21 Aug 2014

What do Iran, Syria, Zimbabwe and North Korea have in common? There may be several answers but one is that, along with 145 other nations, they are recipients of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2012, total UK aid was £8.766 billion or 0.56% of gross national income. According to the press, this may have risen to 0.70% in 2013, which is the target suggested by the UN for members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). In 2012 the average DAC member trailed well behind the 0.70% target at 0.30% (the US and Japan were both well below the average, the Scandinavian countries were well above). So, if the UK has hit 0.70%, it will be awarding itself a gold star. All UK politicians (with the exception of UKIP) seem to believe that ODA emits a moral glow, in which light they can disport themselves to effect. Doubtless they can’t help themselves and, though a fairly revolting sight, it beats fighting wars.   But I find myself wondering what sort of policy determines the choice of ODA recipients. In 2012, India topped the list with 7.9% of total bilateral aid. (NB bilateral aid is what we give directly – about half of our aid budget is multilateral which means that we donate to international organisations which then pass it on however and wherever they deem best).  India is one of the IMF’s official emerging nations. Is it the most deserving charitable destination in the world? Clearly, a better way to understand these figures is to look at ODA per head. On that basis, India falls to 67th (still in the top half) and above Burundi and Niger, two of the poorest countries of all, both with average annual per capita incomes of less than $1000. The top per capita recipient of UK ODA is barely believable. St Helena is a British Dependent Territory with a population of around 4500. In 2012 the UK gave bilateral aid of £106 million or c.£23,500 per head. Apparently we are building them an airport so that they can become a tourist destination. I have read in the press that the total cost of this airport (not yet...