The UK has increased the volume of ODA to Africa more than any other G8 country and data is not yet available to assess whether the UK has met its target for doubling bilateral ODA between fiscal years 2003/04 and 2007/08. DATA's estimates of 2008 ODA to sub-Saharan Africa project that the UK will remain off track in its effort to meet the 2010 target, but longer-term budgetary commitments show a positive trajectory that will bring it close to doing so. On aid quality and on education the UK is a clear leader. It has also led calls within Europe for pro-development trade reform, even though the EU has failed to deliver.
In 2007, UK ODA net of bilateral debt relief to sub-Saharan Africa was lower than expected, increasing only by £26 million ($48 million) whereas an increase of £662 million ($1,213 billion) would have been necessary to be on track, as determined by a straight-line trajectory. The bilateral component of ODA to the region net of debt relief actually fell by £32 million ($59 million), while multilateral spending increased by £58 million ($106 million). To date, between 2004 and 2007 the UK increased assistance to sub-Saharan Africa by £566 million ($1,037 billion).
DATA estimates, based on an average of allocations since 2004, that UK ODA to Africa will be approximately 39.6% of its total ODA, or £2.425 billion ($4.127 billion in 2004 prices), in 2008. This is an increase of £287 million ($490 million in 2004 prices), but less than the increase of £562 million ($957 million in 2004 prices) required in 2008 to be on DATA's trajectory. Longer-term budgetary commitments, however, show a positive trajectory that will bring the UK close to meeting its target by 2010.