ONE: Canada’s Support for Lifesaving Efforts in Africa Must Not Waver

ONE applauded a 52 percent increase in official development assistance from Canada to sub-Saharan Africa in 2008, reported in findings by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  ONE also urged that the government not reverse this progress by turning funds away from programs and governments where this assistance is helping lift many Africans out of poverty. The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) released its annual summary of development assistance given by its 23 member countries in 2008 on March 30. The preliminary figures found that in 2008, the Canadian investments in sub-Saharan Africa percent rose to $1.91 billion, up from $1.26 billion in 2007 for an increase of $656 million.  In delivering $1.91 billion, Canada met its Gleneagles pledge to double assistance to sub-Saharan Africa by the 2008-2009 budget year.  At the same time, the government has also indicated intentions to scale back assistance in many sub-Saharan African countries. The 2010 G8 Summit serves as the deadline for G8 countries to meet their Gleneagles commitments.  “ONE thanks Canada for meeting its Gleneagles commitment.  Now is the time for Canada to set an example of strong leadership by setting a new, more ambitious goal as it looks forward to assuming the presidency at the 2010 G8 Summit,” said ONE’s President and CEO David Lane.  “The international community is working together to improve access to food, medicines, and clean water for millions throughout Africa and we must keep the progress moving forward.”

In February 2009, Canada announced that 80% of its bilateral assistance would be focused on 20 countries. Only 7 of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Sudan, and Tanzania. This is a notable shift away from a focus on sub-Saharan Africa where in 2007 the government focused on 25 countries, 14 of which were in sub-Saharan Africa.  Instead, the government has decided to direct this assistance to middle-income countries in Latin America.

“Canada has done a good thing by delivering on its Gleneagles commitment,” said Dennis Howlett, Coordinator of Make Poverty History.  “The government must not remove funding from sub-Saharan Africa where assistance is most needed and work towards even greater investment in the continent. The global financial crisis threatens to push 53 million more people into poverty this year which means that now, more than ever, the government must redouble its efforts to save the lives of those at risk.”

For some African countries, shifting funds away from Africa could undermine progress for several African countries. Rwanda, for example, was one of the countries cut from the new list. Rwanda has made impressive progress in education, malaria, HIV/AIDS and economic growth in the past few years with development assistance.

ONE disaggregated the DAC figures for all donor countries to sub-Saharan Africa in order to track progress against specific commitments made at the Gleneagles G8 Summit in 2005.  ONE found that development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa from all 23 DAC donors rose in 2008 by 11 percent to $36.66 billion. Below are the other G7 countries’ aid allocations to sub-Saharan Africa in 2008 compared to 2007 (measured in US$): •         The United States increased by $1.6 billion, or 26 percent, to $7.75 billion •         Japan’s increased by $938 million, or 56 percent, to $2.6 billion •         Germany’s increased by $513 million, or 15 percent, to $3.89 billion •         The United Kingdom increased by $105 million, or three percent, to $4.02 billion •         Italy’s decreased by $55 million, or negative four percent,  to $1.43 billion •         France’s declined by $610 million, or negative 15 percent, to $3.54 billion Thousands of Canadians have joined in the movement to help fight poverty through organizations such as Make Poverty History, the Canadian Council for International Co-operation and at www.ONE.org.