Some rich countries, particularly ones in the European Union, have not kept their promises on development aid, which means that the world’s poorest countries will have received US$21 billion less than planned between 2004 and 2010, according to a study published by the OECD, on 17 February. That said, aid to developing countries has increased by 35% since 2004, reaching “record levels,” the report adds. But it is “still less than the aid promised by the world’s main donors five years ago” during a G8 summit in Gleneagles (Scotland), according to the organisation.

The fifteen member countries of both the European Union and the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) made a commitment for official development aid (ODA) to reach at least 0.51% of their gross domestic product (GDP).

This goal has not been respected by France (0.46%), Germany (0.40%), Austria (0.37%), Portugal (0.34%), Greece (0.21%) or Italy (0.20%). Similarly, Japan does not seem able to keep its promises. On the other hand, several countries are going to do better than promised, such as Sweden, whose ODA is the highest in the world, representing 1.03% of its GDP. The United States, which committed to doubling its aid to sub-Saharan Africa “seems to be on the right path”.