Global decline in development assistance

Global public development assistance has seen a significant downturn, with OECD/DAC data indicating a 25 percent decrease in 2025, totaling approximately 40 billion USD. This decline is attributed to geopolitical conflicts and rising nationalism, with major contributors including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

Sweden has specifically reduced its aid to 0.74 percent of GNI, falling below its previous 1 percent target. In response to shrinking public budgets, experts suggest that philanthropic capital, valued at roughly 17 billion dollars globally, should increase its focus on advocacy.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the reduction in bilateral aid is projected to continue through 2026, impacting essential sectors such as healthcare, education, and food security. Somalia has been identified as a region where these cuts have pressured nutrition and health programs. While domestic African philanthropy through religious and community channels remains active, it is often uncaptured by international statistics, complicating efforts to boost research and development expenditure, which stood at 0.38% of GDP in 2023.