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Despite repeated assurances, the UK government has broken its election promise to enshrine into law the target to spend 0.7% of gross national income on aid.
The commitment, initially set out in the 2010 coalition agreement, and in the Conservative party's manifesto, was absent from the Queen's speech on Wednesday, and will now not be tabled under this government. Critics accuse the prime minster, David Cameron, of bowing to rightwing pressure from rebellious backbenchers, in a move that has disappointed development campaigners and could cause a rift within the coalition.
But is the 0.7% target still relevant? And do we really need it to be enshrined in law? Aid is only one part of development and for many developing countries it is no longer a key factor in progress. Remittances sent home by migrants are three times larger than global aid budgets. Emerging economies, such as Brazil and China, are increasingly investing in developing countries, without recording it as overseas development assistance.
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