The United Kingdom’s independent aid watchdog has sharply criticized the country’s aid strategy for its focus on “short-term U.K. interests” rather than on the intended goal of tackling poverty — and warned the problem has grown since Brexit.
Its strategy is given an “amber-red” rating by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, or ICAI — meaning “unsatisfactory achievement in most areas, with some positive elements.” The report urged British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government to draw up fresh “guiding principles” for its “aid for trade” programs, and return to cooperating with rules-based international institutions instead of “working alone.”
The ICAI review notes there was “a shift towards using aid in the UK national interest” from 2015 – when the Conservative party began governing alone – alongside “promoting economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.”