THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL AID

I recently raised concerns regarding the future of international aid in the UK, following the announcement that the UK Government’s Department for International Development will be merged into the Foreign Office. It is clear that this move shows the UK Government’s rhetoric around ‘Global Britain’ is empty, as this move downgrades and undermines the UK Government’s international development aims and will have far reaching consequences for some of the world’s poorest people.

There has been a worrying recent trend in tying the UK Government’s aid budget to strategic foreign policy and security goals, rather than focusing on development and poverty alleviation, which is undoubtedly what the focus should be, and this move will only continue this trend.

All richer countries have a moral responsibility towards the world’s poorest countries. Therefore, UK assistance some of the poorest people on earth should not be undermined in any way.

You can watch my contribution below.