Oxfam Poll: Majority of Germans favour doubling of development assistance

71% of Germans consider it important that the federal government keep its promise to the developing countries and double its official development assistance (ODA) by 2015. That is the result of a representative opinion poll commissioned by Oxfam Deutschland. Oxfam sees this poll result above all as a signal to the German government. It should “submit a concrete plan for meeting its financial commitments in the coming years” as soon as possible, according to Reinhard Hermle, former spokesperson of the Association of German Development NGOs (VENRO) and currently development policy consultant to Oxfam Deutschland.

According to the poll, conducted by TNS Emnid Institute, 82% of those surveyed consider poverty in the developing countries an important or a very important issue. It also shows that there is substantial mobilisation potential among German citizens. Thus 72% would sign a petition calling on the federal government to do more against global poverty. 53% would support a charity and 30% would possibly participate in a demonstration for more and better development aid.

However, according to recent OECD figures the European Union and its member states will have to sharply increase their ODA if they want to keep their commitments. Although EU-ODA rose substantially in 2006, a quarter of this increase was due to adding one-time debt cancellation for Iraq and Nigeria. If the debt cancellations are factored out, four EU members gave less in 2006 than in 2005.