The country consistently contributes large amounts of aid through multilateral channels, especially the UN Development Programme, the international financial institutions, and EU programs.
A large portion of Dutch aid funds also are channeled through private ("co-financing") organizations that have almost total autonomy in choice of projects.
[citation needed] The Netherlands is a member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which recently initiated economic reforms in central Europe.
The Dutch strongly support the Middle East peace process and in 1998 earmarked US$29 million in contributions to international donor-coordinated activities for the occupied territories and also for projects in which they worked directly with Palestinian authorities.
These projects included improving environmental conditions and support for multilateral programs in cooperation with local non-governmental organizations.