More and Better Aid
Poverty blights the lives of 1.4 billion people in the developing world, who still live on less than US$1.25 a day.
That's why it is urgent that richer countries like New Zealand work to end poverty and promote human rights. One way to achieve this is through providing effective Overseas Development Assistance (ODA).
New Zealand has committed to a United Nations target that all developed countries should give 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) as ODA by 2015. The 0.7% figure may sound complicated, but it is actually quite simple. You take the total income earned by all the people in the country and then the government gives 0.7% of that as aid. Or to look at it another way: for every $100 earned in the country, the country gives 70 cents in aid.
Currently, New Zealand gives only 0.3% of GNI as ODA. We can afford to do better.
In the light of the worsening economic climate and "credit crunch", the United Nations is calling for "substantial increases" in ODA to developing countries. This means more, not less, aid because the financial and food crises will hit the world's poorest people the hardest and richer countries have a responsibility to act.
That's why more and better aid is needed now, more than ever. New Zealand must play its part and honour our commitment to meet the internationally agreed target of giving 0.7% of GNI as ODA by 2015.
Our Mission:
- To influence the New Zealand government to give 0.7 % of Gross National Income (GNI) as overseas aid by 2015
- To encourage the government to keep giving effective aid, that reaches the people who need it and can be proven to reduce poverty
