Priorities of Russian Development Assistance in 2018

Yury K. Zaitsev – Senior Researcher of the Foreign Trade Department, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Deputy Director of the Institute of International Economics and Finance, Russian Foreign Trade Academy, Candidate of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alexander Yu. Knobel – Head of Foreign Trade Department of the Gaidar Institute; Director of Center for Foreign Trade Department of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Candidate of Economic Sciences (Moscow, Russia). Е-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

According to statistics published in October 2019, Russia maintained a relatively high level of funding programs in the field of international development assistance in 2018. A large share (63%) of Russian aid was provided as in the past on a bilateral basis, and the largest recipients remained Cuba, DPRK, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Moreover, in addition to direct assistance, Russia finances these countries also in the framework of cooperation with international organizations. In 2018, distribution of aid was mainly related to healthcare and food security as well as to debt relief which exceeded $ 400 million.

Key words: international development, Russian aid to development, developing countries.