Policy Updates

On August 19, 2025, Spain's MAEC highlighted its strengthened commitment to humanitarian action, noting it had tripled the AECID's humanitarian budget from EUR45 million (US$52 million) in 2019 to over EUR133 million (US$154 million) in 2024.

This increase resulted in a total 2024 humanitarian budget of over EUR181 million (US$210 million), a 7.4% rise from 2023, and placed Spain among the top 25 global humanitarian donors. Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares stated that the funding reflects Spanish solidarity and is a foreign policy priority. Albares highlighted Spain's presence in major global crises, including those in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, as well as less-visible emergencies in Haiti and Mali.

In 2024, the AECID allocated EUR15 million (US$17 million) from its budget for specific emergency responses, such as for Hurricane Beryl and the migration crisis in Central America. The update on Spain's humanitarian funding comes as the number of people needing assistance worldwide has surpassed 300 million, with over 123 million forcibly displaced.

On August 14, 2025, the resumed 5^th session of the INC-5.2]{title="Fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee"} in Geneva, Switzerland, concluded without reaching a consensus on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution, though UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that all member states agreed to continue negotiations.

Negotiations to establish a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution concluded without an agreement. UN officials, including UNEP Executive Director Andersen and UN Secretary-General Guterres, acknowledged the outcome but emphasized that all countries remained committed to the process. The talks, which included delegates from 183 nations and representatives from over 400 CSOs faced significant differences on key issues.

The US delegation supported an agreement that allows for tailored, country-specific solutions to reduce plastic pollution while opposing prescriptive, top-down regulations. INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso and INC Executive Secretary Jyoti Mathur-Filipp reaffirmed their dedication to moving forward and achieving a future agreement.

On July 15, 2025, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares announced nearly EUR62 million (US$73 million) in voluntary contributions to international organizations, reinforcing Spain’s multilateral support through AECID which will address key challenges such as food security, humanitarian assistance, climate change, and gender equality.

The contributions aim to accelerate development and humanitarian efforts, especially amidst global budget cutbacks, and complement previous packages approved this year. So far, Spain has allocated over EUR150 million (US$176 million) to 42 multilateral organizations in 2025, underlining its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

Major recipients include UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, the Climate Adaptation Fund, UN -Women, WFP, WHO, PAHO, UNRWA, UNHCR, and IOM, among others.

On July 2, 2025, the FfD4 in Seville, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares urged all countries to meet the international target of allocating 0.7% of GDP to ODA, reaffirming Spain’s legal commitment to this benchmark.

Albares emphasized the need to mobilize both public and private finance, strengthen tax systems, and tackle illicit financial flows. He also underscored the importance of effective assistance delivery, localizing development finance, and reforming international tax cooperation.

Spain endorsed the Sevilla Commitment, which calls for improved debt sustainability, governance reforms in international financial institutions, and harnessing trade and technology to achieve the SDGs.

During side events, Albares highlighted Spain’s support for coordinated health financing, referencing its Global Health Action Initiative with WHO, Gavi, and the Global Fund. He concluded that fulfilling the Sevilla Commitment is essential to promoting inclusive and sustainable global development.

On June 30, 2025, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to global health with an increased pledge of EUR145 million (US$166 million) to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the 2026–2028 period, at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville.

This marks a rise from the previous EUR130 million (US$149 million) contribution, demonstrating Spain’s intent to bolster support amid a global decline in health financing.

Albares emphasized the Global Fund’s role in saving over 65 million lives and its capacity to strengthen health systems in vulnerable regions. He also stressed the importance of sustained multilateral cooperation, particularly in light of warnings from the WHO about reduced global investment in health. Spain’s renewed funding aligns with its broader commitment to inclusive, rights-based international development.

From June 9-13, 2025, the 3^rd UN Ocean Conference was hosted in Nice, France, ending with over 170 countries adopting a joint declaration committing to urgent measures for ocean conservation and sustainable use.

The event featured 55 heads of state and government as well as upwards of 15,000 participants from civil society, business, and science. The Nice Ocean Action Plan, combining this declaration with voluntary pledges, was said to mark renewed global political will for marine protection.

Key commitments included:

• A European Commission pledge of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for ocean conservation;
• A pledge by French Polynesia to create the world’s largest marine protected area;
• A pledge by New Zealand of US$52 million for Pacific Ocean governance;
• A pledge by Italy of EUR6.5 million (US$7 million) to strengthen Coast Guard surveillance in marine protected areas and on oil platforms;
• A pledge by Spain to establish five new marine protected areas, aiming to safeguard 25% of its marine territory;
• A pledge by Germany of EUR100 million (US$115 million) for Baltic and North Sea munitions clearance;
• The launch of a Coral Bond for reef conservation by Indonesia, WB, and partners.

37 countries, led by Panama and Canada, launched the High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, while Canada pledged US$9 million to the Ocean Risk and Resilience Alliance. UN agencies and global partners also launched a co-design process for One Ocean Finance to unlock billions in new financing from ocean-dependent industries and blue economy sectors.

Nineteen more states ratified the Marine Biodiversity Treaty, bringing total signatures to 136 and ratifications to 50 states, plus the EU. Ten more ratifications are needed for the Agreement to enter into force. The 4^th UN Ocean Conference, in 2028, will be co-hosted by Chile and the Republic of Korea.

On June 10, 2025, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation José Manuel Albares, presented the latest milestones in the reform of AECID, following the approval of the Law on Sustainable Development Cooperation in February 2023 and the agency’s new statute in December 2024.

The reforms are intended make AECID more strategic, digital, transparent, and accessible, with a clear focus on impact and coordination. The agency is strengthening its workforce, launching a call for 35 new project manager positions at headquarters and in its global offices, and improving working conditions to attract diverse talent.

The new Advisory Council, established in May 2025, held its first session at the event. The group's mission is to bring together experts from international organizations, academia, and civil society to guide AECID’s strategy. The council includes:

• Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, AU Special Envoy for Food Systems and former Prime Minister of Niger;
• Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, activist for democracy and human rights and president of the Washington Office on Latin America;
• Mario Pezzini, Special Adviser for Social and Human Sciences to UNESCO and former Director of the OECD Development Centre;
• Andrea Meza Murillo, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD and former Minister of Environment of Costa Rica;
• José Antonio Sanahuja, Professor of International Relations at Complutense University of Madrid;
• Paula Marcela Moreno, former Minister of Culture of Colombia and president of Manos Visibles;
• Megumi Muto, Senior Executive Director and Deputy Director of Sustainability at Mizuho Financial Group and former Vice President of the Japanese cooperation agency; and
• Paula Gil Leyva, president of Doctors Without Borders Spain.

The changes are part of a broader reform of Spanish Cooperation, including the Master Plan for 2024–2027 and new rights for over 2,700 Spanish partners worldwide.

On May 21, 2025, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares met with Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez in Madrid to discuss their strong bilateral relations and regional issues in Latin America, highlighting Spain’s 35-year cooperation with the Dominican Republic and over EUR125million (US$135 million) committed to development assistance focused on institutional strengthening, gender equality, and reducing inequalities.

Albares emphasized Spain’s commitment to strengthening economic and investment ties in the Dominican Republic. Discussions also included Spain’s support for Haiti’s stability through a EUR4 million (US$4 million) contribution to the Multinational Security Support Mission, advocating for its conversion into a UN peacekeeping operation.

The ministers reviewed upcoming international events in Spain, including the 4^th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville and the 2026 Ibero-American Summit in Madrid.

On April 18, 2025, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a 12% increase in Spain’s ODA for 2024, surpassing EUR4 billion (US$4.3 billion), reflecting Spain’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation and sustainable development.

This milestone aligns with Spain’s broader strategy to become a global leader in development aid, reaffirming its dedication to achieving the UN SDGs. The increase in ODA funding highlights Spain’s focus on addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change through enhanced multilateral and bilateral efforts.

The Ministry celebrated this achievement as a step towards meeting its long-term goal of allocating 0.7% of gross national income to ODA by 2030, as outlined in Spain’s Master Plan for Development Cooperation.

On October 24, 2024, on the sidelines of the WB Group and the IMF Annual Meetings, Spain's Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo announced an early financial commitment of EUR400 million (US$430 million) to the IDA, the WBs fund for LICs, for the period 2025-2028.

This early pledge announcement represents a 37% increase compared to the Spanish contribution to IDA’s previous replenishment cycle for the period from July 2022 to June 2025 and ubicates Spain’s overall contribution to the organization at EUR5 billion (US$5.4 billion). The announcement comes weeks ahead of the IDA21 replenishment meeting that will take place in December and represents a powerful signal for other donors to meet IDA’s call to action for increasing contributions by at least 20%.

Cuerpo took advantage of the announcement to underline Spain’s strong commitment to advance SDGs in vulnerable countries as well as to tackle poverty and inequities worldwide.

He urged other donor countries to increase funding to IDA but also to bend official, public loans, through the inclusion of contingency clauses, in order to free up resources in middle- and low-income partner countries.

He mentioned that the 4^th International Conference on Financing for Development is an opportunity for rethinking global financial architecture and advancing sustainable development.