In 1970, rich country governments agreed to give 0.7% of their national income as international aid. Forty years later, they are not keeping their promises.  Before the financial crisis aid levels were rising, but even then only six countries had reached the target.   If rich countries gave just 0.5% of their income as aid, the United Nations estimates that half a billion more people would be living above the poverty line by 2015. 

UK Aid
Aid is just a penny in every pound of UK government spending and is some of the most effective official development assistance developing countries receive. The UK government has promised to allocate 0.7% of national income as aid by 2013 and we want to see legislation to keep this level in the future.

Aid managed by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is required by law to focus on sustainable development and poverty reduction. DFID is currently responsible for over 85% of the UK’s aid budget.

The UK does not provide loans to developing country governments and all aid is fully untied from the compulsory purchase of UK goods and services.

Campaign success
ActionAid is lobbying donor governments to meet the 0.7% target.  Because of our campaigning the UK government has promised to meet the target by 2013, and most other EU governments to reach it by 2015. We will keep up the pressure on all donor governments by pushing them to set clear and binding timetables for this funding, so that the money is actually delivered. We are also pushing for more aid to be ‘Real Aid’ – effective aid that works to benefit the poorest.