As governments prepare their economic recovery plans, they not only face a formidable challenge, but also an unprecedented opportunity.

As governments prepare their economic recovery plans, they not only face a formidable challenge, but also an unprecedented opportunity.
Early figures released yesterday by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) show an increase of 1,4% in global development aid spending in 2019.
protests around the world show the urgency of addressing inequalities. How can we tackle this multidimensional problem to ensure no one is left behind? Our new report calls for a systemic approach and puts forward concrete solutions, which could guide EU leaders to reduce different forms and drivers of economic, social, environmental, and political inequalities.
Aid is not only about quantity, it is about quality too! It needs to reach the people who need it the most. Our new paper “Who owns Development Effectiveness? A European Reality Check” analyses how EU aid is actually used for. This paper puts forward a series of recommendation based on some selected indicators which sets the scene for achieving a more effective and inclusive aid.
The Cotonou Partnership Agreement is coming to an end in 2020. To ensure a fair ground leading to a “partnership of equals”, CONCORD has developed a list of recommendations, serving as a contribution from civil society to the ongoing EU-ACP negotiations to ensure mutually beneficial priorities.
For the first time since 2012, the EU’s aid spending decreased in 2017. This means, at the current rate of growth, the EU would need another 40 years to meet the 0.7% ODA/GNI target, reveals CONCORD AidWatch Report 2018.
For the first time since 2012, total aid has globally decreased (by 0.6%); according to the latest statistics of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). This drop can be explained by the decline of in-donor refugee costs reported as aid (-13.6% on 2016).
CONCORD in the news: Article in EUobserver, written by Anastasia Kyriacou from AidEx – As aid is increasingly spent less in the least developed countries, a new report by CONCORD has revealed the EU is diverting an increasing proportion of spending towards conflict and security – to the point it has in the last decade outpaced all aid growth.
Ahead of the DAC high-level meeting, CONCORD encourages the OECD to ensure aid maintains a laser focus on eradicating poverty and sustainable development for all. The outcomes of the meeting could reinforce current worrying trends for EU aid: decrease of aid to least developed countries, increase of conditionality and securitisation of aid as well as an increase of in-donor country costs reported.
With only genuine aid being accounted, it would take the EU and its Member States another 30 years to reach their commitment to 0.7% GNI, reveals the CONCORD AidWatch report 2017 “EU Aid Uncovered – how to reach the target on time” published today.