Moreover, the MDGs make clear that the global partnership is essential to securing progress towards poverty eradication. As such, the MDGs have been a powerful tool for galvanizing public opinion around a central ideal. The importance of such consensus and awareness should not be underestimated, considering that democratic governance of a fully integrated world requires shared commitments to global priorities, not only among Governments but also among the public at large. The aid allocated by the Member countries of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to basic social services increased from $6.1 billion to $17.4 billion in 2009, but then dropped to $13.8 billion in 2010 in view of fiscal adjustment in these countries. The proportion of aid allocation to basic social services also showed a steady increase from 15.5 per cent in 2000 to 21.2 per cent in 2009, but decreased to 15.6 per cent in 2010.