Key findings
- Total net ODA from DAC donors in 2016 was US$142.62 billion (US$143.33 billion in constant 2015 prices), up 8.9% on 2015 figures.[1]
- Both total ODA and ODA net of refugee-hosting costs increased. Total ODA net of refugee-hosting costs reached US$127.21 billion in 2016 (US$127.89 billion in constant 2015 prices), an increase of 7.1% from 2015.
- The proportion of total ODA reported by DAC donors for refugee-hosting costs increased by 27.5%, reaching US$15.41 billion (US$15.44 billion in constant 2015 prices).
- The majority of donors saw an increase in their reported ODA from 2015 to 2016, some quite significantly; however, some key donors saw a decrease. Six countries met the 0.7% gross national income (GNI) target.
- Bilateral aid to least developed countries (LDCs) has fallen slightly on last year, from just over US$25 billion to US$22.4 billion (US$22.5 billion in constant 2015 prices).[2]
- In terms of total volumes, the United States (US) continues to be the largest bilateral provider, with US$33.59 billion (US$33.16 billion in constant 2015 prices). Germany is the second largest provider with ODA increasing to US$24.67 billion (US$24.41 billion in constant 2015 prices), followed by the United Kingdom (UK) with US$18.01 billion (US$20.01 billion in constant 2015 prices), Japan with US$10.37 billion (US$9.29 billion in constant 2015 prices) and France with US$9.50 billion (US$9.46 billion in constant 2015 prices).[3]
- In 2016 total gross ODA loans and equity investments are slightly down against grants compared with 2015. In 2015, US$17.94 billion of ODA was given in the form of loans. This fell 8.9% in 2016 to US$17.23 billion (US$16.35 billion in constant 2015 prices).[4]
- In 2016 ODA to multilateral organisations from DAC donors stood at US$40.63 billion (US$40.99 billion in constant 2015 prices), a 9.8% increase on levels in 2015.
- Bilateral net ODA to Africa from DAC donors stood at US$26.74 billion in 2016 (US$26.93 billion in constant 2015 prices); this was a 0.5% fall from the previous year. Sub-Saharan Africa made up 88.7% of the 2016 total to Africa.
The US, Germany and the UK provided the most net ODA in 2016
- In terms of total volumes, the United States (US) continues to be the largest bilateral provider, with US$33.59 billion (US$33.16 billion in constant 2015 prices). Germany is the second largest provider with ODA increasing to US$24.67 billion (US$24.41 billion in constant 2015 prices), followed by the UK with US$18.01 billion (US$20.01 billion in constant 2015 prices) Japan with US$10.37 billion (US$ 9.29 billion in constant 2015 prices) and France with US$9.50 billion (US$9.46 billion in constant 2015 prices).
22 DAC donors saw an increase in their reported ODA in 2016 compared with 2015
- Donors that have seen a significant increase in their ODA in 2016 compared with 2015 include Spain (192.3%), Poland (42.6%) and Germany (36.1%). Other donors that increased their ODA from last year by more than 20% include the Czech Republic (29.3%), Italy (20.2%), the Slovak Republic (26.8%) and Slovenia (25.3%). Other donors that saw smaller increases include the UK (8.4%), the US (7.0%) and France (4.6%).
- Seven donors saw a decrease in their reported ODA: Sweden (−31.1%), Finland (−18.7%), the Netherlands (−13.1%), Australia (−12.7%), Denmark (−7.6%), Canada (−4.4%) and New Zealand (−2.5%).
Six donors reported ODA exceeding 0.7% of GNI in 2016
- Six countries, Norway (1.11%), Luxembourg (1.00%), Sweden (0.94%), Denmark (0.75%), the UK (0.7%) and Germany (0.7%), met the UN target to keep ODA at or above 0.7% of GNI. Germany joined the list of donors meeting the UN target for the first time this year. The UK, the other G7 member of this group, has reported 0.7% since 2013.
- The Netherlands surpassed the 0.7% target in 2015 reaching 0.75%, but this year it dropped back to 0.65%.
The costs of hosting refugees reported as ODA increased, as did other forms of ODA
- Both total net ODA and ODA excluding volumes reported as refugee-hosting costs increased. ODA net of refugee-hosting costs was US$127.21 billion in 2016 (US$127.89 in constant 2015 prices), an increase of 7.1% on 2015. ODA thus increased over 2015 levels irrespective of what donors reported as costs of hosting refugees.
- There is no agreed methodology on how to count costs of hosting refugees. Consequently, there are substantial inconsistencies in what is and isn’t included between donors and how these are measured. Costs presented by the OECD DAC, therefore, reflect what donors report as ODA rather than what donors actually spend on refugees.[5]
- A number of donors significantly increased the refugee costs reported in their ODA figures, including Finland (230.5%), Germany (103.8%), Norway (83.0%), Ireland (72.9%), and Italy (67.9%). The UK increased refugee costs by 59.2% and the US by 38.5%.
- The majority of these donors with increased refugee costs reported as ODA also saw their ODA figures rise when refugee costs are excluded. Only two countries with total reported ODA increases between 2015 and 2016 saw a decrease when refugee costs are excluded.
- A small number of donors decreased the volumes of refugee costs reported as ODA, notably Sweden (−65.6%), the Netherlands (−65.3%), Portugal (−40.2%), Poland (−35.1%) and Slovak Republic (−23.1%). When refugee costs are excluded, ODA from the Netherlands grew by 2.6%; when refugee costs are included, ODA decreased by 13.1%. Similarly, when refugee costs are excluded, ODA from Sweden decreased by 13.5%; when refugee costs are included, ODA decreased by 31.1%.
- Korea, Luxembourg and Australia did not report any refugee costs in 2015 or 2016.
Bilateral ODA to LDCs fell from last year, and most donors are still missing international targets
- Donors seeing a decrease in their reported bilateral ODA to LDCs include Canada, France, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US.
- Donors reporting an increase in bilateral ODA to LDCs include Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland.
Only seven donors gave more than 0.15% of GNI as ODA to LDCs in 2016
Total gross ODA loans and equity investments are slightly down against grants in 2016 compared with 2015
- Total gross ODA loans and equity investments are slightly down against grants in 2016 compared with 2015. In 2015 US$17.94 billion of ODA was given in the form of loans. This fell 8.9% in 2016 to US$16.35 billion.
- Loans and equity investments made up 11% of total ODA in 2016, compared with 13% of ODA in 2015.
- Most donors saw the proportions of loans and equity investments fall in 2016, with some donors reporting significant changes. For example, Australia and Canada both reported no ODA in loans/equity investments, compared with US$14 million and US$156 million, respectively, in 2015. The UK saw a 94% drop in reported loans, from US$284 million to US$16 million. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Portugal also saw decreases in reported amounts of ODA given as loans. These countries saw loans fall as a proportion of ODA compared to grants. Spain also saw proportions fall, despite net increases in loans and equity investments (up 20% to US$37 million).
- Poland saw proportions of ODA delivered as loans rise, with volumes of lending increasing by 97% from 2015 to US$82 million. Denmark and Switzerland also increased their proportions of ODA lending, but by margins of less than 0.2 percentage points.
- Several donors, including the US and the Netherlands, report that they give no ODA in the form of loans, as in previous years.[6]
Multilateral ODA from DAC donors increased in 2016 reaching a high of US$41 billion
ODA to EU Institutions made up 34% of multilateral ODA from DAC donors in 2016
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