The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), comprised of the world’s principal aid donors, met in Paris, France, from 15-16 April 2004, to review recent aid figures and progress toward the goals set under the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

The meeting was also attended by UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown, senior representatives of the World Bank and IMF and of non-DAC OECD Members.
Participants took stock of Official Development Assistance (ODA) trends and noted that an increase of 11% has taken place over the last two years, reversing declines in aid over the previous decade. Some of the major factors of this increase include the growth of bilateral grants and the reconstruction aid directed toward Iraq. Among other decisions, the High Level meeting defined a new reporting rule to ensure consistent reporting in ODA statistics of aid provided to finance projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. The new rule requires that the value of any carbon credits acquired by donors be deducted from ODA. A statement adopted at the conclusion of the meeting further notes the Committee’s resolve to gear aid volume and effectiveness, and other development-related policies, toward achieving the MDGs particularly in light of the major UN review in 2005.
Links to further information
Statement adopted by the meeting
OECD press release, 16 April 2004