Nearly 100 charity leaders have issued a fervent plea to the UK government, calling for a strategy to reverse what they have labeled “devastating” cuts to international aid. This appeal comes in the wake of a significant reduction in the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, which was slashed from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent by 2027, a move announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer despite Labour’s prior promise to restore the funding level to 0.7 percent.
The coalition includes leaders of 93 prominent international aid charities, such as Oxfam GB, ActionAid UK, Mercy Corps Europe, War Child UK, WaterAid, and Bond, a crucial NGO umbrella organization. Their joint statement has emerged just as the government is set to release its UK aid allocations for the next three years.
These charity leaders argue that the cuts have already inflicted severe consequences on the UK’s International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) sector. They emphasize the need for the government to reinstate the UK’s reputation as a principled and ambitious development partner.
In their statement, they reflect on the significant impact of these funding reductions—asserting that, when considered alongside similar cuts from the US, France, Germany, and other countries, the results are dire: families in conflict areas struggle to access basic needs such as food, shelter, and education. Additionally, essential health and reproductive programs in vulnerable regions of Africa and Asia are at imminent risk of being terminated.
The government’s own equalities impact assessment of the upcoming cuts reveals that the hardest-hit groups will include women and girls, children, people with disabilities, and those affected by conflict. The charity leaders express their disappointment that these cuts proceeded without any consultation with sector experts, undermining crucial partnerships and trust.
Acknowledging the government’s fiscal challenges, the leaders emphasize that “no government should balance its books on the backs of the world’s most marginalized people.” They caution that the implications of the aid cuts could profoundly affect not only the current landscape but also shape Labour’s legacy for future generations unless decisive action is taken to restore the funding.
With the UK aid budget considerably reduced, the leaders urge the government to elevate its ambitions regarding global financial reforms to facilitate a more equitable economic environment, allowing lower-income countries the opportunity to foster their own sustainable development.
Romilly Greenhill, Chief Executive of Bond, warned that the UK’s withdrawal from its international development commitments amidst rising global conflicts and burgeoning inequality could reverse substantial progress made in the past, undermining the UK’s credibility and influence on the world stage. She echoed the urgent need for the government to restore its aid budget to fortify its longstanding reputation as a proactive contributor to global welfare challenges, aiding in the pursuit of a safer and more prosperous future for all.