AG Global Responsibility suggests maintaining the current course towards global poverty reduction and improving Austria’s contribution to solving global crises
Following the progress made in recent years, we expect not to stand still, but rather to achieve an ODA rate well above the European average of currently 0.47% of GNI. It is the responsibility of wealthy countries like Austria to be at the forefront of donor countries and to use long-term secured resources to reduce poverty worldwide, support people in need and contribute to stability.
Lukas Wank, Managing Director AG Global Responsibility
Vienna (OTS) – “In recent years, we have benevolently observed and supported the efforts of the current government coalition to increase bilateral funding for Austrian development cooperation and humanitarian aid, for example from the Foreign Disaster Fund. These are also reflected in Austria’s public development assistance (Official Development Assistance, ODA), which is expected to amount to 0.38% of gross national income (GNI) in 2023. Compared to 2022, the so-called ODA quota has fallen by 0.01 percentage points,” comments Lukas Wank, Managing Director of AG Global Responsibility, on the ODA figures for all OECD countries presented today.
Continue course towards 0.7% target
“Austria’s development aid, which since last year has also been provided by the climate protection and health ministries, is therefore once again at an acceptable level. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that the federal government has once again not taken any far-reaching measures to achieve the internationally agreed target of 0.7 % of GNI. And this despite the fact that it has committed itself to ODA in its government program and in development policy strategies,” emphasizes Wank and appeals: “After the progress of the last few years, we expect not to stand still, but to achieve an ODA quota well above the European average of currently 0.47% of GNI. It is the responsibility of wealthy countries like Austria to be among the top donor countries and to use long-term secured means to reduce poverty worldwide, support people in need and contribute to stability.”
Comparable European countries have once again exceeded the 0.7% target, Wank continues. Looking at the details, for example, Germany provided around 298 euros and Norway even 546 euros per capita for the mentioned bilateral aid in 2023, while in Austria it was 94 euros per inhabitant (2022: 115 euros per inhabitant).
AG Global Responsibility recommends improving the quality of development aid services
Finally, Wank suggests that the government not only increase the quantity but also the quality of ODA: “At the moment, OECD countries calculate certain expenditures that do not directly contribute to sustainable development in third countries. For example, support costs for people seeking protection within Austria, which are expected to be 14 in 2023 .7% of total ODA, or scholarships for students from third countries. This is in stark contrast to another commitment that Austria has never achieved: 0.2 percentage points of the agreed 0.7% for people in the world’s poorest countries “In times of disruption and uncertainty, it is critical to increase support for a decent life for all on a healthy planet.”
Die GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY – Working Group for Development and Humanitarian Aid is the umbrella organization of 36 international development and humanitarian aid NGOs. Our member organizations carry out 1,000 projects every year in over 120 countries around the world, contributing to a decent life for everyone on a healthy planet.
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