United Kingdom spending on peace-building work in fragile states will be slashed by one-third, under plans seen by Devex, prompting criticism of a funding shift to hard security measures even as global conflicts escalate.
The new Integrated Security Fund is set to receive only £233 million ($287 million) of Official Development Assistance, or ODA, in the 2025-26 financial year starting in April — down from £350 million in 2024-25.
The cut is the best available guide to the level of conflict reduction spending because ISF’s other work — such as the cyberthreat and “maritime security, economic sanctions and emerging and disruptive technology such as AI and quantum computing” — cannot be funded from the aid budget.
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About the author
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.
