The UK’s aid cuts are a betrayal of Africa - and of its own values

Mohamed Adow is Director of Power Shift Africa.

The recent publication of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s annual report confirms what many of us in Africa feared: Britain’s deep cuts to its aid budget will have devastating consequences for our continent.

The Equality Impact Assessment released alongside the report lays bare the human cost – children pulled out of school, women denied access to reproductive health services, and lives lost to preventable diseases.

This is not just a budgetary adjustment. It is a moral failure.

Africa is on the frontlines of multiple crises – climate breakdown, conflict, food insecurity, and economic shocks. Yet, we are also a continent of promise, with the youngest population in the world and vast potential for clean energy-led development. Britain has long positioned itself as a partner in our progress. But these cuts send a clear message: when the going gets tough, Britain turns its back.

According to the FCDO’s own figures, bilateral aid to Africa will be slashed by £184 million in 2025-2026 – a 12% cut, double the overall reduction across the aid budget. This is not a strategic pivot. It is a retreat from responsibility.

Girls out of school, health under threat

Take education. The report shows that funding for girls’ education has been halved, with programmes in countries like Democratic Republic of Congo being shut down prematurely. In a region where 90% of 10-year-olds cannot read a simple sentence, this is catastrophic. Education is not a luxury, it is the foundation of resilience, dignity, and opportunity. Cutting it now undermines decades of progress and condemns millions of children to a cycle of poverty.

Health is no better. The UK-funded Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme, which has saved tens of thousands of lives across West and Central Africa, is now under threat. The FCDO’s own assessment warns of thousands of additional maternal deaths and millions of unintended pregnancies as a result of these cuts. This is not just tragic – it is avoidable.

And let us not forget climate. Britain has been vocal on the global stage about the need for climate action. Yet, these aid cuts undermine its credibility. Climate finance is not charity; it is compensation for damage caused. Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions yet suffers disproportionately. By slashing aid, Britain is not just failing to help - as a historic polluter it is failing to pay its fair share.

Global solidarity not a zero-sum game

The government claims it is “modernising” its approach, shifting from aid to partnerships. But partnerships require trust. And trust is built on consistency, not convenience. You cannot claim to be a reliable ally while gutting support for the most vulnerable.

Some will argue that Britain must prioritise domestic needs. But global solidarity is not a zero-sum game. Investing in Africa is not just the right thing to do – it is smart policy.

It builds stability, curbs forced migration and opens markets for trade and innovation. Britain’s own interests are best served by a thriving, resilient Africa.

Moreover, these cuts come at a time when Britain is increasing its defence spending. Let us be clear: security does not come from weapons alone. It comes from education, health, and climate resilience. Slashing aid to fund defence is a false economy.

Many of us in Africa have long called for a new relationship between Africa and the Global North, one based on justice, not charity. Briatin’s aid cuts are a step in the wrong direction. They reinforce old hierarchies and undermine the very values Britain claims to uphold.

But we will not be passive victims. Across Africa, communities are mobilising, governments are investing, and civil society is demanding accountability. We will continue to fight for climate justice, gender equality, and the right to development. And we will hold our partners to their promises.

To the British government, I say this: listen to your own evidence and reverse these cuts. Restore funding for education, health, and climate. Honour your commitments. And remember that leadership is not measured by GDP – it is measured by courage, compassion, and consistency.

Africa is watching. And history will judge.