The UK government has revealed plans to cut foreign aid by 40 percent, with the budget set aside for children’s education and women’s health in Africa to get the biggest reduction.
The notice which was issued back in February, will see a reduction in the gross income drop from 0.5% 6o 0.3% in order to increase the budget on defence by 2.5%.
As a result, the hardest hit by the reduction will be children’s eduction and women’s health which will in turn raise cases of diseases and deaths in Africa.
The government has however, made it clear that support of World Bank and that of Gavi vaccine will continue. They will also play a key role in the supply of aid in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.
“Every pound must work harder for UK taxpayers and the people we help around the world and these figures show how we are starting to do just that through having a clear focus and priorities,” said the Minister of Development, Baroness Chapman
The UK government has also confirmed that it is closely monitoring underperforming multilateral organisations and if need be, then funding will also be cut.
“It is concerning that bilateral funding for Africa, gender, education and health programmes will drop,”
“The world’s most marginalised communities, particularly those experiencing conflict and women and girls, will pay the highest price for these political choices.
“At a time when the US has gutted all gender programming, the UK should be stepping up, not stepping back.” said Bond policy director Gideon Rabinowitz
