Denmark

In 2009 Denmark’s humanitarian aid peaked at US$151 million, its highest contribution to date, ranking it 15th amongst government donors. While Denmark is not the largest donor in terms of humanitarian volumes, it is one of the most generous. In 2009 its humanitarian aid as a proportion of gross national income and humanitarian aid per capita both ranked fifth, at 0.08% and US$44 respectively. In the same year it gave US$2.8 billion in official development assistance (ODA).

Denmark’s humanitarian aid is managed by Danish Development Cooperation (DANIDA), a sub-agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2010 Denmark produced a development cooperation strategy, “Freedom from Poverty – Freedom for Change” which highlighted five priority areas: freedom, democracy and human rights; growth and employment; gender equality; stability and fragility; and environment and climate. In August 2011 DANIDA published “Priorities of the Danish Government for Danish Development Assistance”, outlining Denmark’s development assistance budget for 2012–2016.

Denmark’s Strategy for Humanitarian Action 2010–2015: Addressing vulnerability, climate change and protection challenges focuses on the following key areas: vulnerability; climate change and natural hazards; protecting conflict-affected populations; coordinated, principled and informed humanitarian action; strengthening partnerships; and results, innovation and communication.

In 2010 Denmark was ranked the best humanitarian donor by DARA’s Humanitarian Response Index (HRI), primarily due to its promotion of accountability within the humanitarian aid sector and its large contributions to UN organisations and non-governmental organisations. In 2011 it was peer reviewed by the OECD DAC.