Looking at the graph on humanitarian aid expenditure captured by the DAC and FTS suggests that they have captured similar volumes of DAC donor contributions in 2008 and 2009 – but this does not mean that they are capturing the same things. For example, contributions to the military for human rights training cannot count as ODA and is therefore not captured by the DAC – but it might be reported by a donor or agency as humanitarian expenditure to the FTS.

FTS Data

Strengths

• Analysis of flows within a country/crisis
• Aid management – since data is real time
• Capturing flows from non-DAC donors and private contributors
• Countries with a UN consolidated appeal process (CAP) appeal – data more complete and better validated
• Project level data

Weaknesses

• Comparisons over time
• Like-with-like comparisons of donor countries
• Like-with-like comparisons of recipient countries – particularly CAP and non-CAP
• Inconsistent reporting – frequency and between donors
• Lack of definitions/reporting codes (especially outside CAP)
• Status of contributions (pledges and commitments)

Risks

• Under /over/double-counting flows
• Omissions of key financial flows
• Misinterpreting inconsistencies in reporting to the FTS and FTS processing of data as ‘trends’

DAC statistics

Strengths

• Measuring ODA trends to specific countries, sectors and from donors, as well as ODA performance against targets
• Comparisons over time on Like-with-like basis
• Comparisons between donors
• Comparisons between recipient countries

Weaknesses

• Only includes DAC donors and a few OECD members that report voluntarily
• DAC data is slow to be published – limited preliminary data is published in April for the preceding year, but full datasets are not published until December
• Matching inputs with outcomes
• Aid management in recipient countries
• Tracking aid beyond recipient government level

Risks

• Treatment of ODA flowing through multilateral agencies
• Omissions of key financial flows
• Differentiation between humanitarian and development assistance