Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026

Correspondence from the Minister for International Development and Africa relating to Commitments to ODA spending, 1 June 2026

From: International Development Committee

Summary

Baroness Chapman writes to the International Development Committee chair in response to questions about UK ODA spending commitments. She defends the Government's decision to reduce ODA from 0.7% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027 to fund defence spending, while confirming commitment to return to 0.7% when fiscal circumstances allow. She highlights the Global Partnerships Conference outcomes and the FCDO's reprioritised development approach.

Key findings

Government reduced ODA budget to 0.3% of GNI by 2027 to fund defence spending, a decision endorsed by the Prime Minister to Parliament on 20 May 2026
Government committed to returning to 0.7% ODA spending 'when fiscal circumstances allow'
Global Partnerships Conference (co-hosted with South Africa, British Investment International, Children's Investment Fund Foundation) secured £1 billion in climate investments expected to leverage £3.5 billion in private capital over 5 years
FCDO has set three-year ODA programme allocations aligned with new 'partnership and locally-led approaches' strategy, providing predictability during transition to 0.3% threshold
All programme allocations remain subject to revision to respond to changing global needs and humanitarian crises

Tone

Supportive

Topics

oda-spendinginternational-developmentdefence-spendingclimate-financepublic-finance

Key actors

Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Sarah Champion MP, Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister, Government of South Africa, British Investment International, Children's Investment Fund Foundation

Notable line

“The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA when the fiscal circumstances allow.”

Key Quotes

“… our commitment to international development is as important as ever. It reflects our values and supports those in extreme poverty”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · defending the importance of development work despite spending reductions

“… to fund a necessary increase in defence spending, the Government took the decision to reduce the UK ODA budget to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI by”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · explaining the rationale for ODA reduction

“The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA when the fiscal circumstances allow.”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · restating commitment to previous ODA target

“£1 billion worth of investments in a new climate initiative over the next 5 years, expecting to raise an additional £3.5 billion in private capital”
— Baroness Chapman of Darlington · highlighting Global Partnerships Conference outcomes

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗