Rob Merrick Authors

Rob Merrick

Rob Merrick is the U.K. Correspondent for Devex, covering FCDO and British aid. He reported on all the key events in British politics of the past 25 years from Westminster, including the financial crash, the Brexit fallout, the "Partygate" scandal, and the departures of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Rob has worked for The Independent and the Press Association and is a regular commentator on TV and radio. He can be reached at rob.merrick@devex.com.

Latest Articles

UK Aid
UK Aid
UK will slash billions in aid spending to fund larger military
25 Feb 2025
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stuns Labour MPs by shifting billions of pounds from development to pay for a bigger military — despite a manifesto promise to increase aid spending to 0.7% of GNI.
Devex Pro Live
Devex Pro Live
‘We're not going to bend our knee’: How aid leaders reacted to VP at MSC
21 Feb 2025
A Devex Pro event hears of the stunned — and defiant — behind-the-scenes response in Munich to the U.S. vice president calling time on Washington's development leadership.
Devex Newswire
Devex Newswire
Special edition: The development undertones at the Munich Security Conference
17 Feb 2025
U.S. Vice President JD Vance got the headlines, but the USAID funding freeze underpinned many issues at the conference.
The Trump effect
The Trump effect
Ghana on US aid cuts: ‘As bridges are burning, new bridges are formed’
14 Feb 2025
Forced into $156 million of spending cuts, the country’s president told the Munich Security Conference that “in adversity there is opportunity” — and warned the U.S. it will also lose out.
UK aid
UK aid
Brits say UK ‘dramatically diminished’ actor on global crises
13 Feb 2025
The anniversary of the 2005 Make Poverty History Campaign — and Nelson Mandela's call to arms — prompts call for the country to again be "a true ally" of poorer nations.
UK Aid
UK Aid
UK bilateral aid rises sharply after predicted cuts averted
7 Feb 2025
Funding for regional programs doubles year-on-year — but development minister hints the U.K. will fail to pledge at crucial nutrition and vaccine summits next month.
The Trump effect
The Trump effect
6 lessons for the US from the UK's aid department's traumatic demise
6 Feb 2025
Five years after the Department for International Department was axed, the fallout still reverberates — and may hold clues for the impact of USAID's disappearance.
Development Finance
Development Finance
New UK debt distress plan will not solve crisis, campaigners warn
5 Feb 2025
The U.K. is encouraging private creditors to respond to the debt crisis facing lower-income countries — but campaigners say the initiative is like fighting a forest fire with a water pistol, with legislation needed for real change.
Finance
Finance
Debanking has spurred armed groups to storm charities, says new report
3 Feb 2025
A study finds 42% of Muslim-led charities have been hit by “a complete withdrawal of banking services" — sometimes resulting in violent threats “when project staff salaries are delayed.”
Devex Pro Live
Devex Pro Live
UK aid: Labour warned its plans 'won't work’ without more money
31 Jan 2025
Devex Pro event hears Labour's first six months in power have brought fine words but little decisive action — and ponders how the U.K. should respond to U.S. President Donald Trump.
See all articles by Rob Merrick