Ringfence UK aid spending, say faith organisations

24 Apr 2019 News

An aid convoy

A coalition of faith organisations have urged the government to maintain its current aid budget, ahead of the upcoming Spending Review. 

In an open letter to the prime minister, representatives from some 29 different faith groups including Wold Vision UK called on the government to continue to provide 0.7 per cent of gross national income in aid.

“We, representatives of different faith communities in the UK, have come together ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review to urge you to maintain the aid budget and protect the quality of UK aid,” they said.

It comes ahead of a Comprehensive Spending Review, in which the Treasury will review spending limits later this spring.

In the letter, the faith groups added that the government should ensure aid alleviates poverty in the least developed countries and that and it protects the proportion of UK aid “from further decline”.

They also said that the government should prioritise “health and education; promote gender equality, protect the environment and support local solutions to build local capacity and increase sustainability.

The government should also “strive to be fully transparent and accountable” in its aid spending, they said.

Later this year Civil Society Media will host a new event, Faith Charities Forum. Find out more and register your interest on the event page.

 

 

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