Great Britain: Department for International Development
Published: 2010-01-15
Total Pages: 20
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The international target for aid donor countries to spend 0.7% of their gross national income (GNI) on official development assistance (ODA) was first established in 1970 at the United Nations. The 0.7% target has been reaffirmed in many international agreements over the years. The UK has not yet met the target, but in 2004 the Government indicated its intention to achieve the target by 2013. Increasing global aid levels is a vital part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Britain's aid budget has more than tripled since 1997 and its ODA/GNI ratio has risen from 0.26% in 1997 to 0.43% in 2008. Putting the 0.7% target into law will underline the importance attached by this Government and by Parliament to the achievement of this goal. The draft Bill places a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure that the target for ODA to amount to 0.7% of GNI is met by the UK in 2013 and subsequent years. This document contains the draft Bill, explanatory notes and an impact assessment.