Today, the OECD Development Assistance Committee released its preliminary aid figures for 2014 which measure countries’ performance in providing aid (Official Development Assistance, ODA). The figures confirm that the UK has again met the international target of investing 0.7 % of national income ⁽¹⁾ in ODA ⁽²⁾.

Diane Sheard, UK Director of ONE, said:

“The UK has again kept its promises to the world’s poorest. What’s more, now the target of investing 0.7% of national income in aid is enshrined in law, this will be the last time we must wait until the OECD releases its annual figures to see whether the UK has delivered.

“UK aid saves lives and supports millions of people as they lift themselves out of poverty. Yet while meeting the 0.7% target is the right thing to do, it’s not just the size of our aid budget that’s important, but also how and where it is spent.

“Whoever forms the next government must ensure that most of our aid is focussed on those who have the least, that girls and women are at the heart of development, and that all parts of government work together. A large majority of Britons agree⁽³⁾ .”

ENDS

For all media queries, please contact Chris Mitchell on 020 7434 6935 / 07901 006 799 or email [email protected]

Notes to Editors

1. The UK has now enshrined in law the internationally-agreed target of investing 0.7 % of GNI in overseas aid. The International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act and received Royal Assent in March. Read ONE’s response here.
2. The UK first met the 0.7% target in 2013.
3. ONE commissioned polling company ComRes to survey attitudes around UK aid, and revealed that the majority of British adults believe the lion’s share of aid should go to those who have the least. Two-thirds (66%) of British adults agree that the majority of UK aid should be targeted towards the least developed countries. These are the places where it will have the greatest impact on ending extreme poverty. Read more information here.
4. The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is the membership body for traditional aid donors, which monitors and reports on official development assistance

ONE is calling on politicians to ‘Just Say Yes’ to focus more UK aid on those who have least, by directing at least half of all overseas aid to the least developed countries.