International Development Cooperation (IDC) stands at a critical juncture. Escalating global challenges – from economic shocks to climate breakdown and humanitarian crises – are driving increased demand for predictable, concessional, and effective development finance. Yet the global architecture designed to govern Official Development Assistance (ODA) is facing increasing challenges.

This toolkit helps civil society organisations to navigate the institutions that shape and monitor global development cooperation policies, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), the United Nations and its Development Cooperation Forum, and the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. It demystifies how these institutions work, where decisions are made and how civil society can influence them – strengthening CSO capacity to scrutinise decision-makers and engage effectively in policy processes.

The toolkit identifies political opportunities and actionable entry points for advocacy while unpacking the global aid effectiveness agenda to make it more accessible for policy advocates. It is designed to support a stronger civil society voice in shaping the governance, priorities, and future direction of IDC.