Official development assistance dropped 0.5 percent in real terms in 2014, as donor nations continued to face economic difficulties and implement austerity measures.
This is according to the latest provisional ODA data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Released April 8, figures from the Paris-based institution indicate that while net global ODA from members of OECD’s Development Assistance Committee reached $135.2 billion — a slight uptick from 2013’s record-breaking high of $135.1 billion — aid flows to the world’s poorest countries dropped 16 percent to $25 billion.
Yasmin Ahmad, manager of OECD’s data collections unit, explained to Devex that this drop is mainly as a result of massive debt relief to Myanmar, the international development community’s newest donor darling. But that doesn’t explain the decrease in ODA in other regions, such as in Africa.
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
