India voices concern over decline in aid to Africa

United Nations : Days before India hosts the third India-Africa Forum Summit, it has voiced concern over the decline in development assistance to Africa and called on the international community for continued aid flow to "those in need". India's Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Bhagwant Bishnoi said at a General Assembly session here that even as overall Official Development Assistance (ODA) levels increased slightly in 2014 over 2013, it is "striking" that ODA to Africa suffered a decline.

"Moreover, the share of Africa in global ODA also fell. This cannot but be a cause of concern and a situation that must be remedied at the earliest," he said at the debate on Africa's development. He said that, "it is important not only that aid commitments are met at the earliest, but also that aid continues to flow to those most in need."

"It is equally important that aid is not diverted away from social sectors like health and education into climate change mitigation, for which the support must be new and additional," he added. Bishnoi informed the 193-member UNGA that India is organising the third India-Africa Forum Summit from October 26-29 in New Delhi in which all 54 African countries would participate. The summit will be the first following the adoption of the Agenda 2063 by the Africa Union this year and will also be the first since the achievement of 50 years of pan-Africanism.