Canada’s international assistance spending increased by 4.9% to CAD$6.4 billion in 2019, up from CAD$6.1 billion in 2018.

International assistance accounts for approx. 1.8% of 2019 federal budget spending – unchanged from last years 1.8% budget expenditure in 2018.

Canada’s ODA/gross national income (GNI) ratio now stands at 0.28% — unchanged from last year (0.28%).

Who are the largest recipients?

The largest recipient in 2019 was Ethiopia (CAD$203 million), followed by Bangladesh (CAD$199 million), Afghanistan (CAD$197 million), Syria (CAD$150 million), and Mali (CAD$140 million).

Where were the sharpest increases and declines?

The most notable changes in year-over-year international assistance levels were to: Afghanstan (-22%), Bangladesh (+51%), Syria (+21%), DRC (+20%), and Haiti (-21%). Bangladesh received the largest year-over-year dollar increase; up CAD$67.3 million from last year.

Income Groups and Regions

32.6% of aid went to Least Developed (or poorest) Countries, another 0.5% went to Other Low Income Countries, and 20.6% went to Lower Middle Income countries (36.9% is not coded by income group).

African countries received the largest regional share of Canada’s international assistance at 39.0%, followed by Asia (30.7%), the Americas (13.9%), Europe (2.7%) and Oceania (0.8%). This is only international assistance that has been coded to a region (87.0% of total).

Departmental and Government channels

The amalgamation of the former aid agency CIDA into foreign affairs, and re-branding as Global Affairs Canada (GAC), continues to complicate the departmental sources and channels picture. Typically about 65% to 75% of aid was channeled through (former) CIDA.

Most of this has now transitioned to GAC consolidated. Which means it is not possible to easily distinguish (former) CIDA from (former) DFAIT assistance.

The more relevant distinction is whether the financing is from the international assistance envelope (IAE) or non-IAE. The IAE accounts for the vast majority, 88%, or CAD$5.6 billion in 2019. Non-IAE channels are 12% (or CAD$792 million) and comprise items such as the cost of settling refugees.

The three major IAE channels are GAC (82.5%), Finance (14.2%), and IDRC (2.8%).