‘Sweat the asset’: new development minister plots path to make UK aid count
Summary
The UK’s new development minister, Kirsty McNeill, supports increasing aid spending back to the goal of 0.7% of the country's national income, a target set before recent cuts. She plans to focus aid on important areas like health, climate, food, security, and will provide up to £15 million to help countries at risk from the El Niño climate event.Key Facts
- Kirsty McNeill is the UK’s minister of state for international development.
- Labour’s manifesto pledge is to return aid spending to 0.7% of the UK’s national income.
- The UK cut aid spending to 0.3% due to economic pressures during the Covid pandemic.
- McNeill supports “agile partnerships” to address global development challenges.
- Up to £15 million will be made available to help countries prepare for El Niño’s effects.
- El Niño is expected to cause serious climate problems like wildfires and flooding.
- Aid will focus on “five securities”: health, climate, food, human, and economic security.
- McNeill emphasized making aid money work effectively, ensuring good results with limited funds.
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