International development aid has increased 6,5 % between 2009 and 2010, according to a report released by the OECD in the beginning of April.
Finnish development aid increased 8,8 % between 2009 and 2010, reaching over a EUR 1 billion, which equals to 0,55 % of the gross national income (GNI). In the Caribbean, Finland’s development cooperation is targeted primarily at sustainable development, energy, and meteorological capacity building. However, it extends to other sectors as well. On 24-25 May, Finland is financing an International Conference on Education for CARICOM countries in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Also Cuba and Dominican Republic are invited to participate.
Aid flows from OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donor countries were the highest ever in 2010, totaling USD 129 billion. The OECD and the DAC are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and are pleased with the commitment most of the donors have made in reaching the targets.
Out of the 15 DAC EU countries, nine increased their aid and six decreased it. The total of the EU countries’ aid in 2010 was still the largest; USD 79,2 billion, which counts for 54 % of the whole sum.
A recent survey by the OECD shows that most of the donor countries are planning to increase aid in the next three years. However, it is likely that the growth rate will decrease to 2 % between 2011 and 2013, from the 8 % it has been in the past three years. According to the Chair of the OECD’s DAC, Brian Atwood, donor countries need to be able to stick to their commitments, by doing political, budgetary and planning work needed to sustain their aid pledges.
Finland has been co-operating with the Caribbean island states on various environmental and climate change projects in the recent years. Issues that have been on the agenda are especially related to sustainable development through renewable energy projects and disaster mitigation.
Since 2001 Finland has provided support to national meteorological development in the Caribbean SIDS. The aim has been to improve national disaster mitigation, preparedness and early-warning capacity. There have been several bilateral and regional projects led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Activities are ongoing and expanding. A new project aiming at strengthening the hydrometeorological operations and services in the Caribbean SIDS was signed between the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Finnish Meteorological Institute in March 2011.
Disaster mitigation needs to be incorporated also into the Building Back Better project in Haiti, in order to reduce the damage caused by natural disasters. Finland is currently supporting a project for building hurricane and earthquake proof schools in Haiti.
Furthermore, Finland promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy by financing the Energy and Environment Partnership in Central America, including some Caribbean island states. In 2012 Finland is planning to sponsor a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) conference on sustainable energy.
