Archive for category: Foreign Aid

Foreign aid coverage and information.

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International Development Projects in Québec

International Development Projects in QuébecQuébec is a French-speaking province of Canada with strong ties to the international Francophone community. In light of heavy budget cuts to international aid at the Canadian federal level, Québec has demonstrated the impact of subnational action and independently financed projects in international development.

Overseas Aid Budget Cuts

In late 2025, the Canadian federal government announced its annual budget. Over four financial years, the government pledged to reduce the international aid budget by $2.7 billion.

This cut followed a climate set by other G7 members, several of whom had already begun reducing overseas aid provisions. Before Canadian cuts had been announced, the gross G7 Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget was already projected to decrease by 28% on 2024 levels by 2026.

Canada had already fallen short of United Nations international aid budget targets, with ODA accounting for just 0.32% of Gross National Income (GNI). The U.N. had set the target at 0.7% of GNI.

The Québec Approach to International Assistance

While the ODA budget is overseen by the Canadian federal government, Québec has taken its own route when it comes to civil society action and international partnerships.

The international solidarity principle is a cornerstone of Québec’s ideological approach to development and represents Québécois singularity with respect to the overarching Canadian aid policy. Given its position in the global Francophony, a unique characteristic within Canada, Québec prioritizes its partnership with Francophone Africa. The province also highlights the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as central to its mission.

The growth of civil society movements aimed at providing international assistance led to the formation of a bloc organization, the Québec Association of International Cooperation Organizations (AQOCI). The association comprises more than 70 organizations located all over Québec and acts as a network to enable strategic cooperation and increase the combined influence of the member organizations.

Below are four examples of organizations and projects for international development spearheaded by Québec.

Québec Sans Frontières

Québec Sans Frontières (QSF), founded in 1995, is an organization that aims to mobilize the international solidarity concept by enabling young volunteers to support local initiatives in target areas, notably Francophone Africa, Latin America and the West Indies. As well as providing support to disadvantaged communities, QSF supervises internships for volunteers, allowing them to gain experience in the humanitarian sector.

Volunteers help underprivileged local communities to strengthen their existing capacities to respond to issues that may arise. The organization prioritizes environmental preservation and women’s rights.

Ingénieurs Sans Frontières Québec

Ingénieurs Sans Frontières Québec (ISFQ) is a Québec-based nonprofit organization whose aim is to harness Québécois expertise and innovation to deliver sustainably engineered infrastructure in underdeveloped communities.

The organization has delivered more than 55 infrastructure projects, including the construction of classrooms in Senegal and a college in Togo.

It is also upheld by the international solidarity principle and aims to amplify mutual learning between the engineers and the communities they serve.

Oxfam-Québec

Founded in 1973, Oxfam-Québec is the Québec branch of the international nonprofit Oxfam, working against the inequality it identifies as the root of poverty and discrimination.

Oxfam-Québec has directed several campaigns upholding women’s rights in nine countries across the world, supporting more than 450,000 women.

It has also supported a further 30,000 women in Bolivia in its campaign against gender-based violence.

International Climate Cooperation Program

Aside from local initiatives and international nonprofits, the Québécois government has also pioneered work in international development at the provincial level. The program, launched in 2016, is unique in that it is one of the first climate ventures taken at the subnational level.

The program has a budget of $34.5 million and supports projects in Francophone Africa and the West Indies aimed at reducing the effects of climate change.

The mission is underpinned by the recognition that climate change compounds poverty and reduces basic security, and draws upon the logic of a new kind of international climate diplomacy that Québec says requires subnational cooperation.

Looking Ahead

Despite a trend toward the reduction of overseas aid budgets in Canada and the wider G7, Québec has demonstrated the role of subnational leadership and the importance of an internationally minded civil society. Indeed, the province offers a model for non-state communities pursuing independent courses of action in international development.

– Phoebe Lang-Clapp

Phoebe is based in Montréal, Québec, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How UK Aid Continues to Support Development in the DRC

Development in the DRCFollowing her most recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Jenny Chapman, Minister for Africa and International Development, reaffirmed the U.K.’s commitment to supporting development in the DRC. The goal is to achieve “sustainable growth and stability.” She announced that the U.K. would provide more than £7 million in additional humanitarian aid to help mitigate the impacts of ongoing conflicts on people in the area. This money is to provide clean water, hygiene and protection services to those fleeing conflict, and to provide funding for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP). A hospital and center in Beni that helps those who have survived sexual violence is also set to see a funding increase, as the U.K. announced an extra £6 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

UNFPA

The UNFPA helps to provide displaced women and girls with essential medical services in the form of medicine, midwives and mobile units. The organization ensures that these people can access maternal health services, including emergency obstetric and newborn care. It also provides safe spaces for them, as well as offering medical, psychosocial and legal support via hotlines. In the DRC, “conflict has disrupted health care for millions,” and the UNFPA helps to mitigate the impacts. Mobile ultrasounds have allowed it to help pregnant women who have been displaced, not just by detecting pregnancy complications but also by providing these women with a sense of reassurance amid conflict. The UNFPA has helped to provide more than 20,000 women with prenatal care in the DRC.

This year, the DRC is expected to take up the chairmanship of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, which shines a light on issues with “upholding international humanitarian law, humanitarian access and accountability for abuses.” Even before the conflict escalation, an estimated three women per hour died in the country due to pregnancy and birth-related issues, so the DRC’s new status as chairman should help to draw attention to the country’s challenges and support more funding and resources to address them.

Humanitarian Aid From the ICRC

The ICRC has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for almost 50 years. It works to ensure that victims of armed violence are respected and have their basic needs met. It also reunites separated families and visits detention centers to ensure people held within them, whether arrested or just detained, are being treated appropriately. From January to June of 2025, the impact of the organization within the DRC was extensive. Almost 40,000 were provided with health care, more than half a million people were helped with accessing clean water and around 215,000 people received food, financial assistance, vouchers, household items or support for agricultural production.

Addressing Food Insecurity

More than 25 million people in the DRC face food insecurity. For development in the DRC to be sustainable, it is important to lower this number, as it is causing around 3 million people to be stunted due to consistent malnutrition. This negatively affects people’s quality of life as well as their ability to provide for themselves and their families, and adds more strain to a health care system already struggling to meet demand. The WFP helps to tackle malnutrition and hunger. In 2024, it helped “5.3 million people with food, cash, malnutrition support and resilience interventions.” The WFP is assessing how to meet increasing demand caused by renewed conflict.

Banking and Financial Inclusion

The U.K. will provide a British International Investment loan of £18.7 million to Rawbank. The bank operates in the DRC and has received awards for being the best in the country since 2008. It has provided more modern banking systems to people in the DRC, allowing them to access mobile banking and increasing financial freedom. It also helps to fund education for young people by granting scholarships, providing mentoring, masterclasses, workshops and training courses, and providing financial support to those wishing to be entrepreneurs. This is part of the We Act Program that the bank runs. The program also helps to support young people who may be interested in arts and culture, sport, corporate social responsibility and digital sectors.

Providing financial freedom and education will help development in the DRC by offering people the opportunity to get involved in and improve the businesses within the country, as well as drawing new companies in with increasing education levels.

Expanding Energy Access

The U.K. is also “supporting capital investment in the Sustainable Energy for Africa Fund, in partnership with the African Development Bank, to support Moyi Power.” Moyi Power aims to improve electrical access in the DRC. The starting goal of the organization is to provide electricity to three isolated cities in the country: Gemena, Bumba and Isiro. The three have a combined population of 700,000 people, but there is no reliable grid access, so sourcing power is difficult. After five years, Moyi expects that it will have provided 37,000 households and customers with connectivity, and the aim is to double its operations every five years. Increasing electrical access will increase development in the DRC, as it will be a draw for businesses to set up headquarters there. In turn, this would increase employment opportunities and start a positive multiplier effect within the country.

Looking Ahead

U.K. aid is supporting development in the DRC in two major ways: it is helping to improve access to necessities provided by the ICRC, WFP and UNFPA, while also investing in organizations such as Rawbank and Moyi Power that aim to increase education and employment opportunities. These work in tandem to ensure that the country is supported in the short term while people are facing hardships due to conflict, but set it up to be able to support itself in the long term.

– Ryan Cowen

Ryan is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Facts About Statistics Regarding Foreign Aid to Tuvalu

Foreign Aid to TuvaluTuvalu, the low-lying atoll nation in the Pacific, is the most aid-dependent country in the world. Foreign aid to Tuvalu makes up 146% of its GDP, the highest ratio among the 125 developing countries. Since 2010, its Official Development Assistance (ODA) has consistently increased (on average) annually, and in 2024, it received a record amount of aid – almost $100 million – with Australia acting as the key donor.

Taken at face value, the level of foreign aid to Tuvalu appears encouraging, certainly at a time where humanitarian aid efforts are drastically reducing across the globe. Increasing aid amounts can indicate the existence of significant global commitment. However, Tuvalu’s foreign aid statistics tell several painful stories.

The Sobering Reality

Aid is rising – not due to global commitment – but rather on account of the fact that Tuvalu faces a genuine existential risk. With an average elevation of less than 2 meters above sea level, Tuvalu is one of the most climate vulnerable nations in the world and faces the very real possibility of complete land submergence due to rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion.

Pacific island nations like Tuvalu, Palau and the Marshall Islands bear a negligible responsibility for the consequences of changing weather patterns yet face enormous costs. As of 2024, Tuvalu contributes 0.00003% of global CO2 emissions, but is becoming increasingly uninhabitable due to the consequences of changing weather that it did not create.

As the nation lacks the economic ability to combat rising tides, their unusual dependence on foreign aid and external grants as sources of income demonstrates a growing vulnerability, not global commitment. Climate hazard assessments for 2025 identified more intense cyclones and storm systems that extensively damaged infrastructure and essential services across sectors such as water, health and coastal development. Freshwater availability, agriculture and public health are areas that have all suffered, despite rising amounts of aid. This puts a direct stress on people’s livelihoods, income and wellbeing.

What This Means in the Context of Global Poverty

Due to the nation’s climate vulnerability, a large share of foreign aid to Tuvalu has to be tied to specific climate and infrastructure projects. Tuvalu cannot spend it on health systems, education or long-term economic diversification, due to the extent of climate risk the nation faces. The state has little discretionary fiscal space, even though the headline figures may look large. In a country that already has 26% of its population living below the poverty line, the inability to use foreign aid to help families going through hardship contributes directly to increasing poverty statistics. 

As the main focus of foreign aid to Tuvalu is therefore focused on combatting climate risk first, funds that would be used to improve the economic and social wellbeing of Tuvalu’s population are stretched thin. The country’s economy depends heavily on natural resources such as fisheries, small-scale agriculture and coastal land, meaning that environmental changes can quickly translate into economic hardship.

Many homes and community buildings are located near the shoreline because the islands are extremely narrow. As the ocean encroaches inland, families lose land used for housing and farming. As Tuvalu relies largely on subsistence agriculture, where families grow crops such as pulaka (a traditional swamp taro) for their own consumption, land loss directly damages food and economic security. 

Changing weather has also increased the salinity of soils and groundwater, as saltwater infiltrates farmland, damaging crops and reducing harvests. As a result, many households must rely more on imported foods, which are expensive due to transport costs. This creates additional financial pressure for families and is increasing food insecurity.

Solutions

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the small island nation. The Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP) is perhaps one of Tuvalu’s most notable responses to the issues it is facing. Funded by the Green Climate Fund, the United Nations Development Program and the governments of Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. (~$36 million), the project aimed at helping the most vulnerable communities experiencing climate risk. The TCAP successfully reclaimed 8 hectares of land, and is estimated to have helped 60% of Tuvalu’s population suffering further climate driven poverty, offering a model for other small island developing states to “rise above the waves.” By reducing the risk of flooding and erosion, coastal protection projects help preserve livelihoods and reduce the economic losses that often push households into poverty.

Alongside land reclamation, the TCAP has also invested directly in young Tuvaluans, funding scholarships in climate science, coastal engineering and environmental studies. A focus on educating their nation will soon directly help safeguard homes and protect both public infrastructure and agricultural land. 

International organizations have also introduced programs to help farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions, such as developing salt-tolerant crops, improving soil management techniques and promoting small-scale home gardens. Such programs help communities maintain food production despite rising salinity and environmental stress.

Concluding Thoughts

While the amount of foreign aid to Tuvalu appears significant, its use is severely hindered by fiscal limitations. Figures showing rising amounts of aid can therefore be misleading, as these correspond to rising climate threats and a growing existential risk, rather than increasing humanitarian aims. In truth, the real problem that Tuvalu faces, is not really a “lack of foreign aid,” but rather a lack of concrete climate change commitments and more accountable Nationally Determined Commitments (NDCs) that COP should make. Indeed, after the disappointment of COP30 last year, Tuvalu’s Minister of Climate Change, Maina Talia, claimed the conference was a “festival for the oil producing countries” who “bury our voice as small developing countries.”

Tuvalu’s experience highlights how changing weather patterns can intensify poverty in vulnerable nations by threatening livelihoods, food security and infrastructure. While foreign aid and international climate adaptation projects have helped strengthen resilience and protect communities, long-term solutions will depend on continued global cooperation and stronger action to address changing weather.

– Max Kenway

Max is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Sudan Refugee Crisis Response Amid Famine and War

Sudan Refugee Crisis Response Amid Famine and War Sudan has been facing large-scale displacement since its civil war began in 2023. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has forced millions of Sudanese to leave their country. The current displacement total is estimated at 11 million people, and the death toll is estimated at about 400,000. Sudanese displacement numbers currently surpass those of other global conflicts. For example, the conflict in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has displaced around 6 million people. In addition to millions of Sudanese losing their homes, this displacement is causing widespread famine, poverty, lack of access to medical care and telecommunications blackouts. These issues highlight why the Sudan refugee crisis response needs attention.

Even with the high displacement numbers, there is no current sign of a peace deal that would end the conflict. Displaced Sudanese are fleeing to overwhelmed refugee camps in nearby countries such as Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Organizations and governments are working to accelerate the Sudan refugee crisis response to meet growing demand.

Intervention by Nonprofit Organizations

Because of the conditions in Sudan, a number of nonprofit groups such as the United Nations Crisis Relief, Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children are in the area providing resources. Because of the growing famine, groups are prioritizing food access. For example, Save the Children is providing food, water, shelter and medical services that reach 224,000 Sudanese. While this is already a large number, many more are in need of services.  

Proposed Response Efforts

Sudan has experienced conflict in recent decades, including the Darfur War in 2003. Adding resources to the area is considered a strong investment because this is not the first period of displacement that Sudanese people have experienced. Building significant infrastructure in the region would help sustain responses to future crises. From there, governments and nonprofit groups could focus on long-term stability rather than immediate nutrition and medical needs.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has developed a strategy it believes will best support the Sudan refugee crisis response. According to the UNHCR, there needs to be a focus on keeping borders open across seven countries to support asylum seekers. The U.N. and various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) will then implement resources for displaced populations. This will include increased food access, medical care, expanded agriculture, general education and vocational education programs. To establish these programs without straining neighboring countries, the UNHCR has stated that a large investment must be made.

A Way Forward

The largest obstacle is the proposed budget for relief. The UNHCR estimates a need of $907 million to make this plan work. Because the number of displaced people is so large and issues like famine require quick action, significant resources are necessary. The most urgent needs, such as addressing famine, will be addressed with available and incoming resources, while funds can be raised for additional programs.

– Nicole Miller

Nicole is based in Pittsburgh, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Graduation Programs in Developing Countries

Graduation Programs in Developing CountriesPoverty, and efforts to escape it extend beyond income earned. The Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network (MPPN) captures this in its introduction to the concept of multidimensional poverty, stating that a person can suffer from poverty due to the buildup of a variety of factors that lessen quality of life, including but not limited to a lack of clean water or electricity, poor quality work or limited access to quality education.

For this reason, foreign aid in the form of transfers of cash or goods, while extremely useful in combating global poverty, might not always provide a comprehensive enough approach to ensure that as many people as possible are reached with long-term sustainability in mind.

Graduation Programs as a Solution

A solution exists in the form of graduation programs, defined by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) as programs that provide people living in extreme poverty not just cash assistance, but also business assets and vocational training so that they may have the chance to build financial independence and break existing cycles of poverty.

Graduation programs, according to J-PAL, were first pioneered by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) named BRAC in 2002. They are reported to yield positive societal outcomes after one to two years of funding and have been implemented in at least 20 countries.

How the Approach Works

As previously mentioned, the approach starts with providing business assets, such as livestock and supplies for trade, followed by skills training to manage those assets and consumption support. J-PAL states that consumption support consists of regular cash or food assistance for several months to one year.

These programs also provide recipients with access to savings accounts and health support in the form of health education, health care access and life skills training. To ensure participant success, frequent home visits are conducted by staff members to provide accountability and needed coaching.

The name “graduation program” is derived from the idea of “graduating” from dependence on foreign assistance within one to two years and transitioning toward financial self-reliance.

Evidence and Measured Returns

J-PAL shares empirical data showing that long-term returns generated by the graduation program approach can outweigh short-term costs. Studies measuring outcomes 18 months to three years after graduation indicate that beneficiaries saw income growth ranging from 7% to 65%, while consumption increased between 11% and 30%.

Additionally, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) reported results from a 2015 study consisting of randomized evaluations in six countries where graduation programs were implemented. The evaluations followed 21,000 people across Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Pakistan and Peru over three years:

  • Ethiopia – Program cost: $1,054; Returns: 260%.
  • Ghana – Program cost: $2,135; Returns: 133%.
  • Honduras – Program cost: $1,406; Returns: -198%.
  • India – Program cost: $358; Returns: 433%.
  • Pakistan – Program cost: $1,160; Returns: 179%.
  • Peru – Program cost: $2,697; Returns: 190%.

Looking Ahead

In summation, data collected in countries where graduation programs in developing countries have been utilized demonstrate positive effects in providing more sustainable pathways to financial independence for households living in extreme poverty. The reported returns on investment also present a financial case for continued funding of graduation programs in developing countries within broader global poverty reduction efforts.

– Luca Hanlon

Luca is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Investment in Africa: How the UK Aims To Reduce Migration

Investment in AfricaThe U.K. has recently seen a rise in politicians attempting to decrease migration into the country, especially via small boats, which are often unsafe for passengers and can lead to fatalities. A part of these efforts involves investment in Africa, with the intention of creating job opportunities. This initiative is currently focused on Ethiopia.

The British foreign ministry stated that almost a third of people traversing the English Channel on “small boats over the past two years” had departed from the Horn of Africa, which Ethiopia is a part of.

UK Foreign Minister’s Visit to Ethiopia

During a visit to Ethiopia, the U.K. Foreign Secretary met with Safaricom, a company supported by British International Investment. Safaricom provides technological connectivity and mobile money services across East Africa and has helped improve health, employment and education in Kenya. One of its subsidiaries, focused on Ethiopia, supported the country’s “digital transformation” in 2022.

During the visit, the secretary signed a Joint Development Agreement with Gridworks to proceed with two projects, which will cost more than $400 million. The Foreign Secretary also pledged financial support toward aid efforts in Africa, totaling $23.91 million. The aim is to improve access to health care, clean water and food, as well as to tackle women’s and children’s malnutrition.

Gridworks, which is also a British International Investment-backed organization, aims to increase investment in Africa from companies and businesses by providing electrical access. In Africa, “around 600 million people have no access to electricity.” This is a major barrier to economic growth because businesses must use diesel generators to supplement the lack of electricity in the area.

Safaricom and Its Impacts

Safaricom provides technological connectivity in Kenya, providing “2G, 3G, 4G and 5G in aggregate covering [more than] 99% of Kenya’s population.” It currently enables 32 million people to access and use mobile banking. This has lowered financial exclusion in the area to 16% of the adult population.

The organization is also committed to gender equality and sustainable climate practices; it wishes to have “50:50 senior management gender parity by 2025” and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Safaricom has two foundations: the M-PESA Foundation and the Safaricom Foundation.

The former is responsible for the Citizens of the Future project, which has contributed hugely to education in Kenya. The project has helped more than 2.5 million students and teachers across more than 2,500 schools. The Citizens of the Future project has also helped renovate schools, improve ICT and provide scholarships.

Furthermore, it involves local communities in its work so they can understand changes made within the school. One beneficiary of the Citizens of the Future project, Mrs. Rebecca Asiko, Acting Head of Institution at Ekwanda Primary School, told Safaricom, “The state-of-the-art ICT hub means we can now teach our learners digital skills and the modern kitchen will ensure that we provide clean meals to the children, who need good nutrition to grow and concentrate in class.”

The Safaricom Foundation invests in health, education and economic empowerment. Its health focus is on “Maternal, Newborn, Adolescent and Child Health (RMNCAH) services.” It helps provide screenings for cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases and diabetes to “enable early detection, treatment and management.”

Its educational goals are similar to those of the M-PESA Foundation: improving teacher capacity and vocational and technical education. Through “enterprise development,” it aims to improve livelihoods and empower Kenyans economically. Improving education is also likely to increase investment in Africa, as a more educated workforce attracts more businesses to the region.

It also opens up more opportunities for employment for the population, which further improves the local economy as residents begin to have disposable income that they can then spend at local businesses.

Gridworks and Its Impacts

The Joint Development Agreement will allow Gridworks to create two transmission projects. These projects aim to meet Ethiopia’s industrial energy demand and, if successful, would help fuel its economy by attracting more investment from businesses in Africa. It would also improve its relations with neighboring countries and promote interconnectedness.

Gridworks has also succeeded with projects like the Moyi Power initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which brought renewable energy to three previously isolated cities. Within five years, the project is expected to provide electricity to 37,000 households and businesses.

Conclusion

While these projects aim to attract investment to Africa and strengthen local economies, foreign aid still matters. Foreign investment not only makes these projects possible but also supports humanitarian work across the region.

UNICEF, which has assisted Ethiopia for more than 70 years, has played a major role in shaping the country’s economy. Its work focuses on children’s survival, health, social policy, protection, education, development and nutrition.

The U.K. Foreign Secretary recognizes the need for continued aid and has pledged to keep supporting organizations such as UNICEF while also investing in economic-focused projects.

– Ryan Cowen

Ryan is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Confronting the Weaponization of Hunger in Sudan

Weaponization of HungerPassing the 1,000th day of civil conflict in January 2026, the humanitarian situation in Sudan remains the world’s most desperate and most neglected crisis. On top of the ever-growing death toll and alarming reports of widespread sexual violence, observers and international bodies have accused both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of the weaponization of hunger, with Sudanese civilians bearing the brunt of this cruelty. On Feb. 19, 2026, the U.K. foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, alongside European and international collaborators, signed a Joint Ministerial Statement on Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Operations in Sudan, which they hope will signal a move away from rhetoric and toward action in addressing the atrocities.

Weaponization of Hunger: The Effects and Mechanics

The World Food Program (WFP) has confirmed famine in two parts of the country, El Fasher in the west and Kadugli in the south. Here, 375,000 people face the most drastic level of food insecurity according to the globally ratified Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Level 5. Elsewhere, moreover, more than 21 million people, nearly half of the country’s population, are suffering from acute levels of food insecurity.

The impact on food security is not an unfortunate by-product of the conflict. Instead, the two warring civil factions have orchestrated it as a war tactic. It has resulted from numerous sustained aid blockages as well as targeted attacks on humanitarian workers and volunteers. Of course, the disruption to domestic food production and increased food prices have exacerbated the crisis.

The U.K.’s Pledge

With neighboring Arab stakeholders bankrolling both sides and both militaries becoming more obstinate in their ambitions, the conflict shows little to no sign of halting. In response, voices across the world have amplified pleas for the conflict to end.

In an address to the Commons on Feb. 5, Yvette Cooper outlined the U.K.’s current status as a major contributor to foreign aid in Sudan, with pledges to increase aid given the current climate. “In December, the U.K. provided an additional £21 million for food, shelter and health services,” she said, amounting to a total of £146 million that has served 800,000 people over the past year.

Cooper’s other contribution has been diplomatic. She recently traveled to Addis Ababa and to Chad, where she held meetings with foreign ministers and members of the African Union to discuss opening aid channels, expanding the currently limited arms embargo and possibilities of engendering a temporary ceasefire.

Responding to the secretary of state’s statement, two MPs explicitly brought up the issue of weaponized hunger in Sudan and questioned whether the government was taking appropriate measures to confront it. Harpreet Uppal, the Labour MP for Huddersfield, and Jim Shannon, Strangford’s DUP representative, called for urgent increases in funding from the U.K. and international partners as well as increased U.N. presence in the worst-affected areas of Kadugli in South Kordofan and risk zones in Darfur and Kordofan. Though they welcomed the increased attention the U.K. government is giving to the humanitarian crisis, they believe more remains to be done.

Monica Harding, MP for Esher and Walton, called for effective intervention in Sudan’s gold trade, control of which is a constant battleground for the SAF and RSF and the profits from which fund a considerable portion of both operations. The U.K. and its allies need to impose sanctions, she argues, and expand the arms embargo “beyond Darfur to the whole country.” In the short term, she emphasizes that a ceasefire is essential if parties are to reopen humanitarian corridors safely.

Cooper reassured the Commons that she had met with the U.N. secretary-general and the U.N. emergency coordinator, Tom Fletcher, who confirmed that the Quad, a temporary alliance of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the U.S. formed to establish a humanitarian truce in Sudan, was discussing those topics. They are also “pressing for much greater humanitarian access.” Though MPs may welcome the government demonstrating concern with confronting the Sudanese crisis, bolstered by increases in foreign aid, for now, they only have verbal affirmation.

International Input

In the same Commons session, Adam Jogee MP turned attention beyond the U.K. and demanded an update on the contribution European allies are making. He asked Cooper to clarify what France, Italy, Spain and Ireland are doing to end the humanitarian crisis and the weaponization of hunger in Sudan. In response, Cooper reminded the chamber of an upcoming conference that will take place in Berlin in April and aims to discuss funding for an effective humanitarian aid program in the region.

Elsewhere, it is also important to mention the United States, which, despite budget cuts, has joined other nations in increasing the foreign aid directed to Sudan. On Feb. 3, the United States and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held a joint conference centered on raising funds to address the situation. In total, donors pledged to contribute $1.5 billion to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which distributes money to various NGOs and U.N. agencies. Some critics have questioned the sincerity of these pledges due to the conflicts of interest among some of the countries involved.

As Sudan’s war continues, the WFP’s confirmation of famine and the obstruction of aid by warring factions highlight the deliberate weaponization of hunger. Despite pledges of increased support and diplomacy from Yvette Cooper and international partners, enforceable action, including sanctions, expanded embargoes and protected humanitarian access, may prove necessary if starvation is not to remain one of the conflict’s most devastating weapons.

– Jude Parsons

Jude is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Foreign Aid to Ethiopia

Foreign Aid to EthiopiaEthiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite decades of foreign aid from as far back as the Cold War, the World Bank expects that 43% of its 138-million-person population is living below the poverty line of $3 per day. As much as 72% of the country lives without reliable education, health care or basic services, presenting immense challenges to people in rural and urban areas alike. However, with global politics constantly evolving, a growing number of nations and independent organizations have begun to help lift this developing nation above the line of poverty. Here is more information about foreign aid to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s History With Aid

The United States and Ethiopia have long held an important bilateral relationship in terms of aid. This east African country has consistently stood among the top recipients from the U.S, and the U.S. has consistently been its top donor. However, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) paused its foreign aid to Ethiopia in 2023, following reports that large amounts were being diverted away from the residents who relied on it and resold locally. The agency oversaw reforms in the distribution of its aid that year, allowing its vital efforts to continue its life-saving work. The assistance that USAID provided has helped reduce AIDS-related deaths by 79% and supplied locals with essential testing materials and medication kits.

As the U.S. continues to taper its contribution, other key actors are met with the responsibility of filling in its role. The World Food Programme (WFP) is a leading international organization in distributing humanitarian aid to those who most need it, regardless of political tension. Conflict, drought and rising food prices have displaced an alarming number of men, women and children without stable food supplies, making emergency assistance essential for survival. In 2024, the WFP detailed its plan to support 1.9 million high-risk Ethiopians and a further 1 million refugees through its assistance. Its unique initiatives involve optimizing and protecting harvests by providing seed inputs, expanding market access and preventing post-harvest loss.

Impact of the Humanitarian Efforts

The $1.3 billion in U.S. foreign aid to Ethiopia in 2024 has helped drive Ethiopians through periods of immense strain in several regions. The combination of armed conflict and a multi-year drought has proved challenging for tens of millions of residents, but the country has not gone without external aid. The vast majority of the U.S. donation—$831 million—was humanitarian, supporting emergency food distribution, malnutrition treatment for children and mothers and school meals for children in displaced communities. Smaller portions went toward long-term economic development, pro-democratic governance and stabilizing efforts like education and the environment.

Wealthy nations are not the only actors in the fight for global development. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a humanitarian nonprofit that Albert Einstein helped create, is one of many independent organizations working to alleviate the country’s refugee crisis. Ethiopia accepts more than 1 million refugees and asylum seekers from neighboring nations, making it one of the world’s largest refugee hosts. Since 2000, the International Rescue Committee has played a decisive role in supporting vulnerable residents and refugees in the region, especially for women and children.

The Future of Funding

As the United States cuts back on large amounts of its foreign aid to Ethiopia and other countries, European and international bodies are placing a greater emphasis on humanitarian efforts in the area. The European Union has offered about $700 million to support the developing nation through 2027, focusing on development that promotes conflict resolution, governance and peacebuilding. Denmark has pledged a further $238 million sum over five years in bilateral grants, marking efforts to support sustainable growth amid waning U.S. assistance.

The WFP has outlined five goals for its operations in Ethiopia, each underscoring the importance of long-term solutions rather than solely monetary contribution. Among these, they hope to see crisis-afflicted populations gain “strengthened livelihoods supported by resilient food systems that enable them to withstand multiple shocks and stressors.” The primary aim of the WFP is in developing social and political systems in the country that allow residents to thrive despite unexpected conflict or natural disaster.

– Jayhan Adhi

Jayhan is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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BII Fights Global Poverty

BIIBritish International Investment (BII), founded in 1948 as the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), is the world’s oldest development finance institution. Relaunched in 2022 under its current name, BII is owned by the United Kingdom (U.K.) government and plays a central role in the country’s strategy to reduce global poverty.

Unlike traditional aid, BII invests public capital into private companies in low and middle-income countries. The aim is to create jobs, strengthen local economies and support long-term development in areas with limited access to finance. By providing long-term investments, BII helps businesses grow, build resilient economies, deliver essential goods and services and reduce global poverty.

Productive, Sustainable and Inclusive Development

BII’s investments focus on supporting productive, sustainable and inclusive development. Productive development means creating jobs and expanding local economies. Sustainable development addresses climate change by supporting projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help communities adapt. Inclusive development targets poverty reduction and gender equality, prioritizing investments that empower women and support those in need.

The institution mainly invests in countries in Africa and Asia, with India being the largest single recipient. Key sectors include financial services, infrastructure, technology, businesses, health, food, agriculture and education, areas that either create jobs or improve access to essential services. Each investment is linked to one or more United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure measurable impact.

The Impact of Investments: Jobs, Climate and Gender

In 2024, British International Investment committed nearly £1.8 billion to creating jobs, reducing aid dependency and combating climate change, including £903 million in climate finance. Over the last three years, it has invested more than $2 billion in climate action, supporting businesses leading the fight against climate change in emerging markets. Its 2024 investments helped provide jobs for over one million people across Africa and Asia.

The World Bank identifies employment as a key pathway out of poverty, with wider benefits such as promoting gender equality and economic stability. Alongside this, BII directed £880 million to the poorest and most fragile countries and invested around £500 million in gender finance commitments in 2024.

How BII Is Funded

BII funds come from several sources. A portion comes from the U.K. government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, also known as the overseas aid budget. It also reinvests financial returns from its investments and attracts private capital from companies and individuals seeking to support development in countries in need. Between 2020 and 2024, BII invested £9.5 million and mobilized around £6.5 billion in private sector capital (investments from non-government sources such as corporations or individuals).

The U.K. originally committed to 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI) to ODA, but this has since fallen to 0.5% and is set to drop to 0.3% by 2027.

These cuts could limit BII’s future investments. In response, International Development Committee Chair Sarah Champion has suggested allowing BII to borrow money. The government has said it is considering ways for BII to raise more private finance. This approach is also reflected in BII’s 2022–2026 strategy, which aims to mobilize greater levels of private capital for investments.

Criticism and Accountability

Despite its achievements, BII has faced criticism. The U.K. Parliament’s International Development Committee raised concerns about some investments lacking a clear poverty focus, potentially harming society or the environment or not aligning with U.K. government policies. Critics also highlighted a concentration of investments in middle-income countries where benefits to the poorest may be limited. They argued that BII should improve transparency by providing clearer investment and impact data, better explaining its activities and demonstrating the changes resulting from its investments.

In response, BII has increased transparency, publishing detailed data on jobs created, gender impact and overall results. It also committed to directing half of its annual investments to the poorest and most fragile countries by 2030.

Investment as a Pathway Out of Poverty

Ultimately, British International Investment and global poverty are closely linked. By prioritizing job creation, climate action and private-sector growth, BII provides a sustainable pathway out of poverty for millions. With strengthened transparency and a growing focus on the most vulnerable regions, BII continues to demonstrate that investments can reduce poverty and transform lives.

– Jeanne Pellet

Jeanne is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Foreign Aid to Kashmir

Foreign Aid to Kashmir
Kashmir is the United Nations’ longest ongoing, unresolved area of conflict, dating back to 1948. Today, three nuclear powers share occupation of the land. India controls 48% of the territory, Pakistan runs 35% and China covers 17%. About 40% of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the Kashmir Welfare Foundation.

On both ends of the highly-militarized area, Kashmiri people are subject to several human rights violations, including restrictions on political freedom and the systemic discrimination of religious minorities. Around 70,000 people have been killed in the midst of the conflict over the last 29 years alone.

Aside from the political turmoil, Kashmir is also prone to fatal natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods. The lack of infrastructure, industries, access to education and proper health care in Kashmir prolong the territory’s recovery from these catastrophes and keep its people in poverty. Foreign aid to Kashmir is a significant component in rebuilding its infrastructure and supporting its civilians, caught in the crossfire between governments.

US Humanitarian Aid

In 2014, monsoon floods devastated Kashmir, killing more than 460 people, displacing 1 million and shoving several more into poverty. This flood was the worst Kashmir has seen in 100 years, as it severely damaged the agriculture, trade, infrastructure and tourism industries in the area. The Indian government provided relief, but it failed to reach 300,000 people and aid-workers called the efforts inadequate. In response, the U.S. provided $250,000 in foreign aid to Kashmir. This included sending humanitarian relief to NGOs in India through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The NGOs then used the aid to provide general supplies and temporary shelters for those who lost their homes.

After an earthquake erupted across Kashmir in 2005, the aftermath took the lives of 47,000 people, left more than 2 million without shelter and displaced another 2 million. The U.S. sent $510 million towards reconstruction and humanitarian relief efforts, with more than 1,000 American personnel on the ground.

Helicopters and U.S. military flights delivered more than 13,500 tons of resources, including medical supplies, food, materials for shelter and rescue equipment. The U.S. also evacuated 18,600 earthquake survivors and provided medical treatment to around 35,000 civilians.

Today, the U.S. is still Kashmir’s largest foreign government donor for relief. The other largest foreign aid donations to Kashmir come from non-government humanitarian organizations.

European Union Humanitarian Aid

In 2019, an earthquake ripped through Pakistan-run Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The disaster killed 37 people, destroyed 9,000 homes and further pushed 10,500 families into poverty. The European Union provided €300,000 in emergency humanitarian aid for those most affected through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The funding helped at least 3,000 people in some of the most vulnerable areas and supplied access to clean water.

In response to the 2014 monsoon floods, the European Union provided €250,000 in humanitarian assistance, which helped more than 12,000 people in need. The aid included sending hygiene kits, food and livelihood support to 40 villages where the floods had the worst impact.

After the catastrophic earthquake in 2005, the European Union donated €50 million in foreign aid to Kashmir. The funding provided civilians with blankets, tents, water, fuel, health care and sanitation supplies.

The Impact of Foreign Aid in Kashmir

Overall, the U.S. and the European Union helped combat poverty in Kashmir with foreign aid, which provided humanitarian relief and significant support the government could not match. A study by the World Bank revealed that 70% of people in Kashmir living near the fault line, where there was a higher presence of foreign aid workers, said they trusted foreigners or those in the West, such as Europeans and Americans.

Every 10 kilometers away from the fault line, civilians’ trust in foreigners decreased by six percentage points. Consequently, the study suggests that people living in developing countries’ trust of foreigners is a direct response to international humanitarian actions in those regions.

The Future of Kashmir

Shafat Ahmed is a part of Conciliation Resources’ Kashmir Initiative Group, which focuses on peacebuilding. Ahmed led work on conflict-sensitive disaster management in Kashmir and developed a plan that he introduced to policymakers.

“When the focus of governments is on political tensions, the issue of disaster preparedness takes a back seat,” he said in a news release.

The plan outlines effective ways to prepare for and respond to natural disasters in Kashmir. The proposed solutions involve the governments communicating, collaborating and coordinating with each other during humanitarian crises. The solutions also include raising awareness and strengthening the means for civilians to confront natural disasters when they occur.

– Umaymah Suhail

Umaymah is based in Karachi, Pakistan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash