Influence and allocations of the Italian bilateral aid

In 2008, 45% in the Italian bilateral aid was channelled towards Iraq, thanks to the last debt relief instalment. Afghanistan was the second partner country – receiving 6.3% in bilateral aid – Palestine followed with 3.8% and Ethiopia and Lebanon closed the top 5 list – 3.5%. This top 5 partner country list is consistent with the 21 country long list for aid recipients, included in the 3 year planning guidelines for the Italian development cooperation. Despite the Italian aid effort, the influence of Italy- as a donor - in the country – ranking among the top 10 - depends on the financial commitment by the aid community. Among the top five partners countries, in Iraq and Lebanon only, Italy is among the top 10 donors, and in 4 only of the 21 priority countries list. In financial terms , Italy is the most important donor in the small islands of Saint Vincent and Kitts, thanks to 16 million dollars and 21 million dollar worth debt cancellations. Again, debt relief operation allows Italy ranking forth in Sierra Leone and Iraq. Yet, beyond debt relief is in middle income not aid-dependent countries where Italy is among the most important donors (4^th) - Libya, Angola and Argentina - tough investing less than 1 million euro per country. Consistency between investment, political priority and influence in the aid framework is found again in Lebanon (66 million dollars), Albania (32 million dollars), and Tunisia (18 million dollars), whereby Italy is the 6^th most important donor.