In times of economic crisis and public accounts of the crucial decisions that they face the managers of public funds is what matters the budget can be trimmed. Except for essential public services, virtually all games is acted on the scissors.
Among those affected by the reduction of expenses, is the Official Development Assistance (ODA). Within it, the most overlooked historically has been the humanitarian action. However, their participation is increasing in all government , Mainly due to central-government contribution, reaching almost 10% of total ODA funds. Thus, while the ODA fell by 0.71% in 2009 over the previous year (although in relative terms in relation to GDP would have increased by the biggest drop of it), funding for humanitarian action grew 15% and doubled over the 2007 figure.
But despite this increase, not all good news as the contribution of the regions to this concept fell by 37.5% and dropped to almost half when compared with data from two years ago . In 2009 only four communities, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Basque Country and Cantabria, increased their contribution and the other thirteen-nine decreased their funds over 50% -. Especially significant is the case in the Region of Murcia, which decided to eliminate funding for Development Assistance for humanitarian action.
The situation would be cause for concern but because the weight of the Autonomous Communities in humanitarian action is still small, only 7.2% of the total. Local authorities have a minimum stake (1.7%) and universities play a testimonial. So, is the central government, mainly through the Ministry Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (89.1 points 91% of government), which supports the weight of humanitarian aid.
Therefore, the decisions of the autonomous communities are not a crucial element in these policies, although this does not mean that it is important to take efficient action. It is precisely to address the problems of decentralization is the workhorse at this time.
Almost all of the regions is regulated by law cooperation policies. Some of them mentioned explicitly in the coordination with the English Cooperation Agency For International Development (AECI) as an important element of their policies and maintain permanent open calls. Others, however, show an absolute lack of structure to work in humanitarian action, by personnel not specifically prepared for these tasks.
One of the possible reasons why it has dropped the contribution of regions to humanitarian action could come explained by the absence in 2009 of natural disasters that have a strong impact on the media and public opinion. The report itself and in its title predicts a significant increase in action Humanitarian for 2010: "Such were when we shook Haiti."
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