Polish aid

Public opinion on the need for Poland to provide assistance to less developed countries

Nearly two-thirds of Poles (65%) think that Poland should support the development of less developed countries. Considerably fewer people (19%) take the opposite view. The remaining 16% could not take a definite stand on the issue.

The proponents of Poland’s assistance efforts usually indicated that it is our moral obligation (41%). Other reasons put forward by the supporters were the following: helping others can bring benefits to Poland (29%); we have to provide assistance as a result of international obligations adopted by Poland (29%); in this way we can reciprocate the help Poland once received from richer countries (28%). The opponents mainly think that Poland is too poor to help others (43%) or that Poland should address its own problems first (40%).

 

Geographic targets and areas of assistance

According to 50% of the respondents, African countries should be the main direction of Poland’s assistance. Considerably fewer people are of the opinion that Polish support should be aimed at our Eastern neighbours (26%), and nearly all respondents in this group pointed to Ukraine (99%).

As regards the areas where Poland has most to offer to less developed countries, the most common answers were health care (43%) and education (37%).

 

Forms and channels of assistance

According to those surveyed, Poland can contribute to the development of less developed countries by supporting their health care (37%) and sending volunteers (30%). Less popular answers included: providing resources for child education (24%), Polish companies’ investments in these countries (19%), and enabling students from these countries to learn at Polish universities (18%).

Most Poles (40%) believe that taking into consideration our financial capacity, the amount of money Poland earmarks for development assistance targeted at less developed countries is appropriate. The respondents stated that Poland should transfer funds through Polish non-governmental organisations and companies (47%) as well as specialised international organisations (42%). Over a quarter of Poles (27%) are of the opinion that funds should be transferred through specific Polish investments in those countries, whereas more than one-fifth of the respondents (23%) think that funds should be distributed through local organisations.

 

Poles’ engagement in assisting less developed countries

The poll reveals that 8% of Poles were involved in providing assistance to less developed countries. Those involved were usually aged 50 or older, with secondary or tertiary education, and residents of rural areas. Those who do not feel the need to engage in such activities are more likely aged 30-49 as well as the oldest persons, people with lower education, and rural dwellers.

 

Poles on assistance to Ukraine

According to the poll, 71% of the respondents think that Poland should support Ukraine as the latter is in a war situation. The opposite view is held by 18% of Poles. Young people with higher education are more likely to be convinced of the need to provide assistance. Those who disagree are usually aged 30-39 and elderly people, as well as inhabitants of the largest cities. The respondents who believe that Poland should support Ukraine argue that by helping the country we improve our own security (56%) and that we have a moral obligation to help our neighbour (44%). The opponents think that Poland should solve its own problems first (43%) and that our country is too poor to help others (41%).

The majority of those surveyed (54%) believe that Poland’s assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees will be beneficial for our country in the long run.

More than half of the respondents would support the decision to allocate additional funds to assist Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees.