Foreign Secretary Highlights International Development in March 19 Statement
The Foreign Secretary highlighted International Development priorities in a March 19 Statement to the House. The announcement sets out a revised approach to Official Development Assistance allocations.
Context and fiscal trade-offs
The government cited national security as its first duty. Recent operational activity includes UK jets in the Middle East and a Carrier Strike group preparing for the High North.
To fund increased defence spending, the development budget will move to 0.3% of GNI by 2027. That change was set out in last year’s Spending Review.
Where funding will be focused
The government will prioritise support for countries facing the worst humanitarian needs. It committed £1.4bn each year to tackle acute human suffering.
- 70% of geographic support will target fragile, conflict-affected states.
- Funds for Ukraine, Palestine (Gaza), and Sudan will be fully protected.
- Lebanon was added this week to the list of fully protected countries.
Changes to bilateral approaches
Direct bilateral aid to other countries will fall. The government will withdraw traditional bilateral funding for G20 nations.
Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan remain humanitarian priorities but will see reduced direct grants. Multilateral programmes in those countries will continue to receive support.
Development partnerships and investment
Some development priorities will shift from grants to investment partnerships. Pakistan and Mozambique will move towards investment-focused partnerships.
British International Investment will play a larger role in driving growth and unlocking private capital. The Statement highlighted a £300m energy transmission agreement in Ethiopia earlier this year.
Health, climate and women’s rights
The UK will back proven global health partnerships. It plans to invest over £1.2bn in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
It will also invest £850m in the Global Fund, expected to save up to 1.3 million lives and avert about 22 million new HIV, TB and malaria cases.
The next three years will see around £6bn of ODA targeted as International Climate Finance. The plan aims to deliver an extra £6.7bn in UK-backed climate and nature investments and to mobilise private finance.
Support for women and girls will be a central FCDO theme. At least 90% of bilateral ODA programmes will focus on women and girls by 2030.
The government announced dedicated funding for survivors of sexual violence in Sudan. It will also boost the BBC World Service budget by £11m a year.
Working through multilateral institutions
The UK will back efficient parts of the multilateral system to multiply its impact. Multilateral Development Banks are central to this approach.
The government said each pound invested in the World Bank’s IDA unlocks about £4 of additional finance. The UK has increased its IDA contribution by 40%.
A £650m pledge to the African Development Fund will help leverage up to £1.6bn in grants and concessional loans. That funding will support bond issuance on the London Stock Exchange.
Officials will press for reform, increased voice for low-income countries, and debt relief. The UN80 reform initiative will guide UN-focused priorities.
New delivery model
The Statement stressed a move from paternalism to partnership. The UK aims to be an investor, not just a donor.
Reforms will emphasise strengthening systems over delivering services. Examples include teacher training and curriculum support rather than long-term service provision.
The UK will mobilise expertise from universities, tech specialists, the City of London, the Met Office and HMRC. Tax support in Ghana helped generate an additional £100m for public services.
Outlook and international role
The government said the UK expects to remain the world’s fifth largest development funder. It will use the 2027 G20 Presidency to shape the global development agenda.
Officials will continue to tackle illicit finance and dirty money. The Statement was commended to the House and reported by Filmogaz.com.
