The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECI) , is a legal entity under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation through the Secretary of State for International Cooperation (SECI). It is the management authority of the Spanish policy of international cooperation for development, and its objective is the promotion, management and implementation of public policies on international development cooperation aimed at combating poverty and achieving sustainable human development in developing countries, particularly those contained in the Master Plan in place every four years. The fight against poverty is the ultimate objective of Spanish policy on international cooperation for development. This is part of the external action of the state and is based on a conception of interdependence and solidarity of the international society.

Priorities of Spanish Cooperation:
The 2009-2012 Master Plan establishes the following priorities - horizontal and cross-cutting and geographical :

Horizontal and Cross-Cutting Priorities:
• Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction
• Promotion of Human Rights and Democratic Governance
• Gender in Development
• Environmental Sustainability
• Respect for Cultural Diversity

Sectors Of Intervention And Spanish Cooperation Effects Expected In 2012:

Democratic Governance

Rural Development And The Fight Against Hunger

Education

Health

Water And Sanitation

Economic Growth For Poverty Reduction

Environmental Sustainability, Fight Against Climate Change And Habitat

Science, Technology And

Culture And Development

Gender In Development

Migration And Development

Peace Building  

Geographical Priorities:
The geographic priorities of the Master Plan for Spanish Cooperation for 2009-2012 are set from performance criteria and indicators of development, presence and articulation of Spanish cooperation in the country, the partnership framework as possible in the country, country's potential as a development partner and the relative position of Spanish cooperation from other donors.

Group A – Wide-ranging Partnerships:
Least Developed Countries, Low Income Countries or Lower Middle Income Countries, where there are opportunities to establish a long-term partnership framework which will enable large amounts of ODA to be channeled and a wide range of instruments to be used.

Group B - Focused Partnerships:
Least Developed Countries, Low Income Countries or Lower Middle Income Countries, where the cooperation programme does not allow an A-type partnership. Those partnerships will have greater development impact if the partnership is focused on a single key sector, or on more than one, but with a single approach and a selective use of instruments.

Group C , Partnerships for the consolidating development achievements:
Countries that enable the establishment of specific partnerships strategies to promote development by strengthening inclusive public policies, promoting south-south cooperation, triangular cooperation and the provision of global public goods.

AECID around the World:
AECID’s international network is composed of 44 AECID Technical Cooperation Offices (CTO) that manage, coordinate and monitor the Agency’s development interventions in the field; 19 cultural centers, incharge of cultural cooperation and programming; and 6 training centers in partner countries where coursesa dn seminar are held.
 
Cooperation Instruments:
• The AECID uses different development assistance channels:
• Cooperation programmes and projects.
• Direct Budget Supports and Pool Funds.
• Technical Assistance to institutions from partner countries, programme assistance and micro-credits.
• Contributions to multilateral programmes and organizations, as well as to global funds.
• Grants to NGOs and other development actors.
• Humanitarian Action.
• Awareness-raising and education for development programmes.