London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Urgent action needed on crucial development targets, next PM warned

Urgent action needed on crucial development targets, next PM warned

UK at risk of breaking global commitment to help deliver UN sustainable development goals on poverty, environment and inequalities, say NGOs
The next British prime minister must halt the government’s “back-sliding” in its support for crucial global development targets, NGOs have warned.

A report published by Bond, the network for British development charities, said that without urgent action the UK will break its global commitments to help deliver the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The goals, agreed by 193 countries in 2015, provide a blueprint to end poverty, protect the planet and address inequalities.

“In 2019, the UK government promised to leave no one behind in its international development work,” said the report, published on Tuesday. “But, so far, its commitment to this transformative principle of the 2030 agenda has not translated into all of its policies, programmes and ODA [aid] spending.”

It said there was a “lack of consistency” across the UK government’s international work and evidence that recent decisions made by ministers had “caused significant harm” to the poorest.

The report said the UK’s decisions to cut aid during the Covid-19 pandemic and merge the “highly specialised and well-regarded” Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office “have undermined the UK’s position as a thought leader in international development and its power to convene countries to push for positive social change”.

In 2020, Britain announced it would cut its aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income, which translates to billions of funding being slashed. In March, the National Audit Office said the cuts were rushed through with little time to plan the impact.

Bond said the cuts had “a huge impact” on programmes seeking to address gender equality. Bilateral aid programmes to address violence against women and girls were cut by 75% and there was a 70% cut for sexual and reproductive heath and rights programmes.

Stephanie Draper, Bond’s chief executive, said: “The next prime minister should make the SDGs a central framework for the government so that the UK can achieve these targets by 2030.

“The food and fuel insecurity caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Covid-19 pandemic showed us how connected we all are, but they have also set back development gains. The SDGs are more needed than ever.”

Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive at Oxfam GB, which contributed to the report, said the UK played an important role in shaping the SDGs, but “it has spent recent years back-sliding on its commitments to help the poorest”.

He said the government’s new aid strategy, published in May, seemed more focused “on promoting its short-term interests rather than tackling long-term global challenges”.

“With climate change, conflict and Covid ravaging regions like east Africa – where someone is estimated to be dying of hunger every 48 seconds – we need a renewed focus on the most marginalised communities if we are to have any chance of achieving the goals.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×