Minister Andrew Mitchell’s speech on the UK’s international development future – Bond reaction
In his first major speech at Chatham House on the morning of Thursday 27 April, International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell set out a new vision for UK development to improve global prosperity and reduce poverty through building partnerships with other countries.
In response to the speech and the new UK International Development brand, Stephanie Draper, Chief Executive at Bond, the UK network for NGOs, said:
“It is welcome that Andrew Mitchell is keen to return to focusing UK aid on reducing poverty and tackling climate change. For too long, UK aid has been driven by UK political priorities rather than addressing the needs of people facing poverty, climate change and conflict.
Refugees and asylum-seekers urgently need sufficient support, but we urge the Minister to address the underlying reasons for why people need to flee in the first place and stop diverting the UK aid budget to reimburse other departments for refugee support costs.
To truly reclaim its reputation as a global partner, the UK must work in partnership with local communities and organisations and return to spending 0.7% of GNI on UK aid.”
ENDS.
Notes for editors
- Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
- The speech will be at Chatham House from 9am on Thursday 27th April and can be viewed here: Can rhetoric match reality? Britain’s international development future (chathamhouse.org)
- For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter, Media Advisor at Bond: [email protected] or 07493200979.
