The United Kingdom’s aid watchdog has warned that Britain’s development program is in danger of “strategic drift” away from its core mission of poverty reduction, as members of Parliament questioned its independence and the government’s management of a shrinking aid budget.
At a hearing of the International Development Committee Tuesday, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, or ICAI, faced detailed questioning about its capacity to hold ministers to account, its future mandate, and whether U.K. aid is still reaching “the world’s poorest.”
ICAI Chief Commissioner Jillian Potkins told members of Parliament that successive budget cuts and policy shifts since 2019 have left the nation’s development strategy increasingly fragmented.
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About the author
Susannah Birkwood
Susannah Birkwood is a Devex contributing reporter focusing on U.K. aid policy and international development. She has reported on foreign aid budgets, peacebuilding, and the politics of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, drawing on more than 16 years of experience across newsrooms and NGO press offices. She has overseen major media campaigns for international NGOs, including WWF, ActionAid, and Plan International, and has advised a wide range of charities and INGOs on media strategy and press outreach.
