The paper examines three decades of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the Western Balkans, focusing on levels, sources, and goals. The study encompasses six Western Balkan countries and analyzes ODA in Croatia and Turkey for comparison. It aims to offer insights into ODA trends, sources, and priorities in the region. The Western Balkans play a crucial role in the European Union’s geopolitical landscape, impacting peace and stability. Despite challenges such as high poverty rates and low education outcomes, the region experienced varied economic growth from 2000 to 2008. The analysis utilizes data from the OECD Official Development Assistance Statistics Database, emphasizing the importance of understanding ODA trends for informed policymaking. Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina received significant ODA per capita during the Yugoslav war (1990-2000). Post-1999 NATO bombing, Serbia experienced a surge in ODA, primarily from the EU and the US. Kosovo, independent since 2008, received the highest ODA per capita, averaging 293.23 USD per person per year from 2009 to 2021. Read more here.
Source: CROSOL