The figure 0.7% isn’t exactly something to shout about, it’s such an insignificant amount, you might say it’s not worth bothering with. But in this case, it's definitely not something we can afford to overlook.
The pledge was first made way back in 1970, as part of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade; we urge developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts towards the target of 0.7%... (Paragraph 42 of the Monterrey Consensus).
But does signing up mean anything?
Countries (that can afford it) are not only being strongly encouraged to make the commitment, but to honour it with specific timetables. So far, however, only five have met or surpassed the target: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, despite calls to action coming from the UN-Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Commission for Africa, and the UN Millennium Project.
Forty years of waiting means that patience, and not just time is running out.
Is it enough?
In determining an appropriate figure, the balance has to be made between being politically feasible and advantageous, Brendan Cox, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Africa and International Development told me.
I wonder, did political feasibility win this time?
Great post. I’ve always thought 1 per cent might be ‘politically feasible’ but then again I’m probably being a tad naive.
Thanks Justin. I have to admit, I always thought it was more. But if we focus on quality rather than quantity, maybe 0.7% is more than enough?
Hey Lara - how did you manage to meet the Special Advisor?
Hi Ruth. I heard he was going to be at a talk on aid and development so I asked if I could go along and film. I’ve got some more footage from it (Liz Ford from the Guardian was also there), and they made a lot of interesting points - I’ll be putting some more of it up soon.
See my follow-up post, Are politicians in it for the long haul?: http://development.thinkaboutit.eu/think3/post/are_politicians_in_it_for_the_long_haul/