This report presents Development Initiatives’ initial analysis of that data, including:
- Comparison to preliminary ODA data
- Regional distribution of ODA
- Main recipient countries
- Trends in ODA to least developed countries (LDCs)
- The composition of ODA, including levels of loans, debt relief and refugee costs
Key findings:
- There is no significant change in total ODA levels reported in the final 2015 data compared with the preliminary figures.
- Total ODA reached a new peak in 2015 despite a significant fall in disbursements from the United States (US).
- Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region that received the greatest amount of ODA; however, ODA disbursements with no specified recipient increased significantly.
- Afghanistan is still the largest ODA recipient despite several years of falling ODA receipts.
- Other countries in South and Central Asia (e.g. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) saw significant increases in ODA, as did the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
- ODA to LDCs increased somewhat, but it remains below 2010 levels.
- ODA loans continued to increase, driven by a substantial rise in lending from Germany.
- The low level of concessionality attached to loans from Germany (and, to a lesser degree, France) may adversely affect levels of reported ODA when new reporting rules come into effect.
- Levels of in-donor spending on refugees rose dramatically in 2015 and now accounts for over 9% of all reported ODA.
- For some donors, refugee costs make up between a quarter and a third of total reported ODA.
- The amount of ODA reported per refugee varies significantly between donors, making it difficult to compare total ODA levels from one donor to another.
