80b014d-en), which includes factual information on its policies, development financing, institutional arrangements, and management systems.

The analysis presented in this report is based on (1) a desk review, including Hungary’s self-assessment and assessments provided by Hungary’s key multilateral, non-government, private sector and research partners; and (2) an extensive process of consultation with actors and stakeholders in Hungary and select other locations (Iisted in Annex B). The report, which contains both findings and recommendations, fed into the DAC meeting at the OECD on 30 November 2022, at which senior officials from Hungary responded to questions and comments shared by DAC members.