The targeting of ODA by Central and Eastern European EU donors

The study analyses the allocation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) by those Central and Eastern European (CEE) donors that are also members of the EU. Using both absolute and relative data from the OECD and UNDP databases for each recipient country, we have established a general trend in CEE EU countries aid provision and identified cases of exceptional donor engagement. The main axis of the study is the analysis of the ODA/HDI ratio, focusing on flows in 2021 and then on 2013–2021 to establish the long-term trend. The result is a positive correlation between the volume of aid provided and the HDI score in each of the perspectives considered. This leads to a surprising trend of increasing aid activity by CEE EU donors as the level of development of the recipient countries improves. The results of the data analysis and the conclusions drawn from the literature suggest that the distribution of CEE EU ODA is much closer to a donor interest model. However, it is possible that this trend may gradually evolve towards a hybrid model, given the surge in ODA spending following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war and increasing external pressure.