Britain’s foreign aid cut: who will feel the impact?
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation Britain has cut its commitment to foreign aid spending in 2021, pledging to spend 0.5 per cent of gross national income, instead of the promised 0.7 per cent. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in April outlined a breakdown of Britain’s development budget, with humanitarian aid mostly impacted. The temporary reduction in overseas aid could […]
Brazil seeks $US1 billion in foreign aid to curb Amazon deforestation by 30 to 40 per cent – environmental minister
Sao Paulo, BrazilReuters Brazil’s environment minister wants $US1 billion in foreign aid from countries including the United States to help reduce deforestation in the Amazon between 30 and 40 per cent, according to an interview published on Saturday in newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo. “The plan is $US1 billion over 12 months,” the minister, […]
UK climate leadership seen weakened by aid cut for world’s poor
Thomson Reuters Foundation Britain’s decision to cut its aid budget will likely dent its reputation on the global diplomatic stage and may weaken a push for other wealthy governments to find more funding to help poor nations tackle climate change, aid groups and thinktanks said. UK finance minister Rishi Sunak told parliament on Wednesday that […]
Explainer: Britain’s foreign aid cut: who will feel the impact?
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation Britain is set to suspend its target of spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on development aid in a spending review on Wednesday. A temporary reduction in the UK’S overseas aid budget to 0.5 per cent of GDP could save about £4 billion annually. Hundreds of charities have warned the cuts […]
Updated: Australian aid agencies welcome increased COVID-19 support for neighbours but urge increased long term giving
Updated: 5:30pm Australian aid agencies and anti-poverty advocates have welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to set aside one-off support of almost $A305 million for the COVID-19 response and recovery in Pacific nations and Timor Leste as part of its Federal Budget but say the amount given to aid foreign nations doesn’t go far enough. Tim […]
Essay: As hunger rises, Australia must step up COVID response in world’s hardest hit places
CARSTEN BOCKEMUEHL, senior policy adviser for children in conflict at World Vision Australia, says with the spectre of famine looming in some nations, it’s time for Australia to contribute its “fair share” to the UN’s COVID-19 response…
Australians urged to wear #EndCOVIDforall facemasks to encourage government to support neighbours during pandemic
Australians are being asked to wear a face mask emblazoned with the words “End COVID for all” on Wednesday, 19th August, in an act of solidarity with those nearby countries hardest-hit by the coronavirus. The initiative, part of the #EndCOVIDforall campaign is aimed at encouraging the Australian Government to continue to support neighbouring countries during […]
World’s poor “will pay price”, charities say as UK scraps aid department
London, UKThomson Reuters Foundation Charities and former British prime ministers condemned the government’s decision on Tuesday to merge its diplomatic and aid departments, warning it could not come at a worse time and that “the world’s poorest will pay the price”. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament the new joint ministry – the Foreign, Commonwealth […]
Australia to refocus international aid to health security on doorstep
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia will divert $A280 million in overseas aid this year to bolster the response of its closest neighbours to the coronavirus pandemic, with Canberra warning the stability of the Indo-Pacific region is at risk. The Pacific Islands, Timor-Leste and Indonesia will be the focus of the coronavirus aid strategy, said Australia’s Minister for […]
Britain £200 million in aid to tackle climate change
LondonThomson Reuters Foundation Britain pledged on Wednesday to spend £193 million on research and technology to help developing countries cope with climate change. From investing in electric motorbikes to improving weather warning systems or boosting clean energy, Britain’s foreign aid department said it would use the money to help those in Africa and Asia withstand […]