The UK Government has significantly reduced overseas aid allocated to Commonwealth countries, a move that stands in sharp contrast to the supportive rhetoric expressed by King Charles and Prime Minister Andy Burnham during this week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Antigua. An analysis of recent and projected aid figures obtained by The Guardian indicates that while the UK's overall aid budget faces severe cuts, Commonwealth nations are being disproportionately affected.
Funding for Commonwealth countries with existing bilateral aid programs is scheduled to fall from £546 million in 2024-25 to just £131 million by 2028-29. Within this reduced total, Nigeria will receive the largest share at £68 million, leaving only £63 million for all other nations combined. While the government has cited the rapid development of middle-income nations like India and Antigua as a reason for reducing support, the cuts extend far beyond these economies to include some of the world's poorest countries and those burdened by heavy debt.
Specific reductions are severe across several key regions. Aid to Sierra Leone, one of the least developed nations globally, is set to plummet from nearly £30 million in 2024-25 to £5 million in 2028-29. This cut occurs even as the UK and Sierra Leone prepare to co-convene talks on climate adaptation at the upcoming Cop31 summit in Turkey. Similarly, funding for Rwanda is dropping from nearly £30 million to £5 million over the same period, while aid to Tanzania will be slashed from £60 million in 2025-26 to £5 million by 2028-29. The Caribbean Development Team faces a reduction from over £98 million in 2025-26 to £45 million in 2026-27.
Experts warn that funding for nature conservation has been particularly hard hit. At least 26 Commonwealth countries have been barred from accessing the Darwin Initiative, a longstanding fund worth approximately £40 million annually dedicated to nature protection. Adrian Gahan of the Campaign for Nature charity highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that while King Charles attended the launch of a new Commonwealth nature initiative this week, the UK government failed to provide any financial contribution to support it.
Jean McLean, chief influencing officer at Oxfam GB, criticized the timing of these cuts, stating they occur as global needs driven by conflict, hunger, and climate breakdown reach record levels. She emphasized that the impact will be felt not in Westminster, but by families facing starvation and communities struggling to survive climate disasters. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been approached for comment as the Chogm meeting is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.
Sources: The Guardian World.