UK s 85 per cent aid cuts for family planning will have devastating consequences, warns UN
The UK s move to slash funding for UNFPA has been branded shameful , amid growing outrage at the lack of government transparency over cuts
29 April 2021 • 10:17am
A woman at a family planning clinic in northern Ghana
Credit: Simon Townsley
The UK is set to slash funding for the United Nations’ family planning agency by 85 per cent, reneging on previous commitments in a move that will have “devastating” ramifications for the world’s poorest women.
The UNFPA – which seeks to improve access to reproductive and sexual health services across the globe – has revealed that the UK has cut contributions to a flagship family planning programme from £155 million to just £23 million.
It said the Government’s expected contribution to the flagship programme for family planning this year would fall from £154 million to £23 million.
Details of the cut were the latest to emerge, after a leaked memo showed the UK would slash bilateral funding for overseas water, sanitation and hygiene projects by more than 80%.
Asked about the UNFPA cut during a visit to a school in west London, the Prime Minister told reporters: “We’re still spending £10 billion per year on overseas aid, that is a huge amount.
“We are still one of the biggest donors in the world and I think people in this country should be very proud of that.
“These cuts will be devastating for women and girls and their families across the world,” she said. “With the now-withdrawn £130m (180m US dollars), the UNFPA Supplies Partnership would have helped prevent around 250,000 maternal and child deaths, 14.6m unintended pregnancies and 4.3m unsafe abortions. “UNFPA recognises the challenging situation facing many donor governments, yet deeply regrets the decision of our longstanding partner and advocate to step away from its commitments at a time when inequalities are deepening and international solidarity is needed more than ever. “The truth is that when funding stops, women and girls suffer, especially the poor, those living in remote, underserved communities, and those living through humanitarian crises.”
The organisation said that, in addition, £12 million is to be cut from the UNFPA’s “core operating funds” and that several country-level agreements are also likely to be affected.
The cut in funding to UNFPA is the latest to emerge, with a leaked memo also showing the UK will slash bilateral funding for overseas water, sanitation and hygiene projects by more than 80%.
UNFPA executive director Dr Natalia Kanem said the decision by a “longstanding partner and advocate” is one it “deeply regrets”.
“These cuts will be devastating for women and girls and their families across the world,” she said.
“With the now-withdrawn £130 million (180 million US dollars), the UNFPA Supplies Partnership would have helped prevent around 250,000 maternal and child deaths, 14.6 million unintended pregnancies and 4.3 million unsafe abortions.