The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned the Canadian government that recent changes to foreign aid are actually confusing — and in some cases hurting — development efforts in the world’s poorest countries.

The warning is contained in a major report released yesterday that cited a lack of transparency, $377 million in budget cuts over the next three years and a move away from Africa as threats to Canadian aid efforts abroad.

“The new approach to Canadian aid is not yet supported by sufficient or transparent decision-making criteria,” the report reads, “complicating its processes and public accountability and constraining discussions with key stakeholders, including Parliament.”

The result of a peer review conducted every five years, the report does commend some government reforms to Canadian aid, including its support during humanitarian crises, famines and other emergencies.

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