Devex: More aid spent through loans but LDCs see first ODA increase since 2010
“The volume of lending to developing countries by bilateral donors has increased by 13 percent compared to 2016, new figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development revealed Monday. Overall, aid to developing countries fell slightly, by 0.6 percent, according to the 2017 data from the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee. … However, despite the increased proportion of aid being spent in loans, the DAC also revealed that the volume of aid going to the least developed countries increased by four percent to about $26 billion — the first time this figure has risen since 2010…” (Anders, 4/9).

The Telegraph: Britain only one in five countries to meet U.N. foreign aid target
“Britain is now one of only five countries to meet the U.N.’s foreign aid target, as even Germany failed to give 0.7 percent of its national income on overseas aid last year. The U.K., which is now bound by law to meet the pledge, gives nearly double compared to the average of all countries, new figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development show…” (Mikhailova, 4/9).

Thomson Reuters Foundation: Aid spending stagnates as rich countries shift focus from refugees to poor nations
“…Bilateral aid to the world’s poorest countries climbed four percent to $26 billion after years of decline; humanitarian aid rose by 6.1 percent to $15.5 billion. The report was published as aid spending has come under fire in some major donor countries. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to cut the budgets for foreign aid and the State Department by [about] a third…” (Bacchi, 4/9).