The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has reaffirmed its commitment to increase aid spending in future after one of its ministers made a controversial statement that the government should no longer be viewed “as a global charity”.
Development minister Baroness Chapman said earlier this week that “the days of viewing the UK government as a global charity” were “over” and that the government should move to a relationship with developing countries based on “partnership and not paternalism”.
This followed the government’s decision to cut aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI), the February announcement of which prompted Chapman’s predecessor Anneliese Dodds to resign.
The Official Development Assistance (ODA) cut announcement came despite Labour’s election manifesto pledge last year to raise aid spending to 0.7% of GNI, the rate it had been prior to 2020, “as soon as fiscal circumstances allow”.
FCDO has now confirmed that the government still plans to increase aid spending in future.
“We maintain our commitment to go back to 0.7% when we can,” an FCDO spokesperson told Civil Society.
“But as Baroness Chapman has set out, the days of viewing the UK government as a global charity are over.
“We know that partners across Africa, from Ethiopia to Zimbabwe, want to move on from receiving aid from the UK and our new approach will focus on the UK as an investor, not just a donor, partnering, not paternalism.”
Reaction to ‘charity’ comments
NGO umbrella body Bond criticised Chapman’s comments earlier this week.
Gideon Rabinowitz, Bond’s director of policy and advocacy, said: “UK aid isn’t about charity, it is about global solidarity and responsibility to our international commitments, and it’s an investment in a safer, healthier and more sustainable world that benefits us here in the UK.
“Whether it’s delivering vaccines to help prevent the spread of disease, educating girls so they are not forced into child marriage, or working with local communities on peacebuilding efforts to prevent conflict.”
Following Chapman’s appearance at an International Development Committee meeting this week, the committee’s chair Sarah Champion also raised concerns.
“Baroness Chapman admitted that the government’s change in direction was ‘a political choice’,” said the MP.
“But choices have consequences. It appears that education and women and girls are no longer priorities; this will have a serious impact, not least to our international standing.
“Ministers insist that the UK remains a key player on the world stage. But I remain deeply concerned that we are laying down tools just when we need to get to work.”
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