OECD Reports First Decline in Foreign Aid in 2024, Affecting Ukraine Amid Russia's Invasion

Foreign aid has declined in 2024 for the first time in six years, according to the OECD. The organization expressed concern over the future of global development assistance, noting that this trend affects countries worldwide. In Finland, the amount of development cooperation funding also decreased, although Ukraine remains the largest recipient of Finnish aid for the third consecutive year, primarily due to the ongoing impacts of Russia's invasion. The overall decline in international development financing was echoed by multiple sources, including the Finnish government and other international entities.