More and more French people support an increase in development aid

Since 2013, more and more French people support an increase in development aid, although this trend is decreasing a bit since June 2020.

French public support for official development assistance (ODA) has even almost doubled from 18% to 36% between 2013 and May 2019, before droping to 24% after two years of Covid-19.

In parallel, this trend is reinforced by a continuing fall in the same period (from 43% to 18%) in the number of French people who want the government to reduce ODA.

These are opinions are given to a question which specifies the amount of ODA provided by France to developing countries (around 12 billion euros or only 0.53% of GNI). In reality this figure appears derisory compared to France’s overall GDP of 2500 billion euros, also provided in the question.

The results given to this question over the years demonstrate a growing space and attention for development issues in the French public arena. When we examine the data more closely, we can see three trends emerging:

– 55% of French people are in favor of increasing or maintening the amount of French ODA,
– For some groups (notably far-right voters, or those who say they are not concerned by global poverty), increasing (or maintening) ODA is far from being a priority,
– For those already concerned, informed or involved in development or global poverty, there is a strong swelling of support for increasing ODA.

Which hypotheses to explain this increase?

– Successive civil society campaigns, which slowly "imprint" a better knowledge or awareness of development aid issues over time;

– (Social) media coverage, or a growing ease in a globalised world to access, see or share information related to global poverty.

– The emergence of migration issues, which have sparked debate and awareness about the reasons for migrants and refugees to leave their home countries in search of a better life.

Support to increase (a bit or a lot) French development aid to poor countries is something which is particularly visible in young respondents (18-24) compare to their elders (55+): + 14 percentage points.
Also, increasing ODA is much more important for left-wing voters compare to average of right wing voters: +37 percentage points.
Similarly, the desire to see ODA spending reduced is something which is typical of those over 35 or right-wing voters.

Political preference is a fundamental (and proportional) indicator of support of development aid. Left-wing voters agree with an increase, while far right-wing voters want to see ODA decreased. Center-voters are those who are most likely to give an opinion one way or another, and also (alongside the traditional right-wing voters) the highest percentage of those preferring to keep the status quo (neither increase nor decrease).

Further reading

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