Belgian official development assistance (ODA) is 95% funded by two Federal Public Services (Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Finance), and 5% by Belgium's Communities, Regions, provinces and local authorities.

Most assistance takes the form of non-repayable donations.

In 2006, Belgium's development assistance totalled €1.576 billion, or 0.50% of GNI. Though still in line with the 2002 growth path, this is down on the target 0.53% of GNI recorded in 2005. The fall is due to a reduction in debt cancellation operations and multilateral contributions to the World  Bank and International Monetary Fund in 2006. This makes Belgium 8th in the DAC ranking for development assistance contributions per head of population and 14th in absolute terms.

The law on international cooperation dated 25 May 1999 stipulates that development aid must aim to foster sustainable human development. This is to be achieved by reducing poverty and based on a partnership between developing and donor countries. The law limits the number of privileged partner countries and international partner organisations involved. The eighteen partner countries are Algeria, Benin, Bolivia, Burundi, DRC, Ecuador, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Palestinian territories, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Vietnam. . Priority is unquestionably given to Central Africa. In this respect, the problem of child soldiers in armed conflicts is a central topic and Belgium aims to be a driving force in this context.

Belgium is fully committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to the new agreements between developing countries and the donor community aimed at increasing the effectiveness of development aid.

Accordingly, 2006 focused largely on implementation of the Paris Declaration, to which Belgium adheres.