The UK Government are party to the European Union (EU) pledge to reach a collective target for the Overseas Development Assistance to Gross National Income ratio (ODA/GNI) of 0.56 per cent. by 2010, estimated to nearly double total aid between 2004 and 2010, with at least 50 per cent. of the increase going to Africa. The UK also announced a timetable to reach 0.7 per cent. ODA/GNI by 2013 and committed to double its bilateral spending in Africa between 2003-04 and 2007-08. The G8 Gleneagles 2005 communiqué stated that the commitments of the G8 and other donors would lead to an increase in ODA to Africa of $25 billion a year by 2010, more than doubling aid to Africa compared to 2004.
The UK Government are on track to honour our commitments. Total ODA/GNI ratio increased from 0.36 per cent. in 2004 to 0.52 per cent. in 2006. Provisional figures show that UK ODA to sub-Saharan Africa increased from £1.2 billion in 2004 to £2.9 billion in 2006, with debt relief accounting for much of this increase. The Department for International Development's (DFID's) bilateral programme of aid to sub-Saharan Africa is set at £1.25 billion for 2007-08.
ODA to sub-Saharan Africa from all donors of the Development Assistance Committee rose by $10 billion, or 59 per cent. in real terms, between 2004 and 2006. We will continue to engage with G8 and EU partners to encourage others also to keep to their aid volume commitments.