UK Foreign Aid Cuts to Hit Education and Women’s Health in Africa

UK Foreign Aid Cuts to Hit Education and Women’s Health in Africa
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The UK government has outlined plans to reduce foreign aid spending by 40%, shifting funds from development to defence following pressure to increase military expenditure to 2.5% of national income, the BBC reported. The cuts, revealed in a Foreign Office report, will significantly affect programmes in Africa, particularly those supporting children’s education, women’s health, and sanitation—raising concerns about heightened risks of disease and mortality.

While the government defended the decision as part of a strategic review aimed at maximising efficiency and maintaining humanitarian priorities, aid organisations expressed alarm. UNICEF, Bond, and Street Child warned that the most vulnerable—especially women and children in conflict-affected regions—will suffer most.

Bond criticised the government for deprioritising support in areas like South Sudan, Somalia, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, despite previous commitments. The government said funding for multilateral bodies such as the World Bank and Gavi would remain protected.

Critics, including MPs and development experts, described the cuts as short-sighted and harmful, warning that further reductions are expected next year. Organisations on the ground fear the impact will lead to school closures and rising poverty in already fragile communities. Aid leaders are urging the UK to adopt a child-focused strategy and protect vital services for the world’s poorest.