Russian Economic Development Assistance in 2019

Yury K. Zaitsev – Senior Researcher 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.

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; Director of the Institute for 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.

In 2019, the Government of the Russian Federation increased allocations for official development assistance (ODA). Its amount exceeded $1 bn. However, real amount of Russian economic assistance was higher than the one figured in the OECD statistical data that does not record budget transfers and assistance to unrecognized states.

Bilateral assistance accounted for the highest share (61,2%) of the Russian assistance. Moreover, Armenia, Kirgizia, and Tajikistan in addition to bilateral projects receive Russian assistance through international organizations. Finally, Russia wrote off debts to around $425 mn last year.

The article was prepared in the framework of research work conducted within RANEPA state order.

Key words: official development assistance, ODA, international development assistance, International Development Association, bilateral assistance, developing countries.