UK makes huge aid cuts to Commonwealth nations despite warm words at Chogm summit

The UK is expected to reduce aid to Commonwealth countries with previous bilateral programmes from £546m in 2024–25 to £131m in 2028–29. This means £415m less funding over the period. The scale matters because many affected countries remain poor or face heavy debt burdens.

The projected total includes £68m for Nigeria. That leaves only £63m for all the other countries covered by these programmes. The figures come as the UK reduces its overall aid budget and changes which countries qualify for support.

The cuts will affect countries beyond middle-income states such as India and Antigua. Sierra Leone and Rwanda are each due to receive about £5m in 2028–29, while Tanzania is also scheduled for £5m. The reductions could weaken support for health, education, climate resilience and nature protection.

Bilateral aid is official assistance provided directly by one country’s government to another country or to organisations working there. The donor can agree specific priorities with the recipient, such as healthcare, education, climate adaptation or debt support. The article refers to Commonwealth countries that previously had bilateral aid programmes.

Funding through international organisations takes a different route. A government contributes money to a body such as a United Nations agency, development bank or global fund. That organisation then combines contributions, sets programmes and distributes support across countries or crises according to its rules.

Bilateral aid can be more directly linked to a donor’s foreign-policy priorities. Multilateral funding can pool expertise and spread risk across many contributors. The article focuses on direct UK programmes, while also noting a separate nature-funding restriction affecting at least 26 Commonwealth countries.

The sharpest cuts highlighted are in Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Tanzania. Sierra Leone and Rwanda are each due to see aid fall from nearly £30m to £5m. Tanzania’s funding is scheduled to drop from £60m in 2025–26 to £5m in 2028–29. These reductions affect countries with significant development and debt pressures.

Nigeria remains one of the largest Commonwealth aid destinations. However, its funding is planned to fall from £137m this year to £68m in 2028–29. The Caribbean Development Team is also facing a major reduction, from more than £98m in 2025–26 to £45m in 2026–27.

The figures show that the cuts are not limited to rapidly developing middle-income countries. Sierra Leone is described as one of the world’s least developed countries, while Rwanda and Tanzania also face much lower projected support.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent countries that cooperate through shared institutions and regular meetings. Many member states have historical links with Britain, although the group includes countries from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific. Its members discuss common challenges and seek practical cooperation.

Chogm means Commonwealth heads of government meeting. It brings national leaders together to set priorities, exchange views and agree areas for joint action. In the article, the meeting is taking place in Antigua, with King Charles attending and the government discussing issues including slavery, reparations and nature.

The meeting highlights a tension between public commitments and financial decisions. The king acknowledged the suffering and injustices of slavery, while the government opposed putting reparations on the agenda. At the same time, UK aid to many Commonwealth countries is being sharply reduced.

Aid cuts can reduce the money available for clinics, schools, food assistance and emergency response. Jean McLean warned that families could face starvation, while children may be denied healthcare and education. These effects are especially serious where poverty, conflict or debt already limit governments’ ability to provide services.

Climate adaptation also depends on external support in vulnerable countries. Sierra Leone and the UK are due to co-convene talks on adapting to climate impacts at Cop31. Yet Sierra Leone’s projected aid falls from nearly £30m to £5m. Nature protection faces another setback because many countries have lost access to Darwin Initiative funding.

At least 26 Commonwealth countries are prevented from receiving money through that funding stream, worth about £40m annually. Campaign for Nature said biodiversity-rich countries are facing severe reductions. The article also notes that the UK made no financial contribution to a new Commonwealth nature initiative.

In general, the UK government decides the overall aid budget through its spending and foreign-policy priorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, or FCDO, is the department responsible for much of the UK’s overseas development and diplomatic work. The article identifies the FCDO as the department approached for comment on the cuts.

The FCDO helps turn the government’s budget into country programmes, grants and other forms of assistance. Decisions can reflect income levels, humanitarian needs, strategic relationships and available resources. The article says support is being reduced for some middle-income countries, but also for poorer states such as Sierra Leone.

The Darwin Initiative is a longstanding funding stream focused on nature protection. Experts told the Guardian that at least 26 Commonwealth countries have been prevented from receiving its funds, worth about £40m a year. The government also failed to contribute to a new Commonwealth nature initiative.

Overseas aid supports countries facing poverty, conflict, hunger, disease and environmental threats. Governments may provide it for humanitarian reasons, development goals or international cooperation. In the article, aid is discussed alongside record global need caused by conflict, humanitarian crises, hunger and climate breakdown.

Aid can finance healthcare, education, food support and programmes that help communities adapt to climate impacts. It can also support countries whose debt burdens restrict public spending. Sierra Leone, for example, is described as one of the world’s least developed countries and is due to co-convene talks on climate adaptation with the UK.

Reduced aid can make these challenges harder to manage. Oxfam warned that families could face starvation, while children could lose access to healthcare and education. Nature funding is also important because biodiversity-rich countries may lack the resources to protect ecosystems without outside support.