Britain is set to challenge the World Bank in its focus on aid spending to “countries who need it the most”, rather than to more developed countries like India, China or Brazil. The International Development Secretary, Priti Patel told the world bank to use British taxpayers money to help poorer countries to “stand on their own two feet”.
Britain is the biggest contributor to the bank's International Development Association (IDA), which gives loans and grants to the some of the poorest countries. In the division’s last funding round, Britain contributed £3 billion. It is said however the bank spent over £14 billion on aid to so-called, upper and middle-income nations.
In her first meeting as International Development Secretary, Mrs Patel is said to out pressure on the bank to ensure UK’s considerable contribution works “harder and smarter” in boosting developing economies. “As a globally engaged, outward-looking nation, Britain is challenging the bank to focus its support on those who need it the most. Boosting global prosperity by creating jobs, investment and trade in countries where there are desperately needed is firmly in UK’s interests,” she told a national newspaper.
In an associated development, it is said that Mrs Patel’s department was preparing to underspend its budget by tens of millions of pounds in a bid to stop taxpayers money being spent on dubious, bloated and frivolous projects.
She is consulting with department officials to see if any leftover cash could be redirected into the conflict, stability and security fund, which helps pay for peacekeeping and humanitarian operations internationally.
Cabinet ministers including Boris Johnson, whose departments have wasted aid money, have been read the Riot Act by Patel, telling them they would be named and shamed if they continue to approve embarrassing projects. This comes as it has emerged the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had spent £343m on aid programmes which included finding mates for tropical fish, teaching Hamlet to Ecuadorians and funding an anti-littering campaign in Jordan.
