The law “General Regulations on International Development Cooperation,” definitively approved by the Senate on August 1, 2014, came into force on August 29, 2014 (Law No. 125 of August 11, 2014). The reform systematically updated the Italian development cooperation system after 27 years the approval of Law 49/1987, reorganizing the actors, instruments, methods of intervention, and reference principles that had matured in the meantime within the international community. It also aligned Italy’s development cooperation framework with the prevailing models adopted by EU partner countries. The law defined a new governance architecture, in which policy coherence and coordination are guaranteed by the Interministerial Committee for Development Cooperation (CICS), a body composed of ministries responsible for areas directly involved in development cooperation activities.
The law sets out the objectives of cooperation in eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, affirming human rights and the dignity of individuals—including gender equality and equal opportunities—preventing conflicts, and supporting peace processes.
The Three-Year Programming and Policy Planning Document (DTPI), which outlines the strategic direction and guidelines for development cooperation, is adopted every three years by the Council of Ministers following consultation with the competent parliamentary committees, the National Council for Development Cooperation (CNCS), and the Unified Conference.
On the domestic front, development cooperation policy contributes—also through immigrant communities residing in the national territory—to the shaping of shared migration policies. On the external front, the ownership of development processes by beneficiary countries is identified by law as a prerequisite for aid effectiveness, which must not, even indirectly, be used for military purposes. The legislation affirms the principle of harmonizing national cooperation policies with those of the European Union. Regarding territorial partnerships, it recognizes the right of regions and other local authorities to carry out development cooperation initiatives with entities of equivalent territorial representation. Humanitarian emergency interventions decided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also fall within the scope of official development assistance.
Since cooperation is defined as an ‘integral and qualifying part of foreign policy,’ it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—also through the delegated Deputy Minister—to coordinate this unified and coherent effort. Resources have also become more easily accessible through a dedicated Annex to the State Budget Law, which specifies the allocations for development cooperation activities assigned to each Ministry.
The Law 125/2014 also established a new management structure with the creation of AICS—the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation—on January 1, 2016. The Agency, modeled after similar institutions in many European countries, plays a central role in implementing, managing, and monitoring interventions, ensuring their effectiveness and alignment with planned objectives. The Directorate General, on the other hand, supports the Minister and Deputy Minister in the functions assigned to them by law, particularly in terms of strategic direction and coordination. The three-year agreement signed between the Minister and the Director of the Agency defines the terms of collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Agency, as well as the objectives the latter is expected to achieve over the reference period.
Finally, the reform outlines a participatory role for Parliament, which exercises guidance functions over the three-year programming document, and for the National Conference, a forum for discussion and consultation that lends continuity to the dialogue between public and private stakeholders.