UK cuts aid to Commonwealth countries despite warm words at Chogm summit

Nations in the group fare worse than others, with funding for nature projects especially hard hit even as climate crisis intensifies global need

The UK government has slashed overseas aid to Commonwealth countries, the Guardian can reveal, in contrast to the warm words for the group from the king and the prime minister, Andy Burnham, this week.

Amid sharp cuts in the UK’s aid budget overall, the Commonwealth has fared poorly, an analysis of the most recent and projected aid figures, seen by the Guardian, has shown.

Funding from the UK to the Commonwealth nations that previously had bilateral aid programmes will be cut from £546m in 2024-25 to £131m in 2028-29. Of that total, a large chunk – £68m – will go to Nigeria, leaving £63m for other countries.