Fears are growing among development experts about looming cuts to key U.K. aid programs amid reports that the climate change, conflict prevention, and global health budgets are all facing the knife.
On Wednesday, sources at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told The Telegraph that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is planning “radical” changes to the long-awaited international development strategy that could deprioritize these areas — in which the United Kingdom has long been considered a leader — in favor of projects focused on women and girls, a key area of interest for her. Others in the sector believe the crisis in Ukraine will be cited to justify a shake-up.
Asked by Devex, an FCDO spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the reports but said simply that the forthcoming development strategy “will set out how we deliver our climate change and health commitments, as well as restoring funding for women and girls and humanitarian work this year.”