The UK government has announced a 40% reduction in foreign aid spending, decreasing from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income. This decision, announced in February, prioritizes increasing defense spending to 2.5% following pressure from the US. The largest cuts will impact aid to Africa, specifically programs supporting children's education and women's health, leading to increased risks of disease and death, according to a Foreign Office report. Funding for the Occupied Palestinian Territories will also decrease by 21%.

Despite the cuts, the government states that spending on multilateral aid organizations like the World Bank and Gavi will be maintained, and humanitarian aid to regions such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan will continue. Baroness Chapman, minister for development, justified the cuts by stating that every pound must work harder for UK taxpayers and those receiving aid. The cuts follow a strategic review prioritizing efficiency and responsible exit from certain programs. Bond, a network of UK aid organizations, criticized the cuts, highlighting the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, particularly women and children.

The cuts have sparked controversy, with critics arguing the UK should be increasing, not decreasing, aid, especially given reduced gender programming in the US. While some programs faced cuts, the International Development Association (IDA), part of the World Bank, will receive £1.98bn in UK funding over three years. The decision reverses previous commitments to allocate 0.7% of national income to foreign aid, a target reached in 2013 and enshrined in law in 2015. The reduction to 0.5% in 2021 was attributed to the economic pressures of COVID-19.

Impact Statement: The cuts will significantly impact healthcare and education programs in Africa and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities and humanitarian crises.