Rich nations reverse aid cuts to poorest — but debt distress still looms

Aid from wealthy donor nations to the lowest-income countries has bounced back after a shock fall in 2022 — but they have been warned they are still “falling short” of the help required to combat debt distress and the climate crisis.

A record $223.7 billion of official development assistance was delivered in 2023 by the 31 members of the Development Assistance Committee hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development — a 1.8% real-terms rise on $211 billion in 2022, the annual statistics show.

Crucially, bilateral sums flowing to the group of least developed countries and to Sub-Saharan Africa rose by 3% and 5% respectively, after huge controversy over declines of 6.2% and 7.8% in 2022.

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