Devex: U.K. withheld information about aid program cuts from NGOs and contractors
“The U.K. government withheld information on development program cuts from NGOs and contractors despite promises to work ‘openly and pragmatically’ with suppliers during the pandemic, according to the public aid watchdog. Delays in deciding which development programs should be protected also ‘made the required cuts deeper and more abrupt,’ according to research by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact, a public body tasked with scrutinizing development policy. The findings have triggered fears in the development sector about how transparent the government will be as it proceeds with the next round of aid cuts…” (Worley, 12/4).

Devex: U.K. aid cuts will deny millions of water and vaccines, NGOs say
“Millions will lose out on access to education, clean water, and vaccines as a result of U.K. aid cuts, according to preliminary estimates by development advocates. Around 7.6 million women and girls per year will also be unable to access modern methods of family planning, the Campaign to Defend Aid and Development predicted. … A lack of information from FCDO about where the cuts will fall led campaigners to make the estimate based on a 30% cut across the board on the results of U.K. development spending in recent years. That is because the U.K. is expected to have 30% less to spend on aid next year compared with 2019…” (Worley, 12/3).

Devex Pro: U.K. aid cut has ‘profound implications’ for COP26, experts say
” ‘The success or failure of major summits is hugely determined by the political capital and moral credibility of the host,’ says Sarah Colenbrander, climate director at ODI…” (Worley, 12/3).