New World Vision report reveals only 5% of global aid targets children despite every $1 resulting in $10 benefits

• New research by World Vision and Ernst & Young finds the impact of investment in children is 10 times what is put in.
• But worryingly, only 5% of development aid directly targets children, and only 7% is spent on programmes that benefit children, despite them constituting 46% of aid-receiving populations.
• The report recommends global government and world leaders urgently deliver a 10% increase in development spending targeted to children.

A new report conducted by children's charity, World Vision, in collaboration with Ernst & Young has revealed that every $1 invested in child-related Official Development Assistance (ODA) yields a staggering $10 return. The ‘Putting Children First for Sustainable Development' report quantifies the strong social and economic benefits of ODA and long-term impact. 

However, shockingly, the report also found that despite the positive impact of investment, of the $207 billion average annual global ODA investment, only 5% is child-focused, with a further 7% allocated to broader child-benefitting programmes even though children constitute, on average, 46% of aid-receiving populations. 

Andrew Morley, World Vision International President and CEO, said: “Children deserve better. We have long known that investing in children is the moral thing to do; now we can see that it makes huge economic sense too. We are in the midst of a global crisis for children. Decades of progress on survival, education, nutrition, and protection has stalled, and even been thrown into reverse. Yet only 5% of Overseas Development Assistance is currently targeted directly at these children’s needs – that number must urgently increase.”

This key disparity highlights a critical gap in global development efforts which needs to be urgently addressed. The new report delivers strong recommendations for all ODA-contributing countries:

• Increase child-related investment: A minimum of a 10% increase in child-related investment by each ODA-contributing country each year has the potential to double the impact of current funding.
• Put a child lens on all diplomatic and development policy and strategies: Children should be a priority for funding and key political policies
• Be accountable to children: Young people should be consulted as part of donor policy making processes, and national and global forums discussing development issues. Participating governments should use their influence at the upcoming G7 Summit and UN Summit of the Future to ensure children's needs are not forgotten. 

“Investing in children fosters lasting improvements to their welfare and living standards, along with their families and communities. We believe that targeted aid for children must rise to at least 10% to fund much-needed healthcare, education, protection and support in emergencies. This will help ensure that every girl and boy can achieve their God-given potential in life,” added Mr. Morley. 

Notes to Editor:
The full report, Putting Children First for Sustainable Development: The return on investment from child-related Official Development Assistance, is available here.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Niamh Cooper, Director of Public Engagement, World Vision: Niamh_cooper@wvi.org Phone: 00 353 87 942 3371

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on Twitter @WorldVision

Through World Vision’s Global Hunger Response  and ENOUGH campaign, the organisation is responding to the immediate needs of the most vulnerable girls, boys, and their families who are experiencing acute hunger in 28 countries of highest alert where World Vision operates, highlighting the driving factors and impacts of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity on children globally, and advocating to governments and donors to do more to prevent mass starvation.