On 25 February the UK government announced a further cut to the overseas development aid budget, reducing it from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% by 2027. We believe this is short-sighted. People living in the most insecure and conflict-affected environments will suffer directly as a result.

Geo-political relations are changing and the UK faces new security threats, uncertainties and choices in its international relations. However, the choice of either international development aid or defence spending is wrong; both serve to enhance international stability and security.

The UK announcement comes on the back of the US suspension of almost all USAID spending, which accounts for over 40% of aid globally, and an announcement this month by the Dutch Government that it is reducing development aid by €2.4 billion from 2027. The UK Government’s decision is at odds with a manifesto pledge to return the aid budget to 0.7% and calls into question the future of overseas development aid. 

Peacebuilding at risk

A reduction in the aid budget will put the contribution of peacebuilding and mediation to international security at risk. And it will fail to reassure the public about the UK’s security. In a report by the now Special Adviser to the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, 44% of people surveyed in the UK cited global conflict as a leading cause of their sense of insecurity. In the same survey, 33% cited climate change, and 25% cited rising numbers of migrants as the main causes of this insecurity.

By undercutting global efforts to stem violent conflict, the UK will deprive communities of the means to mitigate and manage the effects of climate change and reduce people's ability to remain in their homes and communities, free from the fear of conflict. 

The UK can prevent and reduce conflict

The UK has played a key role in some of the most significant peace processes of the last decades – for example, by supporting international, national and local initiatives that led to peace agreements in Colombia and the Philippines after years of conflict and negotiations.

“The aid budget supports a network of organisations in the UK, Europe and in conflict affected contexts to build bridges, reduce tensions and establish the basis for stable societies able to manage conflict through peaceful and political means. In so doing, the UK helps societies to mitigate and manage climate change and helps people to remain in their homes and communities, free from the fear of conflict.” 

- Jonathan Cohen, Executive Director, Conciliation Resources

Community peacebuilding work, often led by women and young people, makes decisive contributions to security. It can help counter recruitment into armed groups, avert violence through mediation in response to early warning information, support victims and survivors of violence, and strengthen women's role in society, politics and peace processes. 

Moreover, by supporting countries to address inequality and insecurity and to develop economically, the aid budget helps prevent instability and conflict, develops alliances and future partners for the UK.

Peacebuilding is cost effective 

The UK aid budget has funded effective conflict prevention and resolution efforts around the world for many years, with relatively little funding – peacebuilding now makes up only 2% of the overall ODA envelope. Conciliation Resources’ support to negotiations in the Somali Region of Ethiopia over six years – which in 2018 brought to an end the 25 year civil war – cost half the amount of one Challenger tank. 

A little investment in peacebuilding goes a long way – but it could go further. The Institute for Economics and Peace estimates that for every dollar invested in peacebuilding now, the cost of conflict and its consequences – humanitarian aid, reconstruction, military spending – would reduce by 16 dollars over the long run, and the total peace dividend for the international community would be $2.94 trillion. 

The Foreign Secretary has rightly signalled continued support to the desperate situations in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. However, it is vital that conflict prevention and peace efforts in less high-profile contexts continue to receive UK support. This is in the interest of international security, as well as that of the UK. 

For further information, please contact communications@c-r.org