Statement by UNICEF UK on bilateral aid being cut from £3bn to £1.79bn by the UK Government
LONDON, 16 July 2026 – “Today’s aid allocations confirm what we feared. The choice to cut the UK’s aid budget means children are once again paying the highest price for crises they did not create.
“More than half of current funding to African countries will be gone by 2028-29 despite these being the countries facing the highest burden of child mortality. Countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, already battling an Ebola outbreak, face significant cuts to the health systems that prevent and respond to exactly this kind of threat. Humanitarian funding has fallen by 20% at a time when more children are affected by conflict than ever before.
“Investing in childhood supports children to survive and thrive, and it builds stronger, more resilient communities. Cutting aid does the opposite and risks reversing decades of hard-won progress on child immunisation, health, nutrition and education.
“The UK Government is making choices that leave children behind. We urge them to keep children at the centre of spending decisions and commit at least 25% of UK Official Development Assistance to child-focused programmes.”
Notes for editors
For more information, please contact UNICEF UK Media team at [email protected] or 0208 375 6030.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.
United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).
For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.