Last week, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released preliminary data on 2022 official development assistance, or ODA, giving an overview of how donors spent during a year of numerous crises — from foreign aid budget cuts, looming global economic recession, and the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The total aid spending of Development Assistance Committee member countries amounted to $204 billion — 0.36% of their collective gross national income. While it is still below the 0.7% ODA-to-GNI target, it is the fourth consecutive year of record-high ODA and the highest rate in 40 years.
But the overall picture is more complex than that might make it sound. Significant additional funding went on refugees and Ukraine, while significantly less went to pandemic-related giving. Overall, aid to least developed countries, or LDCs, and to sub-Saharan Africa fell slightly.