MONET 2030: Official development assistance for poor countries

SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal description

"The international community has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty. […] However, inequality still persists and large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets. […]"

Excerpt from Swiss target 10.b: Switzerland’s official development assistance focuses on countries badly affected by poverty and states in a fragile setting. […]

Significance of the indicator
The indicator shows public funding of development assistance to the least developed countries (LDC) and to small island developing states (SIDS). The LDC and SIDS are the least socio-economically developed countries, with low per-capita income and a poorly diversified economy they are struggling to escape from poverty. The international community has recognised their need for particular support. An increase in public development assistance to these countries will allow them to fight poverty and is therefore a step towards sustainable development.

International comparability
The indicator can be compared with those published by the OECD.

Synthesis

Comments: Synthesis of the observed trends of the least developed countries (LDC) and the small island developing states (SIDS).

The assessment of each variable is expressed by a value without dimension (-1 for a negative assessment, 0 for an unchanged assessment, +1 for a positive assessment). These values are then added up and the result sets the general trend of the indicator.

The indicator shows net official development assistance for the least developed countries (LDC) and small island developing states (SIDS).

According to the UN, the LDC are the “weakest and poorest link” in the international community. According to the UN definition, countries belonging to this category have a low standard of living (per capita GDP less than US$ 745), low levels of human assets (infant mortality, nutrition, education), are vulnerable to economic shocks (lack of diversification, exposure to exogenous shocks, capacity for resilience) and a population not exceeding 75 million. The UN reviews the list every three years.

The SIDS are countries situated at sea level and whose development is affected by limited resources, isolation, vulnerability to natural disasters, great dependence on international trade and a precarious environment. The list of SIDS is defined by the UN.

FDFA – Swiss Development Cooperation : facts and figures

Excerpt from Swiss target 10.b: Switzerland’s official development assistance focuses on countries badly affected by poverty and states in a fragile setting. […]

International target 10.b: Encourage official development assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to States where the need is greatest, in particular least developed countries, African countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and programs.