A group of over 100 NGOs in the aid and humanitarian sector are warning that UK aid spending is set to fall to its lowest level since 2007 unless urgent action is taken in the autumn budget. The budget for overseas aid will drop to just 0.36% of gross national income (GNI) by 2024, largely due to funds being diverted to hosting asylum-seekers in the UK.
Concerns have been raised that the Treasury will not provide additional funding to compensate for the aid budget being used for refugee housing costs in the UK. The official development assistance budget allocated for UK refugees has risen significantly in recent years, representing 29% of the total ODA budget.
The aid groups fear that the UK will be ill-prepared for upcoming global summits, such as Cop29 and the UN general assembly, if the budget cuts are not reversed. They are calling for the government to at least maintain the current 0.58% of GNI spending and outline a plan to return to the official target of 0.7%.
Key NGOs, including ActionAid UK, Oxfam GB, and Save the Children UK, are urging the government to provide additional funding in the autumn budget to ensure vital humanitarian support for marginalized communities worldwide. Without swift action, the consequences could be devastating, particularly in the face of global challenges like climate change and food insecurity.
The Foreign Office has stated that the government remains committed to restoring ODA spending to 0.7% of GNI when fiscal conditions allow, emphasizing the importance of development spending in achieving a world free from poverty. Transparency in planned ODA allocations for 2024-25 will be provided in due course.
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