I am fully aware that the UK's development budget is an important part of securing Britain's place in the world. We can be proud to be a country that not only meets its responsibilities to the world's poorest, but in doing so best serves and protects its own security and interests. Spending 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income on assistance to developing nations and international emergencies helps deliver a more secure and prosperous UK, while having a life-saving impact on the ground.
Whether it's stepping up our support for desperate Syrian refugees, tackling the lethal legacy of landmines or giving life-saving aid to stop people dying of hunger in East Africa, UK aid is keeping Britain safe while helping the world's poorest stand on their own two feet.
Overseas development assistance saves lives and transforms lives. Over the last five years, UK aid has been life-saving and life-changing for millions of the poorest people around the world. Between 2011 and 2015, the Department for International Development (DFID) has supported over 11 million children in school and helped more than 60 million people get access to clean water, better sanitation and improved hygiene conditions. DFID is also leading the global effort to save millions of girls from child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation.
Last updated: 14/09/2017
