Page 138 - UAE Foreign Aid Report 2022

United Arab Emirates
138
Foreign Aid Report 2022

Aid Allocation Overview

For half a decade, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development approach but also its dedication to working alongside
(ADFD) has consistently stood out as the UAE’s recipient governments and local leaders in realizing
predominant foreign aid donor. Entrusted with the their nation’s development aspirations. In addition, a
monumental task of disbursing funds on behalf of portion of the 2022 allocation enabled partner nations
the UAE Government, ADFD’s contribution in 2022 to spearhead projects directly, epitomized by the AED
surpassed half of the UAE’s total foreign aid, amounting 3.0 million (USD 0.8 million) in technical assistance to
to an impressive AED 6.58 billion (USD 1.79 billion). the Government of Guinea, a strategic effort to elevate
This vast network of support extended to 43 countries, the efficacy of its governance and public service
encapsulating 35 LDCs and eight SIDS. delivery.

The funding methodology of the ADFD in 2022 is In a year-on-year analysis, 2022’s disbursements
meticulously strategized, with nearly a quarter of the of the ADFD showcased a substantial 25% growth
total allocation disbursed as grants, while the remainder over the previous year. Over the course of five years,
takes the form of concessional loans. A significant 99% the cumulative financial disbursements from ADFD
of ADFD’s 2022 foreign aid budget was channeled reached an astounding AED 55.67 billion (USD 15.16
towards development assistance, solidifying ADFD’s billion). 29% of this was extended as grants, with the
role as a pivotal development partner. A solitary remainder allocated as concessional loans.
deviation from this trend was the humanitarian gesture Geographically in 2022, Jordan, Serbia, and Maldives
towards Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, extending emerged as top beneficiaries, collectively absorbing
support to both the displaced population and their over 78% of ADFD’s total disbursements. On the
Colombian hosts. SDGs front, SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals), SDG
Diving deeper into the implementation specifics, 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 9
bilateral assistance to sovereign governments (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) dominated
represented over 76% of ADFD’s contributions for that the funding efforts, jointly accounting for over 93% of
year. This not only underscores the ADFD’s collaborative the ADFD’s total assistance in 2022 directed towards
global developmental targets.
Allocation Insights

01 General Programme Assistance Sector

In 2022, ADFD’s continued commitment to the ranging from poverty mitigation initiatives, and
General Programme Assistance Sector remained ensuring consistent governmental service provision, to
strong, mirroring its dedication from previous years. the intricate execution of macro-economic strategies
This sector stood out as the predominant recipient and reforms.
of ADFD’s foreign aid, absorbing 79% of the ADFD’s
total foreign aid disbursements for that year. Out of Further amplifying its impact, ADFD also forged a
the AED 5.17 billion (USD 1.41 billion) in funding for collaboration with the Lives and Livelihoods Fund—a
this sector, an overwhelming AED 4.99 billion (USD noteworthy initiative that has poured over USD 1.4
1.36 billion) was funneled as general budget support billion into developmental causes since its inception in
to nations including Albania, Ethiopia, Jordan, Serbia, 2016. In 2022 alone, the ADFD supported the Fund with
and South Sudan. This substantial financial assistance a contribution of AED 32.1 million (USD 8.7 million)
is predominantly unearmarked, granting beneficiary towards multi-country projects. This alliance with the
governments the latitude to allocate these resources Lives and Livelihoods Fund has borne tangible results:
as per their unique national development plans. These it has catalyzed enhanced productivity for upwards of
allocations encompass a wide spectrum of objectives,