Official development assistance: the OECD points to a record year 2021, linked to the Covid-19 pandemic

Vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in Cape Verde (illustration image).

A significant part of public aid was intended in 2021 to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

© UN Cabo Verde

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2 mins

The OECD published, on Tuesday 12 April, its preliminary data on official development assistance.

The year 2021 was a record year revealed the organization: 179 billion dollars were raised in 2021, an increase of 4.4% compared to 2020. 

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A significant part of this aid was intended to

deal with the Covid-19 pandemic

, 18.8 billion dollars for humanitarian aid.

A positive trend for the OECD which calls for continued efforts.

Mathias Cormann, secretary general of this organisation, is delighted with the trend: “ 

For the second consecutive year, development aid has reached record levels.

Despite fiscal pressures in OECD economies.

This increase is largely due to additional funds mobilized to help developing countries deal with Covid-19

.

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The pandemic, a priority

The pandemic has therefore been a priority, but humanitarian crises must not be forgotten, insists Susanna Moorehead, Chair of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee: "

 The crisis and tragedy in Ukraine has reminded the world why the humanitarian response is so desperately needed.

All refugees, wherever they are in the world, fleeing war, hunger, climate injustices need and deserve humanitarian support. 

»

Maintain effort

Jorge Moreira Da Silva, Director of the Development Cooperation Directorate insists on the interconnection of crises, whether climate, health or humanitarian: " 

We know that what we do not invest in the resolution and prevention crises, will mean that we will have to deal with humanitarian crises, including those of refugees. 

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The OECD insists on the need to maintain efforts to achieve the objectives set by the United Nations.

And in particular allocate 0.7% of national income to development aid.

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To read also: Will the Europeans convince the Africans with their new partnership?

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  • Cooperation and Development

  • Humanitarian

  • Coronavirus

  • finance