UK aid cuts threaten African education, health

By Skylar DeBose

A new report from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warns that recent cuts to the UK’s aid budget will significantly impact educational support and disease prevention programs across Africa.

The development follows an announcement in February by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, confirming that the government will reduce the aid budget from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross national income.

Starmer said aid cuts were necessary to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027. He expressed concerns for the UK’s safety as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues.

“And I believe we must now change our approach to national security. So we are ready to meet the challenges of our volatile world,” said Starmer.

According to the FCDO, direct bilateral aid to some countries will be reduced, although the specific nations affected have not yet been confirmed.

The UK government has pledged to maintain its contributions to key international organizations, including the World Bank, Gavi (the global vaccine alliance), as well as humanitarian assistance in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. This support includes three billion items to Ukraine each year, £129 million in aid to Palestine, and £86 million for Sudan.

The government has noted that the move reflects a renewed emphasis on prioritization, efficiency, and protecting essential humanitarian support, while phasing out certain program partnerships where necessary.

The FCDO reported that funding for the Education, Gender, and Equality sector would drop from over £490 million to nearly £284 million, with support for girls’ education cut by nearly half. The Health sector would decrease from around £975 million to over £527 million.

Bond, a UK network of aid organizations, is concerned about the impacts these cuts will have on women and children in marginalized communities.

“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.

Last week, U.S. Congress approved a recession package that cut nearly $8 billion in foreign assistance. In 2023, the U.S. provided about a quarter of all global official development assistance (ODA) sent to Africa.

The UK and the U.S. are not the only Western countries cutting aid. France plans to cut over $1 billion, the Netherlands is reducing its total budget by 0.18 percent, and Germany, the second largest ODA donor, will cut over $5.3 billion of core development and humanitarian assistance.

“The consequences will be especially devastating for vulnerable people around the world,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.