Post 2015: Global Action for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future

Figure 1.1 Sectoral allocation of bilateral aid from DAC donors (1990–2011) in US$ millions
(constant prices 2010)
Constant Prices (2010 USD millions)
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Social Infrastructure & Services Economic Infrastructure & Services
Production Sectors Multi-Sector / Cross-Cutting
Commodity Aid / General Prog. Ass. Humanitarian Aid
Source: OECD, 2012 OECDStat Online Database, available at:
actual spending provides a more accurate
representation of donors’ real priorities. a 2010
review of 21 donor strategies indicates that the
mDGs were of some relevance in shaping priorities
– albeit not exclusively and not to an equal extent
across goals (table 1.3). While education, health
and the environment were represented in over
two-thirds of all donor strategies reviewed, water
and sanitation, HIv and aIDS and income poverty
appeared in rather fewer, with water and sanitation
being represented in less than half. at the same
time, some non-mDG areas received as much if
not more attention (e.g. governance, peace and
security), indicating that the mDGs were clearly
not the only influence on donors.
the mDGs may have also helped donor
governments to justify public spending on
development and why foreign aid should be
increased. there has been a growing focus on
10. un resolution 2626 (xxv), 24 october 1970.
public education with the aim of raising awareness
and harnessing support for development policies.
Such initiatives include, for instance, the French
government’s ‘Huit Fois Oui!’ 10 campaign that aims
to familiarise citizens of all ages with the mDGs.
1.2.2 The impact of the MDGs on policy in
developing countries
the impact of the mDGs on domestic spending
priorities in developing countries is difficult to
quantify. there are, however, clear trends towards
greater expenditure per capita on mDG priority
sectors, such as health and education (Kenny and
Sumner, 2011). regional and global initiatives, linked
to the mDGs, have encouraged greater domestic
spending on social goals, such as the african union’s
campaign on accelerated reduction of maternal
mortality in africa (carmma). this encouraged
african governments to pledge to increase spending
on health services in order to achieve mDG targets.
overall spending on social sectors was made easier
by the increase in external funding on health, which
poSt-2015: Global actIon For an IncluSIvE anD SuStaInablE FuturE
Data on ODA
since 2000
indicate that the
MDGs may have
influenced its
overall volume
and sectoral
allocation.
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