Jersey’s Foreign Aid Budget Approaches Global Benchmark

Recent data indicates that Jersey’s expenditure on international aid has risen, although it continues to fall short of the global average. The 2023 annual report from Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) stated that 0.28% of the island’s Gross Value Added (GVA), which represents the total value of Jersey’s yearly economic output, was allocated to overseas aid. This figure marks an increase from 0.27% in 2022, 0.26% in 2021, 0.25% in 2020, and 0.21% in 2019, with the report also projecting additional increases for 2024 and 2025. The report also indicated that the OECD average for 2023 was 0.37%, while the United Nations’ target for development assistance expenditure is 0.7% of GVA. Deputy Carolyn Labey, the International Development Minister and chairwoman of the JOA, commented that the gradual progression towards the OECD average had played a role in making it a “great year” for the organization. “JOA’s employees are the engine room of our success,” she stated. “Over the past few years we have assembled a world class team of development, operations and finance professionals, who ensure that we fund only the best projects, manage our grants efficiently, measure the impact of our work and know where every pound goes.” JOA reported that its budget has been formally linked to Jersey’s GVA since 2021, signifying that its financial allocation is proportional to the island’s economic performance. The report detailed that JOA’s total expenditure for the year ending December 2023 amounted to £17,336,816. This sum comprised £9,423,987 allocated to international development initiatives and £4,441,652 directed towards emergency and humanitarian assistance.