Bond statement in response to government’s commitment to spending 0.7% of national income on aid in spending round announcement

Claire Godfrey, Interim Director of Policy, Advocacy and Research at Bond, the UK network for NGOs said:

“We welcome the government’s commitment to the UK’s aid target and hope this translates into aid and development policies that help people hit hardest by poverty, conflict and climate change, keeping them at the heart of the UK’s international development agenda. UK aid has helped improve the lives of millions, enabling people living in some of the poorest parts of the world to live healthier, safer and more prosperous lives.

However, it’s how aid is spent that matters and we would call on the government to ensure that all development aid remains focused on its primary objective of helping the world’s poorest people. We would urge the government to increase DFID’s oversight of other department’s aid spending to protect the UK’s world-class reputation for ensuring that all aid contributes to poverty reduction, meets internationally agreed rules, and remains untied to our strategic and economic interests.”

ENDS

1. Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development, including Save the Children, Oxfam and Christian Aid. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
2. For further information or interviews please contact Maryam Mohsin on 07555 336029 or [email protected]