UK Aid Cuts Hit Africa and Climate Hard, Sparking Outcry
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has unveiled the full scope of the UK's 40 per cent aid budget cuts over the next three years, prompting widespread dismay among MPs, charities, and humanitarian organisations. In a statement to the House of Commons, Cooper emphasised that women and girls, along with conflict-affected and fragile states, would be prioritised, leading to significant reductions in other areas.
Severe Reductions in African Aid Programmes
One of the most contentious aspects of the cuts is the dramatic reduction in bilateral aid to African countries. By 2028/9, aid between the UK and nations on the continent is projected to fall by 56 per cent compared to 2024/5 levels. Long-standing bilateral aid programmes to developing countries not classified as fragile or conflict-affected are set to be severely curtailed or eliminated entirely.
Countries facing substantial cuts include Kenya, which received £80 million in aid in 2024/5, South Africa (£11 million), Uganda (£44 million), Sierra Leone (£30 million), and Malawi (£50 million). Development Minister Jenny Chapman noted that these figures exclude funding from multilateral institutions, such as £2 billion for the World Bank's International Development Association and £650 million for the Africa Development Bank's Africa Development Fund.
Impact on Health and Education
The Equalities Impact Assessment, published alongside Cooper's statement, has been criticised as "scandalously lacking in detail" by Labour MP Sarah Champion, chair of parliament's International Development Select Committee. Despite this, the assessment reveals that the UK is likely to cease all overseas aid programmes for global health in Sierra Leone and Malawi.
In Malawi alone, this move is expected to result in approximately 250,000 adolescents losing access to modern family planning methods and 20,000 children potentially dropping out of school due to the termination of school feeding programmes. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has not provided detailed information on the value of cuts to specific country programmes, complicating comparisons with previous aid reports.
Climate Finance Cuts Amid Global Warnings
UK aid classified as "climate finance" is set to plummet from £11.6 billion over the five years to 2026 to £6 billion over the next three years, a drop of almost 15 per cent. This reduction comes despite the UK's obligations under the Paris Agreement and a UN warning that the money required for developing countries to adapt to the climate crisis is 12 to 14 times greater than currently available.
Catherine Pettengell, executive director of Climate Action Network UK, described the cuts as "really bad", noting that UK climate finance had previously been doubling every five years, which would have resulted in £23.2 billion over five years as the next package. UN chief Antonio Guterres has emphasised that adaptation is not a cost but a lifeline, urging action to close the adaptation gap and build a safer, more sustainable world.
Broader Implications and Criticism
The FCDO has also altered its regional country groupings and overall aid categories, making it difficult to compare the latest allocations with past reports. The Equalities Impact Assessment indicates that even areas the UK claims to prioritise, such as multilateral development agencies within the UN, will face substantial cuts. Multilateral humanitarian agencies and health agencies are set to see their aid reduced by 25 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.
These developments highlight the profound impact of the UK's aid strategy on vulnerable populations and global climate efforts, raising concerns about the long-term consequences for international development and environmental sustainability.
