Nine African countries see UK aid slashed by more than 80% as ‘devastating’ cuts laid bare

Nine African countries will face cuts to more than 80 per cent of the UK’s bilateral aid after the government revealed full details of its plan to cut its aid budget by more than 80 per cent. 0.5 to 0.3 percent of Gross National Income Until 2029.

The UK’s bilateral aid to African countries is expected to fall from £1.6 billion to less than £700 million, and the countries affected include a number of long-standing UK partners, including Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique, whose aid relationships will be almost eliminated or reduced to £5 million or less.

Kenya’s UK foreign aid is expected to fall by 93 per cent, Tanzania by 91 per cent, Mozambique by 90 per cent, Malawi by 90 per cent and Zambia by 88 per cent.

Countries experiencing some of the most pressing humanitarian emergencies in the world will face funding cuts, along with aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo. currently in the middle of an Ebola outbreak – a 29 percent decrease and aid to lebanon also fell by 58 percent.

The UK’s overall aid cuts from 2024/5 to 2028/9 amount to around £6.5 billion, including aid to fragile and conflict-affected states. supposedly the government’s priority – a 34 percent drop in aid to the least developed countries, a 49 percent drop in aid to the least developed countries, and a 56 percent drop in aid to Africa.

Aid organisations, charities and MPs have spoken out about the “devastating” impact such a program of cuts, introduced just a day before parliament’s summer recess, would have on development programs in developing countries.

About 15 countries, including Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Venezuela, are expected to receive British bilateral aid falling to zero over the next three years. We are currently under the influence of a devastating earthquake.

Oxfam Great Britain’s Jean Mclean said the government had “introduced a wrecking ball to the aid budget at the very moment of conflict, humanitarian crises, hunger and climate collapse”. increasing global need to record levels”.

Save the Children UK’s Lisa Wise said the cuts “send a global message about the role the UK wants to play on the international stage” and suggested the new prime minister, Andy Burnham, “has an important opportunity to take a significant step forward to prioritize international cooperation and ensure children’s rights are at the heart of foreign policy”.

Romilly Greenhill, chief executive of non-governmental organization (NGO) network Bond, agreed that the incoming Labor government must “recognise the development role of building a safer, more equal and more stable world”, adding that they should rule out further aid cuts.

Ian Mitchell, from the think tank Center for Global Development, pointed out that “over 130 million people live in extreme poverty” in ten countries in Africa where aid has been reduced to £5 million or less.

These countries will receive less than half of the £130 million allocated to the UK, he added. Assistance programs in the overseas territories of St Helena, Montserrat and PitcairnIts total population is around 8,500.

Sarah Champion, Labor MP for Rotherham and chair of the parliament’s International Development Committee, criticized the delay in announcing the aid allocations, saying it was “disappointing that the government waited until the last working day of parliament to set out the details.”

“By leaving it this late for the cleanup, the Government appears to be choosing to avoid scrutiny,” he added.

Labor MP Beccy Cooper added that the cuts “are not just numbers on a spreadsheet” but would “lead to a devastating cut to the vital health services, humanitarian support and education programs that communities rely on”.

The new figures also confirm previously announced cuts to the UK’s climate aid; these cuts fall from £11.6bn over five years to 2026 to £6bn over the next three years. Cutting off contribution to the Green Climate Fund – It is the world’s largest source of financing by 50 percent for developing countries to adapt to the climate crisis.

“Climate finance is a key obligation for high-income countries like the UK and a lifeline for countries and communities on the front lines of a climate crisis that is not of their making,” said Catherine Pettengell, chief executive of the Climate Action Network UK, which represents 45 non-governmental organizations working on climate change.

He continued: “When tens of billions of pounds could be raised each year by fairly taxing the biggest polluters and richest in our society, these cuts are both unacceptable and not in the UK’s interests, and the new Prime Minister must act.”

WaterAid UK’s head of advocacy, Tim Ingram, added that cutting funding to highly climate-vulnerable countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Ghana would have “deadly consequences”. especially for women and girls”.

Development Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman defends cuts Independent.

“We’re ensuring every pound of the UK’s development spending goes further for people and taxpayers at home facing the toughest crises,” he said.

“We are prioritizing support to countries where humanitarian need is greatest and continuing our investments in sub-Saharan Africa to protect communities at the front lines of conflict and climate shocks,” he continued.

“But we are also taking the necessary steps to move towards a new development model: focusing on partnerships rather than paternalism, strengthening national systems and helping countries move away from aid dependence.”

In a ministerial statement to parliament accompanying the announcement, Baroness Chapman said the UK was determined to “modernise and improve our approach to make the biggest impact abroad and get the best value for money for taxpayers at home”.

This article was produced as part of The Independent. Rethinking Global Aid project