Today, members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) adopted a joint communiqué following two days of deliberations at its High Level Meeting. Development ministers and others were discussing the role of the DAC in “building back better and greener” in response to the multifaceted Covid-19 crisis.

As the DAC only convenes at this level every 2-3 years, this was a key opportunity to raise ambitions and make sure that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is delivered in a better way. Ahead of the meeting, the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) called on development ministers to do ‘whatever it takes’ to tackle the current pandemic and its consequences.

Jan Van de Poel, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Eurodad, said:

“While we welcome members’ renewed commitment to key development effectiveness principles, delegates failed to show the solidarity that is needed to stay on track to reach the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Covid-19 pandemic will cause poverty to rise for the first time in more than two decades, yet the majority of members did not commit to stepping up and delivering more ODA. Instead they continued to turn to the private sector and to promote the use of precious ODA to ease private investment.

“We understand that public finances in many DAC member countries are under pressure as a result of the pandemic. However, it is short-sighted to divert scarce resources away from key investments in strong public services in favour of an approach that has demonstrated little impact in delivering for the poor and most vulnerable.

“When the DAC reconvenes for another high-level meeting in late 2021 or early 2022, members will have a new opportunity to show the leadership needed to ensure the world stays on track to meet the SDGs and leave no-one behind.”

ENDS

Media contact: Julia Ravenscroft, jravenscroft[at]eurodad.org/ +32 486356814.