France is currently off track on its commitment to increase ODA, despite moving its global goal of 0.7% ODA/GNI back from 2012 to 2015. France committed to spend the majority of increased ODA in sub-Saharan Africa but, even as its global ODA increased slightly in 2007, its assistance to the region decreased. France is a clear leader in its support for the Global Fund and the use of innovative finance, but along with other members of the EU has failed to deliver pro-development trade reform. Even though it hosted the conference that gave birth to the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness, it is not a leader in this area.
In 2007, France's assistance to sub-Saharan Africa declined by €53 million ($66 million). Its multilateral allocation to the region dropped by €13 million, and its bilateral assistance net of bilateral debt relief declined by another €40 million. To be on track as determined by a straight-line trajectory, DATA estimates that France should have increased its ODA to sub-Saharan Africa by €1,128 billion ($1.402 billion) in 2007. Despite the decline last year, France's ODA to sub-Saharan Africa increased by a net €269 million ($334 million) over the period 2004-07.
- 2010 TARGET €6.06bn ($7.529bn)
- 2007 ODA €2.316bn ($2.877bn)
- CHANGE 2006-07 -€53m (-$66m)
- CHANGE 2004-07 -€269m ($334m)
- % OF INCREASE ACHIEVED 6.7%
- INCREASE NEEDED 2007-08 €1.315bn ($1.551bn IN 2004 PRICES)
- ESTIMATED INCREASE 2007-08 €256m ($301m IN 2004 PRICES)
DATA estimates that, despite the recent declines in France's ODA to Africa, approximately 39.9%, or €2.696 billion ($3.178 billion in 2004 prices), will be allocated to Africa in 2008. This would be an increase of €256 million ($301 million in 2004 prices) from 2007 levels, but is less than the required increase of €1.315 billion ($1.551 billion in 2004 prices) to get on track towards the revised commitment.