The OPEC countries' collective policy is to offer external development assistance free from political or commercial ties, with the purpose of expressing the solidarity of one group of developing countries with the rest. Since 1976, this policy has found vigorous practical expression in the operations and activities of the OPEC fund.

First published in 1983, this book describes the Fund's organisational evolution into a fully-fledged international body, detailing the fund's achievements in providing loans and grants to over 80 countries with operations based on principles that have influenced the whole development movement. Concrete examples are outlined, such as where the fund has acted as a catalyst for development, or a spokesman for a group of countries in international negotiations.