The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts periodic reviews of the individual development co-operation efforts of DAC members. The policies and programmes of each member are critically examined approximately once every five years. Five members are examined annually. The OECD Development Co-operation Directorate provides analytical support, and develops and maintains, in close consultation with the Committee, the methodology and analytical framework known as the Reference Guide within which the peer reviews are undertaken.

The Czech Republic has a population of about 10.5 million and its gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was USD 32 675 in 2015 (OECD, 2016a). Its current government was formed at the beginning of 2014. It is made up of a three-party coalition led by the Czech Social Democratic Party and including the Christian and Democratic Union, known as the Czechoslovak People's Party, and ANO a new political movement.

The Czech Republic participates actively in international efforts to promote and implement development-relevant global public policies. It places a strong emphasis on human rights, good governance and gender equality. Another key priority of its foreign policy is to support the E Neighbourhood Policy and integration process. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is being integrated into national policy through the work of the Government Council for Sustainable Development i.e. at the highest political level. The Czech Republic should ensure that the national plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) integrates international development, for example, by including indicators for policy coherence for sustainable development in the SDG monitoring framework.

The Czech Republic has a clear, broadly owned policy vision and medium-term strategy for its development co-operation, which is also valued within the Czech foreign policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started to identify priorities for the next medium-term strategy. It should seize the opportunity provided by a favourable domestic context for sustainable development to: strengthen the development dimension of Czech foreign policy, including how it will capitalise further on its evolving transition experience; and to integrate development co-operation into national efforts to deliver Agenda 2030.

The Czech Republic has reiterated its commitment to the target of allocating 0.33% of its gross national income (GNI) as ODA by 2030. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared a timeline with annual milestones to grow the ODA budget from 0.12% of GNI in 2015 to 0.17% by 2020, a more ambitious plan will be needed if it wants to be credible about reaching its 0.33% commitment. The Czech Republic'statistical reporting on its ODA allocations is timely and conforms to OECD guidelines.

The Czech Republic has a sound institutional structure and system for development co-operation. It has built up several assets, including political and strategic leadership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; an inter-ministerial Council for Development Cooperation for exchanging information and building cross-government ownership of the programme; and the Czech Development Agency, which is recognised as a capable implementing body. Nevertheless, while the institutional system is conducive to quality development co-operation, the system is also vulnerable due to capacity and resource constraints. A more systematic whole of government approach that promotes synergies among Czech activities could reinforce the impact of development co-operation in partner countries or territories.

The Czech Republic is committed to the principles of effective development as agreed in the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation. Its emphasis on country ownership is evident in its programme and project methodology. Budgeting gives partners an element of multi-year predictability. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Agency have gained experience with the current set of modalities for delivering Czech ODA and are well aware of their limits. As the Ministry prepares the next generation of country strategy papers it should review its mix of instruments and explore new ways to deliver programmes and projects that build and use partner systems, raise sustainability and impact, and are untied.

Having in place a more comprehensive results-based management system would help the Czech Republic to ensure that it is getting the most out of investments, to learn from and improve the quality of programmes, and to communicate the results of its development co-operation efforts to Parliament and the public. The forthcoming medium-term development co-operation strategy and the next generation of country strategy programmes, together with the 2030 Agenda, can help set the results framework. Building a results culture and strengthening internal capacity will be critical in making the move towards managing for development results, as agreed in Busan.

The Czech Republic's overall policy framework for humanitarian aid, which is relatively new, is solid and driven by international standards. However, the strategic framework could better reflect the complexity of protracted crises where humanitarian assistance, development co-operation and security concerns intertwine.