UK reveals aid priorities after major cuts to budget

"Countries like Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan will remain humanitarian priorities, they will see direct grant reductions although we will continue to support multilateral programmes which operate in those countries too. Countries like Pakistan and Mozambique will remain development priorities but their direct grant funding will be significantly reduced and instead we will run partnerships for investment."

"Direct bilateral aid funding would be reduced but support to proven global partnerships, including the vaccine alliance Gavi, would continue. Helping fragile states, tackling violence against women and girls, and responding to climate change are among the priorities."

"There is a need for partnership not paternalism, with the UK seeking to be an investor not just a donor to help other countries attract finance, not be dependent on aid."

The UK government is restructuring its overseas aid budget following a £6 billion reduction by 2027 to fund increased defence spending. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that funding for Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan will remain fully protected. However, countries including Mozambique and Pakistan will experience significantly reduced direct grants. The government plans to shift from bilateral aid to partnership-based investment models, focusing on fragile states, violence against women and girls, and climate change. Support for multilateral programs and proven global partnerships like vaccine alliance Gavi will continue. The approach emphasizes investment over dependency, positioning the UK as an investor rather than solely a donor.

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