Spanish Official Development Assistance grew 12% in 2024, exceeding 4 billion euros

Spanish Official Development Assistance grew 12% during 2024 after exceeding 4 billion euros (430 million more), according to the early data on the previous year announced last Wednesday, 16 April, by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

With these figures, Spain ranks twelfth in the OECD in terms of volume of Official Development Assistance. Official Development Assistance from the committee's member countries stood at USD 212 billion in 2024, a decrease of 7.1% compared to 2023, marking the first decline after five years of consecutive growth.

Foreign Affairs increases its contribution

The volume of Official Development Assistance managed by the General State Administration increased 14% to over 3.6 billion euros. For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation has consolidated its position as the second largest manager of Official Development Assistance funds, with 21% of the total, behind only the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for channelling Spain's contribution to the EU budget.

The volume of Official Development Assistance in the budget of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which reports to the Secretary of State for International Cooperation, has increased almost 20 million euros in 2024, to more than 592 million euros, the highest figure since 2011. Since 2021, the volume of Official Development Assistance managed by the AECID has more than doubled, from 275 to 592 million euros, rising from 9% to 15% of total Spanish Official Development Assistance.

Commitment to multilateralism

In addition, strategic contributions to multilateral development organisations by the Secretary of State for International Cooperation to accelerate compliance with the 2030 Agenda experienced a considerable increase, which materialises the commitment made by the Government at the highest level at international summits and forums, and channels support to the multilateral system as a priority for Spain's development cooperation policy.

Thus, the regular budget contribution of UN Women tripled in 2024 compared to the previous year, while for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) it increased fivefold, and for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) it increased sixfold. This also responds to Spanish Development Cooperation's commitment to gender equality, sexual and reproductive rights, and children's rights.

Estimates indicate that decentralised cooperation would again account for around 10% of total ODA. In terms of the autonomous communities, Catalonia and the Basque Country are those consolidating their position as contributing the most Official Development Assistance to Spanish Cooperation as a whole, with the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Basque Country and Navarre being the communities that will increase their contribution the most in 2024. Data provided by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) point to an increase in aid flows from local governments.

Spanish Official Development Assistance is used to respond to major humanitarian crises, as well as to work with developing countries in their efforts to generate economic opportunities and decent work for all people; the fight against hunger and poverty in all its dimensions; the reduction of inequalities; the achievement of gender equality; and the achievement of ecological, digital and economic transitions; among other challenges with our partner countries in all regions of the world.

It is also a fundamental tool for protecting human rights, including cultural rights, the rights to education, health, food and access to water and sanitation, and for combating the effects of climate change and for the conservation of the environment.

Financing sustainable development

Within the framework of international efforts to improve and increase financing for sustainable development beyond official development aid, Spain is working on the preparation of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development of the United Nations, which will be held in Seville from 30 June to 3 July.

This Conference comes at a crucial moment for development and multilateralism, and Foreign Affairs is promoting an ambitious but also realistic agreement, as well as a follow-up mechanism, which will allow us to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals five years before the 2030 Agenda expires.

Non official translation