03 April 2007

Aid from the world’s richest countries fell by nearly 9% or $5bn between 2005 and 2006, according to OECD figures out today.

The first aid figures published since the Gleneagles summit show that the G8 is moving away from the target they set themselves in 2005. The G8 pledged to increase aid by $50bn a year by 2010, with half of it going to Africa. Excluding debt relief, underlying aid levels actually fell by 2% between 2005 and 2006.

Patrick Watt, ActionAid’s policy co-ordinator, said: "These are not lucky numbers for over one billion people living in extreme poverty. Two years on from Gleneagles, underlying aid to Africa is back to where it was in 2004. The promise of an extra $50bn to fight poverty will become an impossible challenge unless Angela Merkel uses this June's G8 to get the international community on track."

While UK aid has risen significantly in contrast to other G8 countries, campaigners have warned that there is no room for complacency. The real test of whether the UK is on course to hit the 37 year old UN target of 0.7% of national income will come in this autumn’s comprehensive spending review, when Gordon Brown announces development spending for the next three years.

Patrick Watt, ActionAid’s policy co-ordinator, said: "The UK has made important progress, but they must maintain their momentum. The UK’s ability to push other countries to meet their own aid promises depends on it demonstrating consistent progress towards 0.7%."