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Python packages / tossd-reader / Understanding the data

Why TOSSD totals rise

Aggregate growth in TOSSD data from 2019 through 2024 stems from three primary drivers, comprising expansion of the reporting provider base, price inflation and currency movements, and progressive statistical classifications.

Expansion of the reporting provider base

The number of institutions reporting to TOSSD grew from 97 in 2019 to 130 in 2024, with no change between 2022 and 2023. Counting distinct provider_code values excludes the aggregate pseudo-provider (code 0).

import tossd_reader as tossd

df = tossd.get_tossd(years=range(2019, 2025), columns=["year", "provider_code"])
df[df["provider_code"] != 0].groupby("year", observed=True)["provider_code"].nunique()

year
2019     97
2020    109
2021    119
2022    129
2023    129
2024    130
Name: provider_code, dtype: int64

Part of the observed aggregate growth reflects new bilateral providers and multilateral institutions joining the reporting framework over time. To analyse funding trajectories among established donors, analysts can hold the provider cohort constant across target years, isolating institutional reporting expansion from underlying funding growth.

Inflation and price adjustments

Nominal disbursement increases combine real resource transfers with price inflation. Between 2019 and 2024, global TOSSD gross disbursements rose 66.0% in current prices (USD 299.9 billion to USD 497.7 billion) and 46.3% in constant 2024 prices (USD 340.2 billion to USD 497.7 billion). Using the deflated amount columns (usd_disbursement_deflated) isolates real volume changes from price-level shifts.

Progressive implementation of sub-pillar tagging

Sub-pillar classification within Pillar II was introduced in stages. In 2022, sub-pillar tagging appeared in 24 Pillar II rows (0.02% of Pillar II). In 2023, reporting providers tagged 50.6% of Pillar II rows. In 2024, coverage expanded to 99.1%.

Cross-year comparisons at the sub-pillar level provide consistent coverage from 2024 onward. Data for 2023 offers partial sub-pillar attribution, while data from 2019 through 2022 captures Pillar II as a unified total.

Statistical classification updates

Statistical classifications evolve to capture emerging cooperation modalities. For example, modality code K02 (research and development, or R&D) was introduced in the 2021 reporting cycle with 109 rows, expanding to 74,174 rows by 2024.

Methodology change from May 2026

Methodological revisions adopted by the International Forum on TOSSD take effect in scheduled publication vintages. The revised debt-relief reporting methodology (RDRM) applies to vintages published from May 2026 onward.

The packaged structural breaks reference

get_structural_breaks() provides a curated reference table documenting known discontinuities and coverage milestones across the 2019 to 2026 period.

import tossd_reader as tossd

tossd.get_structural_breaks()
DimensionBreak YearEnd YearDescriptionSource
sub_pillar20222022Sub-pillar tagging (Tossdpillar2 21/22) first appears as trace data: 24 rows in 2022audit of published files
sub_pillar20232023Sub-pillar coverage ~51% of pillar-2 rows in 2023 and ~99% in 2024 (cross-year sub-pillar analysis is consistent from 2024 onward)audit of published files
modality20212021Modality code K02 first appears in 2021audit of published files
reporters20192024Reporter base grows from 97 (2019) to 130 (2024) distinct provider codes, counting provider_code != 0; apparent growth in totals partly reflects reporting coveragedistinct provider_code in the published files
methodology20262026RDRM (revised debt-relief reporting methodology) takes effect May 2026, applying to vintages published from that dateTOSSD Secretariat announcement

Comparing TOSSD and Official Development Assistance (ODA)

Analysts working across international development datasets frequently compare TOSSD with OECD DAC Official Development Assistance (ODA). While both frameworks measure international development support, their architectural scopes and measurement rules differ substantially.

DimensionTOSSD (International Forum on TOSSD)ODA (OECD Development Assistance Committee)
Scope and PillarsPillar I (Cross-border flows) + Pillar II (Global Public Goods and domestic provider expenditures).Cross-border concessional flows to DAC List recipients, plus eligible in-donor refugee and student costs.
ConcessionalityCaptures both concessional and non-concessional resource flows at face value (gross disbursements).Concessional flows only. Sovereign loans are measured using the Grant Equivalent methodology.
Provider CoverageOECD DAC members, non-DAC sovereign providers (South-South and triangular providers), and multilateral institutions.OECD DAC members, participating non-DAC countries, and designated multilateral organisations.
Private FinanceMeasures officially mobilised private commercial investment separately via usd_amount_mobilised.Tracked under Private Sector Instruments (PSI) and separate mobilisation reporting.
Debt Discount RateApplies a uniform 5% discount rate (minimum 35% grant element) across all recipient countries.Applies differentiated discount rates by income group (6% for Upper-Middle, 7% for Lower-Middle, and 9% for LDCs/LICs).

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