Although net official development assistance (ODA) has reached a historic high of 128.7 billion dollars in 2010 , many donor countries have not increased their contribution to the target of 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI).

The contribution of five out of nineteen observed donor countries exceeds 0.8 percent (Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden), with three of them maintaining upward trends even amidst the financial crisis.

The majority of the remaining donors contribute less than 0.6 percent of GNI, with only four of them keeping steady increases since 2008. For several others, net ODA amounts to less than 0.4 percent of GNI and remaining stable or decreasing over the recent years.

Development assistance plays a major role in global efforts to curb the hardship confronted by the most vulnerable and foster development trends among the disadvantaged populations in the world. For this reason, it is monitored under Millennium Development Goal 8, “Develop a global partnership for development”.

In 2005, donor countries reiterated their commitment to the 0.7 percent target . The current budgetary strain on most of donor countries may challenge the upholding of current levels and preserving the progress made so far.