The UK’s Overseas Development Institute has highlighted a troubling trend within foreign aid donation practice.

According to a recent report, the gap between what has been promised and what is actually delivered in terms of overseas aid is widening, and it is to the detriment of poorer and developing nations.  The trend indicates that countries are continuing to give less and less aid in proportion to what was originally pledged to countries in need.

The amount of aid given annually has increased numerically, but has fallen short of the percentages or amounts promised. Members of the Organisation for Economic Coooperation and Development’s (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) gave US$121.5 billion in bilateral aid in 2009.  While this is the largest donation to date, it does fall short of commitments and promises made in 2005.

“Though aid commitments have continued to increase, the rate of increase has dropped off in the past few years…making donors increasingly off-track,” reported ODI research fellow Alison Evans.

2005 saw several members of DAC commit 0.56 percent of their gross national income by 2010, however last years donations only represented 0.31 percent, just over half of the amount promised.

WHY THIS ISN’T ENOUGH

When need is calculated, factors such as inflation and population increase are considered, foreign aid must honour its commitments to reflect these changing needs, instead of simply considering the numbers independently.

While the DAC recognizes that many countries have suffered economic downturns and have had to decrease spending everywhere, they point out that the poorest countries are the first to be effected by a poor global economy and are therefore in even greater need now.  Newer programmes are at risk of being cut, including education projects as they are considered secondary in the face of providing adequate food and water programmes.  It is the youth who suffer from this deficit.

“Were these commitments made just for good times? That isn’t the case. They were made because of a commitment to reduce poverty globally and boost international development… for those receiving this aid; they are clearly going to be worried.” Evans spoke candidly and openly about the responsibility the member states had to honour their commitments if poverty reduction goals are to be achieved.

FUTURE DONATIONS

Donors have promised an impressive US$130 billion in 2010, however if this trend continues, the DAC predicts the donations could fall short by about US$78 billion.  This has sparked worries about existing aid initiatives and the sustainability of several aid projects in developing countries.

Actionaid is one of the many aid agencies working in developing nations today, they provide all levels of support for poorer communities in need and rely on several different sources to continue their valuable work.

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