News release: “New OECD figures show continuing growth in development aid in 2009, despite the financial crisis. Total net official development assistance (ODA) from the donors in the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) rose 0.7% in real terms, but the rise was 6.8% once debt relief, a volatile item, is excluded (see tables and charts for 2009). The OECD Secretary General, Angel Gurría, welcomed news of the further increase in ODA and urged donors to keep the momentum going in future years, despite their fiscal challenges. “Aid is less than 1% of government spending on average in OECD countries while there is still much effort needed to reach the Millenium Development Goals. This is a vital investment with big returns for the world as a whole” he observed.”