Back in the ‘70’s, Canadian Prime Minister of the Day, Lester B. Pearson had a groovy idea about how to make funding for international development more sustainable and predictable.
He suggested that countries should dedicate 0.7% of their GNP (Gross National Product, similar to GDP) towards development spending. The idea was that if everyone chipped in a bit we would be able to fight poverty more effectively and development programs would have a longer-term idea of the budgets they would be working with.
At this point, some of you might be thinking, “We must put way more than that towards development these days,” but sadly that is not the case. Only a few countries consistently meet the 0.7% target and Canada is NOT one of them.
So who is meeting the 0.7% target? Let’s go in order of who got there first
1. Sweden and The Netherlands
These two tied for first by meeting the 0.7% target in 1975 and showing the world how it’s done.
What’s even more amazing is that Sweden went on to set its own target of 1%, and in 2013 they exceeded that by putting 1.02% of GNP towards development.
I’m guessing the Swedish Fish are pretty proud of their home country.
The Netherlands has actually been slipping in their contributions, but even in 2013 when they slipped below the 0.7% target for the first time since 1975 (they contributed 0.69%, still pretty close), they were still among the world leaders in terms of the percentage they contribute.
2. Norway
Norway made it to the 0.7% target in 1976 and they didn’t stop there. Along with Sweden, they also set a 1% target for themselves that they have exceeded every year since 2009! In 2013, they allocated an impressive 1.07%. (Remember each 0.01% of GNP is billions of dollars.)
Not only are Norwegians outdoorsy, they are also super generous! To my fellow Canadians I say: they are trying to beat us at our game!
3. Denmark
In 1978 the Danes made it to the 0.7% target and more recently they have been striving to reach the 1% mark. In 2013 they made it to 0.85%.
You go Denmark! Now I know why such a delicious pastry is named after you guys!
4. Luxembourg
Luxembourg crashed the doors of the 0.7% club in 2000. Sure they showed up a little later, but the world is just glad that they made it. Not only that, but by 2013, they made it to the prestigious 1% level.
Luxembourg, you guys might be small, but you sure punch above your weight.
5. The United Kingdom
Last, but certainly not least, the UK. They got to 0.7% in 2013 and more recently they actually passed a law that will hold future governments to uphold the 0.7% target. Global citizens played a pretty important role in making this happen (to read more about that, click here).
Tea, crumpets and generous, legally enshrined funding for development? The Brits have their priorities in order.
So what about Canada?
While me and my fellow Canadians can lay claim to the idea of the 0.7% target, we are a ways off from meeting it at home.
From 2012 to 2013 Canada’s development levels dropped from 0.32% down to 0.27%.
Canada has shown a great level of commitment to some areas of development, but the overall amount of money that the nation contributes is definitely on the low side.
So what can you do about it?
Join Global Citizen for opportunities to create change both in Canada and around the world. Sign up today and join the movement to end extreme poverty by 2030.