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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation

and Development

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What is the OECD?

A forum in which governments work together to address the economic, social and environmental challenges of interdependence and globalisation

A provider of comparative data, analysis and forecasts to underpin multilateral co-operation

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A tool for governments

Born after World War II as the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation to coordinate the Marshall Plan

Transformed in 1961 into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development with trans-Atlantic and then global reach

Today the OECD has 30 member countries More than 70 developing and transition

economies are engaged in working relationships with the OECD

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A global outreach

OECD Member CountriesCountries/Economies Engaged in Working Relationships with the OECD

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OECD’s missionTo promote policies designed:

to achieve sustainable economic growth and employment and rising standards of living in member countries while maintaining financial stability, so contributing to the development of the world economy

to assist sound economic expansion in member countries and other countries in the process of economic

development to contribute to growth in world trade on a multilateral, non-

discriminatory basis

(Article 1 of the OECD Convention)

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Who drives OECD work? Council

Oversight and strategic directionRepresentatives of member countries and of the European Commission; decisions taken by consensus

Committees

Discussion and implementation

Representatives of member countries and countries with Observer status work with the OECD Secretariat on specific issues

Secretariat

Analysis and proposals

Secretary-General

Deputy Secretaries-General

Directorates

Annual budget: 188 million euros

Funded by member countries

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The OECD Secretariat

2300 staff at Paris headquarters

Works in two official languages: English and French

Staff members are international civil servants

No quota system for national representation

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OECD’s wayof working

Analysis

Data Collection

Discussion

Decisions

Implementation

Peer reviews,multilateral surveillance

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Working with governments

Sharing information in all areas of the OECD’s work

Country and region-based cooperation programmes

Helping governments and citizens in all countries to reap the benefits of international trade and investment

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Working with civil society

Consulting with business through BIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee

Consulting with labour through TUAC, the Trade Union Advisory Committee

Expanding relations with civil society in such areas as the environment, trade, electronic commerce and social policy

Making information available to the public on www.oecd.org and in OECD publications. Public comment is welcome

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Economics and trade Analysing and publishing comparative data

and producing forecasts Developing policies to ensure economic

growth and stability Helping governments work together to

strengthen the multilateral trading system Encouraging the expansion of financial

services and cross-border investment Promoting best practices on an international

scale

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Social cohesion

Helping to ensure equal access to education for all

Promoting effective and accessible health systems

Fighting social exclusion and unemployment

Bridging the “digital divide” between rich and poor

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Our environment

Making markets work for ecologically and economically sustainable development

Harnessing science and technology in the service of citizens in all countries

Strengthening decision-making to avoid wastage and pollution

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Governance

Promoting good governance at all levels of government and corporate activity

Ensuring transparency and fairness in tax systems and competition rules

Fighting corruption and money-laundering and promoting high ethical standards

Supporting accountability and encouraging citizen-participation in policy-making

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Some OECD achievements

DAC Guidelines for Poverty Reduction OECD Model Tax Convention OECD Anti-Bribery Convention OECD Principles of Corporate Governance OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises Export Credit Arrangement OECD Guidelines for Conflict Prevention OECD Chemicals Test Acceptance Agreement OECD Chemical Hazard Classification System OECD GM Crop Identification System