Dmitry Birichevsky -PhD in Political Science, Deputy Head, Third Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; 119200, 32/34, Smolenskaya-Sennaya, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:ministry@mid.ru

Ivan Safranchuk- PhD in Political Science, Deputy Head at the Institute of Contemporary International Studies of Diplomatic Academy, Lecturer at the Department of International Relations of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; 119992, 53/2/1, Ostozhenka, Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail:latuk.info@gmail.com

Abstract

The presented article discusses Russian policy on international development assistance.

Russia has emerged as a new donor of international development over the last ten years. Russian allocations to international aid grew steadily and reached 500 million USD per year. In spite of a relatively modest budget for international development, compared to major established or new donors (such as China and India), Russia can play a significant role in international development projects, especially on a regional scale. It should be noted that Russia increased the development allocations in 2008-2009, when major donors reduced their development assistance budgets due to pressures of the global financial crisis. However, mechanisms of the allocated budgets efficient use ought to be improved. Expert and interagency debates on these issues are in progress.

The article also analyses statistics on Russian development aid programs, summarizes main characteristics of the Russian international development policies and provides recommendations on enhancing the policy efficiency.  The authors point out that only strategic thinking and consistent implementation of the international development assistance programs will yield significant results.It is also highlighted  the interests of various stakeholders groups within the implementation of international development assistance programmes should be taken into account.