10 October 2005

Twenty years on, CID continues campaign for more international aid

International development aid could be back on the political agenda in a new centre left government.

The Council for International Development (CID) says this would be a welcome way to celebrate its 20 years in existence this week.

Three parties that could help form the new Government – the Greens, the Progressives and United Future – are all committed to upholding New Zealand’s international obligations to give 0.7 percent of national income in overseas aid by 2015.

The previous Labour-led administration refused to commit itself to a timetable for achieving that goal, although Labour’s policy for the 2005 election includes a commitment to reaching 0.35 percent by 2010.

CID, which has been campaigning to bring New Zealand’s aid contribution to a fairer level, this week celebrates its 20th birthday and its Executive Director Rae Julian says that a commitment to the 0.7 percent goal would be an appropriate way to celebrate this occasion.

The Council for International Development represents 79 international aid and development agencies and has been working for 20 years to increase our aid levels to a more globally acceptable level.

In 1985, when CID was established, New Zealand’s aid level was 0.25 percent of national income, and this year it is still only 0.27 percent.

“Twenty years on, we are not much closer to the 0.7 percent target,” says Rae Julian.

“The battle to bring our foreign aid up to the internationally-agreed level of 0.7 percent of national income by 2015 has been a long campaign and is still far from being won.”

But Ms Julian says recently there has been some significant movement and the new political landscape may see a stronger influence of parties committed to the goal.

ENDS

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