Halima Begum’s excellent article on the opportunities now facing our new prime minister (Andy Burnham could easily ignore the UK’s falling aid commitment. He would be wise not to, 23 July) sheds a harsh light on the UK’s recent performance in international development.
Labour’s amplification of earlier Tory cuts to the development budget is shortsighted, self-defeating and immoral, with even military leaders not supportive of it. It highlights the weakening of Britain’s soft power as well as resulting in a more unstable world.
As well as reinstating the aid budget, a fundamental rethink is needed, as currently much “aid” money comes back to the global north, benefiting wealthy countries, NGOs and institutions, but failing to build national or regional capacity and autonomy for reducing poverty, protecting the environment or improving health and education. The focus on short-term, UK-attributable “results” that accompanied the earlier 0.7% aid commitment often does little to avert ongoing aid dependency.
The abolition of the Department for International Development, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office encouraging the departure of those with expertise and integrity, have further resulted in the FCDO being unfit for development purposes.
A radical new mandate and structure is needed to genuinely assist southern governments and institutions to deliver their plans for improved human and environmental outcomes long term. That, and a recommitment to taking our international obligations seriously, is still what I hope for with the reset promised by Burnham and his team.
Desmond Whyms
Former senior health adviser, Department for International Development
