Speaking after the Budget, Saira O’Mallie, UK Director (interim) at The ONE Campaign said:

“Given that the UK’s lifesaving aid budget will be less than forecast by 2020, it is even more vital that it is well targeted to have maximum impact in reducing poverty. The UK can achieve greater global stability, and reduce levels of extreme poverty even further, by investing aid where it is most needed – principally in the least developed countries.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

In his Budget, Chancellor George Osborne guaranteed to continue to invest 0.7% of GNI in UK aid. With a reduction in the UK’s economic growth forecast, this amount will be less than initially projected by 2020.

The ONE Campaign is calling on governments to invest at least 50% of aid to the 48 UN defined least developed countries. LDCs are the world’s most vulnerable countries and home to an increasing proportion of the world’s poorest people, and yet are being deprioritised. According to 2014 figures, the UK gives 38% of aid to LDCs. Please see ONE’s 2015 DATA Report for further information.

Please see here for ONE’s statement on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) figures for 2014 that indicate a declining trend of aid to LDCs.

Media contact:

Zainab Ali Khan – 07584 470 644 or 020 7434 7554 or email [email protected]

About ONE:

ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of over 7 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programmes. Read more at www.one.org.