On 14 April, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published its annual report on official development assistance (ODA) expenditure by donors – members of the Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC) for 2020. According to the figures given, this represents an increase of more than 25% in assistance from EU institutions, which were mobilised in response to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "These figures provide the first tangible evidence of the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic on the EU's official development assistance. In absolute terms, according to the OECD/DAC report, EU assistance increased compared to 2019, but this increase is mainly the result of the decline in gross national income caused by the global pandemic," explains Daniel Kaba, executive secretary of the Platform of Development Organisations – Ambrela.
Humanitarian intervention of the Integra Foundation
Development assistance expenditure in 2020 increased owing to mobilisation in the fight against Covid19
It is positive that the volume of expenditure on the official development cooperation of the Slovak Republic (ODA SR) also increased. In 2020, Slovakia spent EUR 122.68 million on development cooperation. Although this represents a 16.3% increase compared to 2019, there is not yet reason to celebrate, since behind this increase lies mainly the forgiveness of debt owed by Serbia in the amount of EUR 15.9 million. Compared to 2019, the share of ODA SR in gross national income also increased, from 0.11% to 0.14%. However, our international commitment – to devote 0.33% of the SR's gross national income to ODA SR by 2030 – appears very much at risk when we look at the current state and trend. For comparison only: Countries such as Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom meet or exceed their ODA expenditure target, which for them is 0.7% of gross national income.
The Together for Ethiopia initiative to help the population in Tigray
The negative impacts are felt especially by women
Globally, ODA rose to a record level – to USD 161.2 billion, mainly as part of the strong mobilisation of assistance to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income countries. However, experts on international development argue that, given the occurrence and deepening of the current humanitarian crises in the world (alongside the pandemic, especially the military conflicts in northern Ethiopia, in Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, the famine in Yemen and the countries of the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, etc.), this increase in ODA will not be enough. The reaction of the DAC-CSO Reference Group entitled 'The COVID-19 pandemic and related crises call for higher levels of ODA' can be read here. The reaction of the European development platform CONCORD Europe entitled 'EU ODA up, but far from levels promised and needed amid international crises' (including a statement by the executive secretary of our Ambrela, Daniel Kaba) can be read here.
The negative impacts of the pandemic will be felt especially by women and girls
For the first time since 1998, the global poverty rate has increased. It is estimated that by the end of 2021 another 150 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty, living on less than USD 1.90 a day. "This is not only about the loss of the progress achieved, but also about the disproportionate negative consequences for people's lives and livelihoods. The economic impacts are felt especially by women and girls, who are more likely to earn less and to have insecure jobs," added Daniel Kaba.
The (un)willingness to contribute to global solutions
"It is not only about the numbers, but also about expressing how we perceive global trends, including those that concern and affect us, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, migration, security, and others. Every citizen (and one need not even be an expert on international development) can form a picture of how much and in what form we are willing to contribute to the solutions of these global challenges. Whether from the perspective of a responsible international partner, sensible governance, an expression of solidarity, or the pursuit of protecting one's own interests, on which the aforementioned challenges have an ever greater impact," concludes Daniel Kaba of the Ambrela platform.
OECD DAC top donors for 2020
A summary of the Annual Report on Official Development Assistance (ODA) of the members of the Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC) for 2020 can be read here; a detailed explanation of the topic and of development financing with infographics here.
Text: Ambrela.org, Photo: archive of OECD and Ambrela.org
