The UK is a leader in global development, spending 0.7% of its gross national income on Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 2013. It funds important ‘human development’ programmes such as nutrition and education in 32 countries, and supports multilateral institutions such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and the Global Partnership for Education.
But in a turbulent political climate, spending on these vital anti-poverty programmes cannot be taken for granted. While the new Government has recommitted itself to the 0.7% target, aid priorities are changing toward economic growth, climate change, and the UK’s national interest. These efforts will be in vain if human development does not continue to be a main priority for UK aid spending.
It’s vital that senior civil servants and Ministers recognise the importance of continuing to fund human development programmes. This month, please help us show that there is strong public support for focusing UK aid spending on human development – the vital programmes that enable people to fight their way out of poverty. Help us show how DFID’s human development programmes are among the most powerful ways that aid works, using their #100WaysAidWorks hashtag.
You can watch a recording of our recent conference call on this topic, with guest speaker Chris Mitchell, UK Media Officer at the ONE Campaign. Watch it back here.