Understanding The UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Budget Training Course
£300
Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a key instrument for financing international development, yet ODA is sometimes dismissed simply as ‘aid’ or it is seen as a complicated and technical topic with strict definitions and rules.
Description
Date: Monday 11th September 2023
Time: 9:30am – 2:20pm (lunch provided)
Location: In-person event. 8 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4PL
Event Description
Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a key instrument for financing international development, yet ODA is sometimes dismissed simply as ‘aid’ or it is seen as a complicated and technical topic with strict definitions and rules.
This course will guide you through an introduction to the fundamentals of ODA, adopting both a UK and global perspective. Participants will gain an understanding of what ODA means in theory and practice, who it is for, how it is allocated and how this varies from country to country. The course will consider the governance framework around UK aid and explore some of the conceptual and contested debates about the future of aid in light of the movement to decolonise development.
Objectives
- To introduce and explain what ODA is and enable participants to understand the role of the OECD in setting the rules and framework for ODA.
- To provide a global outlook on ODA and its current trends.
- To explain UK ODA spending and its current trends including the most recent UK aid cuts.
- To give an insight into aid in 2022 – is it outdated? What are the alternatives to ODA?
Structure
This course will be a mixture of presentations, exercises and group discussions. The course will involve input from speakers who are experts in their fields, and will provide opportunities for attendees to test their learning and put questions about ODA to the expert trainers.
Meet the trainers
Lorriann Robinson
Lorriann has seven years of experience in research and analysis on UK ODA. From 2015-2017 Lorriann wrote the UK chapter for ONE’s DATA Report; an annual summary of the latest trends and official data on UK ODA. Lorriann has also advocated for policy reform on UK ODA to ensure UK aid is poverty focused, effective and transparent. Along with her former colleagues at the ONE campaign, she helped to conceptualise and deliver The Real Aid Index.
Nasim Salad
Nasim has five years of experience in UK ODA. She led the analysis of the Real Aid Index at the ONE Campaign and led on predicting the consequences of the UK aid cuts. As well as developing sound expertise on UK ODA, Nasim has worked on campaigns to increase financing to the Global Fund to Fight Aids TB and Malaria, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Partnership for Education.
Alex Martins
Alex is a researcher, facilitator and advocate passionate about creating a more equitable international development sector. She has conducted research and other projects on topics related to the reform of the international development system for a range of organisations, including the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, Peace Direct, Healing Solidarity, ODI, Integrity, Initiatives of Change and the UK Department for International Development.
Who is this course for?
This course is open to anyone who is interested in international development and seeking to gain a more in-depth and practical understanding into ODA. Whether you are a student or a graduate, have just started working in the international development sector or you are a seasoned veteran – all are welcome!