Percentage of donations based on specific requests

Eight-four per cent of donors, 92% of consolidators and 35% of recipients indicated that over half of their donations are based on a specific request (Figure 1).

Discussion

The difference of opinion between donors and consolidators on the one hand and recipients on the other probably indicates a real difference in perception as to what constitutes a "specific request", with many recipients believing that they received many donations without specifically having asked for them. The review of the experiences with the Guidelines was undertaken relatively shortly after their launch. It is possible that donation practice has changed at the level of the donors and consolidators (resulting in more new donations based on requests), while older donations (without specific requests) are still arriving in the field. If this is so, it would indicate that donations are improving. If not, there is a serious misunderstanding between donors and recipients. A follow-up study will be needed to see whether recipient opinion is changing over the next year.