The United Kingdom has “no strategy” to deliver aid for children after years of “devastating” spending cuts even larger than those inflicted on other sectors, according to a damning new UNICEF UK study.
The analysis paints a bleak picture of a U.K. that has lost its once “leading role” in advancing children’s rights and well-being — a trend dating back almost a decade under Conservative governments, even before huge budget cuts that began in 2021.
The share of U.K. bilateral aid focused on children fell from 30% to 18% between 2016 and 2022, the report says, while the proportion spent on education over the same period plunged from 11% to 4% — “despite years of the government publicly championing girls’ education.”
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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.
