Global Humanitarian Assistance

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OECD DAC

The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is responsible for two major collections of data on the volume, origin and types of aid and resource flows to over 150 developing countries and territories:

  • annual DAC aggregate statistics – follow this for direct access to the aggregate data tables
  • Creditor Reporting System (CRS) – follow this link for direct access to CRS data

The data is drawn from DAC members’ official statistical reporting to the OECD. A network of statistical correspondents collects data from aid agencies and government departments (central, state and local) on an ongoing basis. Their task is also to ensure that reporting conforms to the DAC statistical directives. Some governments that are not members of the DAC (‘non-DAC donors’) report their aid to the DAC on a voluntary basis.

The DAC Secretariat is responsible for data processing, quality control and dissemination. It responds to questions about the data and can also give users advice on data analysis. Definitions as to what can be reported as ‘humanitarian’ are strict.

Reporting to the DAC

The CRS has recently been extended to allow all necessary aggregates, including those currently collected in the DAC annual and advanced questionnaires, to be compiled from one set of reporting.

Converged reporting (CRS++) is on a voluntary basis for 2005, 2006 and 2007 flows. DAC Statistical Reporting Directives and CRS Reporting Directives remain valid. Reporting on DAC Tables is still required.

Full implementation of CRS++ is planned in 2011 on 2010 flows. Instructions on reporting in CRS++ format will be revised before implementation of the new classification system. A common procedure for reporting revisions and corrections is under discussion.

Annual DAC aggregate statistics

Annual DAC aggregate statistics on ODA (which includes humanitarian aid), OOF and private funding can be found under the ‘Development’ section of OECD.Stat Extract. The aid statistics that we use are in the ‘other’ sub-section.

Once on a dataset page, you can create and customise a table by selecting the data you require, and then using “pivot dimensions” to move rows and columns. You can then export the data to Excel or CSV, print your query or save it for later use.

The same data can also be accessed through a different interface, Query Wizard for International Development Statistics, or QWIDS.

We primarily use OECD.Stat Extract DAC1 Official and Private Flows and DAC2a ODA Disbursements tables for humanitarian aid data relating to DAC donors. We draw on DAC1 for bilateral humanitarian aid data of the DAC members (line I.A.1.5)and on DAC2a for the multilateral component and for disbursements to developing countries.

We select our criteria, build our tables, decide our pivot dimensions and then download our data in Excel.

Creditor Reporting System (CRS)

The Creditor Reporting System (CRS) provides disaggregated data on DAC donor aid activities, including channels of expenditure and what it is spent on. The CRS for bilateral ODA and OOF has recently been extended to include multilateral ODA, multilateral OOF and private flows.

As with the DAC aggregate statistics, the CRS can also be accessed via QWIDS.

Our use of OECD DAC data in 2011

Data for 2010 is preliminary and partial – full final data for the year (which will allow us data on recipient countries in 2010 and provide a breakdown of activities, as well as enabling us to publish a non-estimated humanitarian aid figure for DAC donors) will not be published until December 2011.

The data was downloaded in April 2011.

Reference documents (links to the OECD site):

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