The security and geopolitical benefits of aid

Prepared by Anna Hope, Policy, Advocacy and Communications Lead at Global Nation

The findings set out in this briefing are based on two academic papers: What geopolitical returns does ODA bring? by Dr Simone Dietrich and Nicolas Bau and Identifying Mutual Interests: How Donor Countries Benefit from Foreign Aid by economists from the Kiel Institute. They form part of a project led by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and Global Nation to examine and build the evidence base for mutual interest official development assistance (ODA or ‘foreign aid’). ‘Mutual interest ODA’ is aid that genuinely serves recipients’ development goals and, in doing so, also benefits donor countries.