One year since UK aid cuts, 93 INGO leaders highlight devastating impact

One year on from the UK aid cuts, the UK INGO sector has issued a joint statement, reflecting on the devastating consequences of the cuts and calling on the UK government to recommit to an ambitious international development agenda.

On February 25^th 2025, Keir Starmer announced in Parliament his decision to break Labour’s manifesto pledge and cut the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 0.5% to 0.3% by 2027 – set to be the steepest reduction of any G7 country.

Today, one year on, leaders from 93 INGOs, including ActionAid UK, Oxfam GB, Mercy Corps Europe, War Child UK and WaterAid have issued an urgent joint call to the UK government to reverse the cuts and restore its commitment to international development.

The statement highlights that, “compounded with cuts by the US, France, Germany and others, these cuts mean fewer families in conflict zones able to access shelter, food and water, and fewer children able to go to school. The UK government’s own Equalities Impact Assessment of the 2025/26 cuts confirms that women and girls, people with disabilities, children and people affected by conflict, will be hardest hit.”

The 93 INGO leaders urgently call on the UK government to set out a plan to reverse these cuts, ensure poverty reduction is at the heart of its development agenda, and play its part in making the global system fair for all.

Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, the UK network for NGOs, said:

“One year on since devastating cuts to the UK aid budget were announced, the consequences for the world’s most marginalised communities have already been severe. Not only have these cuts, which are set to be the steepest across the G7, steeper even than the US cuts, left more people without essential access to water, sanitation and shelter – they have also left us all vulnerable to a world with more disease, conflict and climate disasters.

“With increasing global conflicts and inequality deepening around the world, the UK’s retreat from its international development agenda will reverse hard-won progress and weaken our credibility and influence on the global stage.

“We urge the UK government to reverse cuts to the UK aid budget, and restore the UK’s long-standing reputation as a country that steps up and does its fair share to tackle global challenges and build a safer, healthier and more prosperous world for us all.”

Adrian Lovett, UK Executive Director of The ONE Campaign, said:

“Exactly one year ago, Keir Starmer and a small group of advisers rushed through deep cuts to the UK’s international aid budget, just days before his first visit to the White House. Twelve months on, the damage is clear. Funding for vaccines, climate action and girls’ education has been slashed, putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk.

“The cuts have not repaired the defence budget, nor have they delivered any political dividend at home. They were short-sighted and self-defeating. The good news is the government can still change course, and it should.”

Rose Caldwell, CEO at Plan International UK said:

“The decision to cut UK aid a year ago was a devastating blow to children, who were already facing increased challenges from climate change and conflict, disrupting their childhoods and learning. We know both from experience and the government’s own assessment that when aid is cut, women and girls suffer the most. When support disappears, they are the first to lose access to healthcare, the first to be forced out of school, and the first to face higher risks of violence.

“Sadly, we are seeing that efforts to erode hard-won rights for children, and especially girls, are gaining ground. At this crucial time, the UK must stand up for the futures of women and girls around the world.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The joint statement, signed by 93 INGO leaders, is available to read here.
The UK government’s equality impact assessment of ODA programme allocations for 2025 to 2026 is available to view here. It confirmed that “spending is reduced in women’s health, health systems strengthening and health emergency response e.g. in DRC, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia. Spending on some programmes targeting women and children, WASH and nutrition have also been reduced.”
Research by the Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium finds that reductions of $290 million in global funding for severe acute malnutrition would lead to 369,000 extra child deaths a year that would otherwise have been prevented.
Analysis by The ONE Campaign highlights that capping the UK’s aid budget at 0.3% of GNI would put UK aid at its lowest level in over 25 years.
For more information on the impacts of the UK aid cuts, please see Bond’s briefing, ‘Cuts that cost lives’, here. We will be releasing a follow up briefing later this year.
The UK aid allocations for the next three years are due to be published imminently. Bond will be conducting analysis on the figures and will be sharing this analysis following the announcement.
Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 330 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
For further information or interviews, please get in touch with Emily Loynes at [email protected] or 07909947850