Development progress has been enormous over the past decades with halving of both extreme poverty and child mortality. But more and better official development assistance will be needed to continue the success and end poverty in all its form by 2030 while protecting the planet.
More ODA than ever before, $134.8 billion, was provided in 2013. The United Kingdom increased ODA spending by 30 percent and reached for the first time the international target of 0.7 percent of gross national income for foreign aid. The ability to increase aid in tough economic times serves as an example to other countries in similar situations. This milestone for the world’s second-largest donor shows that political will and broad political support makes it possible to achieve ambitious goals.
The U.K. also reached the United Nations target of providing at least 0.15 percent of national income to the least developed countries. More than half of its bilateral aid goes to countries in sub-Saharan Africa in accordance with the British government’s clear focus on reducing poverty in low-income countries and fragile states.
About the author
Erik Solheim
Erik Solheim is chair of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee since January 2013, and incoming executive director of the U.N. Environment Program. With a solid background in climate, the environment and peace building, Solheim was also Norway’s minister for international development from 2005 to 2012.
