{"id":138803,"date":"2018-01-02T15:16:29","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T20:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/us\/?post_type=one_press&p=138803"},"modified":"2018-01-02T15:16:29","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T20:16:29","slug":"2016-aid","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/us\/press\/2016-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"Global aid reached all-time high in 2016 – but poorest still lost out"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014 Confirmation that global aid reached record levels in 2016 was marred by affirmation of a worrying trend showing the world\u2019s poorest countries are receiving a smaller share each year. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development\u2019s Development Assistance Committee (OECD DAC), of which the United States is a member, released its\u00a0final findings from 2016<\/a>, which show global aid reached an all-time high of $142.44 billion – an increase of 9.23% in real terms. Aid to the least developed countries (LDCs) increased by 5.4%, largely due to aid given by multilateral institutions.\u00a0But the statistics also confirmed the proportion of this record aid going to least developed countries (LDCs) fell overall by one percentage point, down from 2015\u2019s 28% to 27%.<\/strong>\u00a0This is compared to 32% in 2013.<\/p>\n

The share of global aid going to Africa \u2013 home to over 50% of the world\u2019s extreme poor \u2013 has dropped from 36% in 2012 to 32% in 2016, the figures showed. The impact of this drop in aid is compounded by the growing youth population of Africa who urgently need investments in local economies to boost the availability of jobs.\u00a0Last year, the White House\u2019s budget proposal called for a 32 percent cut to the budgets of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWith the huge growth in its youth population, Africa is on the verge of a demographic dividend, but only if it gets the necessary investment now. That\u2019s why it is so important for our nation\u2019s elected leaders to fully fund the International Affairs Budget, which saves innocent lives, helps create jobs here in America and makes America safer,\u201d\u00a0said Tom Hart, North American Executive Director, ONE.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cFailure to invest in the world’s poorest countries will squander this golden opportunity to help end extreme poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat the poorest countries are receiving a smaller share of aid compared to just a few years ago is worrying and should sound alarm bells – especially given these countries are home to more than 40% of the world\u2019s poorest,\u201d\u00a0said Sara Harcourt, Senior Policy Director at ONE.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cThe fight against extreme poverty, particularly in Africa, is being set back by this annual downward trend which is undermining the overall headline record figure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notes to Editors<\/strong><\/p>\n