Biggest donor in the world consults on how it can increase the impact of its aid
The European Union (EU) is world’s largest economic block (with 501 million inhabitants and a total GDP of more than $17 trillion). In addition it is also the world’s largest provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA), also known as “Overseas Aid”. In 2010, EU countries provided over $72 billion of overseas aid, which is more than double that of the United States. It is a huge total.
However the proportion of European overseas aid that is channeled through the EU Commission has been criticized for not being focused enough on trying to alleviate poverty. The Commission is seeking to address this by looking at how it can increase the impacts of its development policy and early this year ran a consultation process. Groups were invited to submit comments on the EU approach and what they thought the Commission should do to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.
ONE — along with more than 200 other groups including governments, think tanks and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) -– made submissions which the EU has now consolidated into a single report released last week. The report will inform the debate on the European Union’s development policy and how the Commission focuses its overseas aid. So the report could have a huge impact on poverty reduction… being aware of this potential impact, here is a summary of the major opinions put forward by respondents:
These conclusions from the consultation generally echo the points ONE made and we hope that later in the year when the European Parliament and Commission discus the future of EU development policy it will take these points on board. We here at ONE will of course be watching the discussion and will keep you informed.
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The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
01/07/2011 at 9:16 pm
Am happy to hear this. Meanwhile such donor agencies should commit themselves in co-ordinating vicibility study in Africa. They should not allow Africans alone to co-ordinate such programmes. Our leaders in Africa does not want to see povarty eradicated because they always wants the poor to serve as indirect slaves.
02/07/2011 at 12:08 pm
Neither European Union nor another institution would really want to eradicate the povrety ,or help even other poor countries to jut get by the hardship of life ,they want to colonize all over again the poor countries, dictate their policies and impose their Agendas on poor countries, in order to give them back just a few pieces from the wealth that they have already stolen from the same poor countries,because all the mineral resources and the raw resources of wealth come from the poor countries.
08/07/2011 at 10:20 pm
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT IN MY OWN COUNTRY .WITH IDEAS TO GET ASSISTANCE TO THOSE COMMISSION, W E ARE IN NEED HERE ,TO FIND DEVELOPED, ANY ONE WITH IDEAS WHERE TO FIND OR HE OR SHE WANTED TO DRING DEVELOPMENT AT NAMIBIA . MUST CONTACT ME
21/07/2011 at 12:21 pm
It is a good idea to have such initiative in place.Come to Zambia see how people are starving but the politicians are busy telling the world that things are ok in ZAMBIA.
31/07/2011 at 7:34 pm
The idea of aligning the development plan with recipient countries is quit interesting but I think what matters is the procedures to know this priorities. As to me, it shouldn’t be only the government that tells these priorities but also activists and grass root project workers should participate.