Yes. Countries with a high level of public awareness about development problems - such as the Nordic countries and the Netherlands - generally give more aid.

We don't think so. Recent G7/G8 Summits have placed development concerns and the partnership approach near the top of the international agenda. Partnerships take time to build. But some encouraging starts have been made in many bilateral and multilateral agencies. An example is the United Kindgom, which has committed itself to a partnership approach towards eliminating global poverty, and given firm commitments to raise aid levels.

The DAC Members' joint strategy has shown, both looking back and looking ahead, why and how aid can help meet some pressing problems of concern to our citizens, and how it can ensure the most effective response. The recent financial crisis reinforces the need for the kind of aid that helps countries prepare better for full participation in world markets. In an increasingly integrated world, it is neither economically efficient nor morally acceptable for over a billion people to live in extreme poverty.

The basic aim of the DAC is to encourage aid efforts and improve aid quality. Our detailed three-yearly Peer Reviews of each donor's programme consistently urge maintenance or enhancement of aid levels, better transparency, evaluation and public education about development, and more effective use of aid.

The DAC Secretariat does not have an internship programme. For information on recruitment opportunities in the OECD, please consult the recruitment section of the OECD web site (www.oecd.org/hrm).

The OECD does not have budget appropriations for financing educational or business projects. We regret that we cannot respond favourably to any requests for funding.