Coordination Secretariat of the Arab National and Regional Developmental Institutions, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development (Coordination Group)

The origins of the Group developed from the need, identified by the members, to consult and optimize the application of resources and the giving of aid by the various Arab Development Funds. This was adopted as the principal objective of the group. A further objective is to derive benefit from coordinating financing efforts and the accompanying procedures, particularly for major projects and programs that exceed the capacity of any single institution. As well as achieving common objectives the intention is to establish clear links to promote development assistance and economic relations in the recipient countries.

The first meeting of the Group was held at the invitation of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development on 20 September 1975 and was attended by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the Saudi Fund for Development. The participants agreed that bi-annual meetings would be held at the level of the directors of operations and periodic meetings at the level of heads of institution, as required. The directors of operations would meet to discuss initiatives, cooperation and data on projects and development plans. They would also meet to harmonize procedures with a view to avoid duplication and redundancy. It was also agreed that the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development would assume the role of the Coordination Secretariat.