RECENTLY, the Prime Minister has announced that the UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be reduced from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027.

World Vision UK is shocked and concerned by this short-sighted move and urges the UK government to reverse this hugely disappointing decision immediately to stem the devastating effect it will have on children living in the world’s most difficult places.

Fola Komolafe MBE DL, CEO of World Vision UK, said:

“World Vision is one of the largest international children’s charities in the world – we are helping 1 in 4 of those being helped by humanitarian aid – so are well placed to know the devastation these cuts by the UK will cause for children and families living in some of the world’s toughest places battling with drought, floods, hunger, disease, malnutrition.

“This move completely undermines the UK Government’s recent commitment to international development (see King’s Speech 2024: Foreign affairs and international development) – which was something of which we should be proud – but just when a demonstration of global leadership is most needed this is a huge leap backwards.

“Difficult decisions on spending must be made but these should not be at the cost of children’s lives. It’s the most vulnerable, those living in areas that are fragile due to the effects of conflict or climate-change factors, that will bear the brunt of these decisions.

“We call for a review and reversal of this short-sighted decision-making and ask that the UK be a leader on these important global issues, and not to shy away.”