Development Assistance
Development assistance plays a critical role in the fight against extreme poverty and disease.
The Challenge
In 2000, world leaders signed on to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight targets to reduce global poverty and disease by 2015. Meeting these ambitious goals could transform the lives of millions of the world's poorest people, but would require major investments which were out of reach for many developing countries. By signing on to goal eight and committing to build a global partnership for development, the world's wealthy countries acknowledged development assistance as needed to bolster the investments made by poor countries themselves to reach the goals.
Wealthy countries have made ambitious commitments to increase development assistance in the past few years. While some countries have substantially increased funding, many commitments have yet to be fulfilled. Following through on these commitments has become even more important as poor countries struggle to cope with the effects of the global financial crisis and the soaring cost of food.
The Opportunity
Since the Millennium Development Goals were signed, new investments in the fight against poverty have produced real results and improved the lives of millions of people. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 5 million Africans are currently receiving life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment (up from 50,000 in 2002), and 230 million bed nets to protect families from malaria have been delivered by the Global Fund alone. Progress has also been made in getting children into school. 46.5 million African children went to school for the first time between 1999 and 2008, thanks in part to savings from debt relief and development assistance for education.
These results are evidence that development assistance can have a transformative impact in the world's poorest countries, especially when it is combined with committed and transparent leadership and policies aimed at economic growth.
Learn more, read the full Development Assistance Issue Brief...
Related Hot Topics in Policy
-
Canadian Aid
Cuts to poverty-fighting programs won’t balance the budget, but they will set back progress on Canada’s development priorities and risk jeopardizing existing investments. More
-
Living Proof
Living Proof is about telling the real story of the incredible progress being achieved by some of the world's poorest people, backed by governments like ours. More
-
Millennium Development Goals
The MDGs are more than just a mouthful. They're 8 poverty-fighting goals-agreed to by more than 180 nations. More
-
Haiti's Future
After Haiti's devastating earthquake, pledges of aid and reconstruction assistance poured in from around the globe. But to date, only 4 countries have delivered on those commitments. More
-
DATA Report 2010
The 2010 DATA Report gives a final verdict on the G8's progress in meeting their Gleneagles commitments to sub-Saharan Africa and recommends a renewed strategy for 2010-2015. More
-
Related Campaigns
-
UN Summit: Fill the Funding Gap
September - October, 2008
In September 2008, before a High Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals, more than 50,000 European ONE members mobilised to urge world leaders to fill the worldwide US$1 billion funding gap to combat the food crisis. More -
The “EU Billion” for Food and Agriculture
July - November, 2008
With €1 billion of funding to struggling farmers in developing countries on the line, European ONE members helped apply public pressure at the critical moment to help secure this new money.
More -
Save the International Affairs Budget
March - May, 2006
More than 100,000 U.S. ONE members took action in just 6 days to urge senators to restore critical anti-poverty funding to the Fiscal Year 2007 International Affairs Budget, leading to a bipartisan majority of the US Senate asking Appropriations' leadership to protect development assistance. More
Related Press Releases
-
ONE Response to UK Autumn Statement
In response to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement Adrian Lovett, Europe Director of anti-poverty campaign ONE, said: "George Osborne's confirmation that Britain will invest 0.7% of national income in overseas aid is good news. Our aid is saving lives and building livelihoods - and it is in Britain's long-term interest as we seek new global opportunities for UK business.
More -
The future of aid: ONE calls for focus on transparency, accountability and results at Busan
As 2500 people prepare to convene in South Korea to discuss the future of international aid, anti-poverty campaign group ONE has called for donors to be held accountable for the promises they make to improve the way aid is delivered to the world's poor. More
-
ONE calls on president Calderon not to drop the G20 development agenda
Mexico will take over the G20 at a stormy time for the global economy. Mexico can lead on restoring a truly global outlook to the G20, with Africa as part of the solution to the growth and debt crises that has dominated in France. When ONE co-founder Bono met with President Calderón in May there was strong agreement the G20 should continue to focus on fighting poverty.
More -
500 miles from the 500 million
As G20 leaders prepare to meet in Cannes, just 500 miles from the African coast, anti-poverty group ONE has urged them not to overlook the opportunity on their doorstep or to forget the ongoing food crisis in the Horn of Africa. More
-
ONE welcomes Piebalgs’ new focus on agriculture
Anti-poverty campaign group ONE today welcomed the announcement that the EU's new development policy will focus on agriculture and food security, along with other important issues like governance, health, education and energy.
More -
G8 report whitewashes aid promise shortfalls
ONE comments on the Deauville Accountability Report released by the G8, Jamie Drummond, Executive Director of ONE, says "The G8 accountability report was meant to ensure promises made were tracked and measured. Instead, the report released by the G8 attempts to whitewash the shortfalls..." More
Quick Facts
6.6 million people
globally are receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS.
The G7 has delivered 61% of their commitment
to increase development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa by 2010.
46.5 million African children
went to school for the first time between 1999 and 2008, thanks in part to debt relief and assistance for education.
Related Policy Analysis
-
Policy Brief
Canadian Aid: Budgeting for Results -
Policy Brief
The EU’s funding proposals for development under the MFF 2014-2020 -
Policy Brief
ONE submission to the Labour Party’s Policy Review: “Tackling global inequality and promoting sustainable development in a changing world” -
Policy Brief
Opening Government to Accelerate Poverty Reduction