This blog unpacks last week's disappointing civil society dialogue with the OECD Development Assistance Committee.  

Official Development Assistance (ODA or aid) reached a new all-time-high of US$204 billion in 2022, but behind the headline figures the data shows even higher inflation of ODA than witnessed in 2021. It is vital to make sure that the integrity of ODA is preserved to serve the needs of people across the global south rather than the interests of countries in the global north.

Despite a seeming increase total official development assistance, Eurodad's Nerea Craviotto warns that today's figures are nothing to celebrate. The current levels of ODA do not meet the challenges the world is facing, and are a long way off meeting the 0.7% of GNI target.  

This week's negotiations, and subsequent agreement, on new reporting rules are an opportunity for OECD Development Assistance Committee members to show they take their financial commitments towards the global south seriously.

The new Chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is Denmark’s Carsten Staur – an experienced former Minister for International Development Co-operation – who will start his role in March 2023. In a world of overlapping crises, the stakes are too high to fail.

Civil society from around the world have written an open letter raising concerns about the quality and integrity of ODA statistics. 

Read the letter

• Donations of excess vaccines, in-country refugee costs, the use of private sector instruments and debt relief continues to inflate aid figures
• 40 CSOs across the world issue a joint statement calling for more and better-quality ODA

The Covid-19 pandemic is much more than a health crisis. And although it has affected all populations around the world, the consequences in richer versus poorer countries differ substantially. Official Development Assistance (ODA), or aid, has a fundamental role to play. It is the largest source of external financing for Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and a vital resource for supporting key sectors that promote the reduction of poverty and address inequalities. With ODA levels stagnant, it is critical that these resources are used effectively.

#dropitnow #CovidVaccines #Covid19 #IFI #IMF #inequality #EurodadConference

Last week, the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) failed to agree on a plan to report the donation of excess Covid-19 vaccine doses as aid. Yet, donors willing to report their excess vaccine donations will still be able to do so as in-kind donations, despite the lack of agreement.