Development minister Jenny Chapman has stated that the UK has prioritised poverty reduction over self-interest in its new overseas aid programme allocations. Speaking at an event with the Center for Global Development, Baroness Chapman outlined the government's 40 per cent cut to the aid budget, which will focus spending on fragile and conflict-affected regions, particularly Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza.
Baroness Chapman highlighted £2 billion in UK funding for the World Bank's International Development Association and £650 million for the Africa Development Bank's Africa Development Fund as examples of the UK's new approach. She said, 'We could put all our money into bilateral relationships... We have actively decided not to do that, and are going through these two particular multilateral choices because they disproportionately benefit Africa.'
The UK's stance contrasts with that of the US, which has used aid as leverage for trade deals and included stipulations around data sharing and Christian ideology in health compacts with African countries. Nigeria's chief government spokesperson told The Independent that religion-based stipulations risk 'fanning the flames' of division.
However, UK NGOs have expressed dismay at the impact of the cuts. Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, said the allocations show 'the harsh reality of Labour’s cuts to the UK aid budget, the steepest in the G7 – lives lost, the UK’s reputation in tatters, and a poorer, more unequal and unstable world for us all.'
