UK aid often lacks clear priorities and often isn't value for money, watchdog warns

"A new report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) said the system used to manage Britain's aid budget in recent years had been overly focused on hitting a precise spending target rather than delivering clear development goals. The review looked at how official development assistance (ODA) was distributed across government departments between 2021 and 2025."

"It found that decision-making often centred on ensuring the UK met its aid spending percentage, rather than allocating money according to long-term priorities or evidence of value for money. At the same time Britain cut spending from the legally enshrined target of 0.7 per cent of national income to 0.5 per cent in 2021 after the Covid-19 pandemic."

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact released a report examining how Britain's official development assistance was distributed across government departments from 2021 to 2025. The watchdog found that aid management prioritized meeting precise spending targets rather than achieving clear development objectives or demonstrating value for money. Billions intended to combat global poverty were redirected to support refugees within the UK. The report highlights systemic issues in decision-making that focused on hitting aid spending percentages instead of allocating resources based on long-term priorities and evidence. This occurred as Britain reduced its aid spending from the legally mandated 0.7 percent of national income to 0.5 percent in 2021, with further reductions planned.

Read at www.independent.co.uk