Russia - Development assistance

As Russia did not make an ODA commitment to Africa at Gleneagles, this chapter does not hold it accountable for ODA levels to the continent. However, in 2007 Russia passed a law that committed it to raising global ODA levels to $400–$500 million per year in the short term, with a longer-term goal of scaling up development assistance to reach 0.7% of its gross national income. Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak said in 2007 that he expected to reach the short-term target within four to five years (2011–12). Until Russia becomes a member of the DAC, progress against this target is difficult to measure. Russia formally opened discussions for joining the OECD in late June 2009 by submitting an 'Initial Memorandum' on its position as it relates to the policy standards and practices required for membership of the organisation. Russia will now go through a detailed review by OECD committees covering most areas of government, including corporate governance and anti-corruption, investment, competition, labour policy and the environment. This process will reveal Russia’s compliance with more than 200 OECD legal standards.
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In lieu of ODA figures as reported by the OECD, ONE tracks certain Russian development assistance activities as reported by financing mechanisms and the government itself, recognising that funding levels reported by the Russian government cannot be verified and are not comparable with DAC figures.

According to reports by the Russian government regarding global ODA, '… federal budget funds allocated by Russia to developing countries in 2009 on a bilateral and multilateral basis, which are classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee as Official Development Assistance, amounted to about $800 million vs. $220 million allocated a year earlier'. As reported by its government, Russia is exceeding the $400–$500 million per year target for global ODA, as committed to in 2007.

Debt

  • Russia has provided IDA with an 'unqualified' commitment of $33.39 million to offset foregone reflows due to MDRI. This exceeds its share of costs for the 2010 to 2019 period, which is $9.53 million.
  • Russia has cancelled 100% of its commercial debt owed by completion point HIPCs. This amounts to 100% of its post cut-off date commercial debt. Russia did not have any concessional loan claims against completion point HIPCs.

Trade and investment

  • Russia’s total trade volume with Africa rose to $8.2 billion in 2008.

Health

  • As reported by its government, Russia’s global health investment totaled $118 million in 2007 and over $152.3 in 2008.
  • Russia has contributed a total of $251 million to the Global Fund since its inception. In 2007, Russia announced that it would reimburse the Global Fund for grant financing it had received to date; at the time this totaled $270 million, but the figure has been adjusted downward to $217 million in more recent G8 documents. Russia has met this target, but remains a net beneficiary of Global Fund financing by $69.6 million, having received a total of $320.6 million to date.
  • Russia has been a consistent supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, contributing $3 million in 2006, $3 million in 2007, $9 million in 2008 and $5 million in 2009.
  • In addition to Russia’s support of long-lasting insecticide treated nets through the Global Fund, Russia’s 2008 contribution to the World Bank Malaria Booster Programme directed $1.5 million for nets in Zambia.
  • In 2010, Russia will begin to contribute $8 million a year for 10 years to support the Advanced Market Commitment against pneumococcal disease.

Education

  • From 2000 to 2007, Russia committed $759.5 million to sector-wide education, and an additional $4.2 million specifically to basic education.
  • Russia committed $10.2 million to the Education for All FTI Catalytic Fund during the period 2004-2009.

Agriculture

  • Between January 2008 and July 2009, Russia committed $103 million to support global food security, $73 million of which has been disbursed so far.