The OPEC Fund for International Development, established in 1976 by 12 Member Countries, aims to improve people's lives worldwide. It focuses on delivering public, private, and trade sector financing, along with grants to foster sustainable social and economic progress. The fund emphasizes strengthening infrastructure and human capacity in vital areas such as energy, transportation, agriculture, water and sanitation, health, and education, benefiting 134 countries globally.
The OPEC Fund's Grants Program, one of its four financing facilities, provides support for technical assistance, capacity building, and special development initiatives. These grants focus on creating public goods and addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations in partner countries, with a particular emphasis on the least developed ones. Additionally, the fund offers emergency aid grants for relief operations after crises. Grant applications must support clear, measurable development impacts aligned with the Fund's strategic goals and priorities. The program prioritizes projects that complement existing operations in the country concerned and demands cost-effective delivery of proposed interventions. Three types of grants are available: country-specific projects, special development initiatives with global or regional impact, and emergency aid for humanitarian relief, excluding those sponsored by other development finance institutions or UN agencies unless backed by a solid government commitment.