ActionAid Media Centre

Commenting in response to news that the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced he will intentionally cut around £4 billion from the UK aid budget next year as part of the Spending Review, ActionAid UK's CEO Girish Menon said: 

Just a week and a half after deadly super storm Goni hit the Philippines, Typhoon Vamco is tearing through the same communities causing further destruction of homes and livelihoods.  

British director Remi Weekes, BAFTA award winning actor Wunmi Mosaku and Country Director for international charity ActionAid in Bangladesh Farah Kabir discuss Remi’s haunting debut film ‘His House’ 

ActionAid’s partners in the Philippines are supporting local communities after Super Typhoon Goni hit Bicol and Mindoro island causing flooding and landslides. 

ActionAid says there is an urgent need for more funding and support to provide emergency food, water and shelter for the most vulnerable after Typhoon Molave hit Vietnam.

Ene Obi, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria comments on Nigeria's End SARS protests.

Commenting on the formation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Farah Nazeer, Deputy Director of Advocacy at ActionAid UK, says:  

ActionAid’s emergency teams are supporting communities in Beirut after an explosion hit the city and killed 100 people and injured thousands. 

We recognise the specific discrimination that trans women and girls face. ActionAid UK also believes that both sex- and gender-based discrimination are deeply embedded in the patriarchal structures operating in the countries ActionAid works in.

Covid-19: ActionAid joins Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition led by Unilever and DFID to provide women and girls in Kenya and Nepal with soap and water.

The announcement today to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office will sabotage the UK’s ability to respond effectively to the biggest crisis we have faced in a century, at home and abroad. DFID’s hard-won reputation as a world leader in global development is based on long-standing expertise that is critical to tackling the Covid-19 crisis, as well as uplifting the rights of women and girls around the world.

Farah Nazeer, Deputy Director of Advocacy at ActionAid UK, responds to the International Development Committee’s interim report on the effectiveness of UK aid.

Farah Kabir, Country Director at ActionAid Bangladesh, is available for video interviews about the risk to Cox’s Bazar Rohingya refugee camp following two confirmed cases of Covid-19.

As the World Food Programme reports the number suffering hunger could increase from 135 million to 250 million, ActionAid raises concern over communities already suffering food crises.

As the Covid-19 crisis continues to escalate globally, the United Nations has announced that the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) will be delayed. Dr Amiera Sawas, Senior Climate and Gender Justice Advisor at ActionAid UK comments on this decision. 

ActionAid UK is preparing for how this Covid-19 outbreak will affect our life-changing work with women and girls living in poverty. Over the next few months, we will be working to ensure we can support those who will be most vulnerable to this virus and can continue changing the world with women and girls. 

Harjeet Singh, ActionAid’s climate lead, calls for global civil society to be directly involved in the UN Climate Summit (COP26) to ensure that the experiences and expertise of those on the frontline of the climate crisis are heard.

Farah Nazeer, Deputy Director of Advocacy at ActionAid UK responds to a report from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) into the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. 

Statement from Farah Nazeer, Deputy Director of Advocacy at ActionAid UK. "Merging the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) into the Foreign Office would be disastrous for those struggling to survive poverty, climate change and disease – especially women and girls. We must not undo the UK’s place as a world leader on international development nor turn our back on those who need help most.”

ActionAid UK calls for justice for women and girls on the second anniversary of the Rohingya crisis,
 

International Development Secretary Alok Sharma has announced a further £8 million in UK aid for countries at risk of Ebola

A Government review of Britain’s progress against the UN’s global development goals has found that the UK has made “significant strides” but that much remains to be done.

A historic international law to end sexual violence and harassment in the world of work has today been adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Ahead of the upcoming European Union parliamentary elections, ActionAid UK has written an open letter to all MEP candidates

"We must prioritise the most vulnerable – those with disabilities, older people, children, pregnant women and anyone with serious illness."

Six years on from Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza tragedy, one in five survivors’ health is deteriorating.

Through new campaign, ActionAid has committed to commissioning exclusively female photographers to tell the stories of women and girls living and working in the communities in the countries where they live.

ICAI review on CDC’s performance (26 Mar 2019 ) highlights the gap between committing to gender equality and poverty reduction and delivering it.
 

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond will today (13 March) announce a free sanitary product scheme across all secondary schools in England in a bid to combat period poverty.

Ahead of today’s Westminster debate on the future of DFID ActionAid call on parliamentarians to

recognise the very real difference the department makes to the lives of women and girls now. 

At ActionAid we know first-hand that women and girls are at the sharp end of global poverty. One in three are likely to experience violence at the hands of an intimate partner or someone they know; they take on the bulk of unpaid care and domestic work – on average 2.5 times more than men; and are more likely to be in low-paid precarious jobs.

Plans for a new Conservative vision for a post-Brexit 'Global Britain' says DfID could be folded into the Foreign Office and aid spending redefined. The proposals feature in a report called Global Britain: A Blueprint for the 21st century which outlines multi billion pound cuts in the UK foreign aid budget. Slashing our commitment to ending global poverty, and breaking up the Department for International Development in support of furthering the political and commercial interests of an increasingly ‘little’ Britain.  

The Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, has told MPs that the government should focus on attracting private donations and reduce reliance on taxpayers’ money. 

The UK’s Domestic Abuse Bill is a step in the right direction; putting the spotlight on perpetrators, not survivors. However, more support is needed. 

ActionAid welcomes the commitment to investing in grassroots organisations and women's rights activists across Africa

"Misogynistic hate crime isn’t trivial. Violence against women and girls starts with deep-rooted misogynistic attitudes."

The Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, has proposed changes to the way that the UK government funds aid projects around the world. Her proposals, outlined in a speech this morning, include the potential use of for-profit investments by the private sector as part of aid programmes.

"The Rohingya people can no longer survive on empty promises, we must seek justice for survivors."

"This sends a message that sexual harassment will not be tolerated, and women will be listened to and supported by the legal system."

ActionAid UK’s statement on the inquiry into sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector published today by MPs.

"To solve the problem once and for all, we need to take a moment to consider the magnitude of the problem."

“This a breakthrough for all of those – including ActionAid – who have for years called for global financial transparency."

ActionAid condemns this appalling attack on innocent people – including women and children.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has launched a £7 million fund to support female entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth. The scheme, named SheTrades, will help women in poorer countries "overcome barriers" to starting a business. 

With a year to go until Brexit, we’ve heard a lot about how UK trade will bring prosperity to us and to others – including developing countries and the Commonwealth. But ministers need to get this right, otherwise we could do more harm than good. Comment from ActionAid UK. 

UK international development sector's five commitments to improving the standards and delivery of safeguards.

ActionAid UK's statement on DfID's Strategic Vision

"As we pass this grim milestone, there are serious questions over the fate of the Rohingya refugees."

MPs will tomorrow (20th February 2018) debate measures to address money laundering, amid concerns from NGOs that a current Government proposal fails to address a lack of transparency in UK-linked tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands. The UK Government has weakened its stance towards these tax havens since the Brexit referendum vote.

"Boris Johnson’s visit to Cox’s Bazaar is a welcome signal of the UK’s commitment to responding to this crisis. The documented and widespread human rights violations against the Rohingya population that led them to flee Myanmar still remain a threat."

Mike Noyes, Deputy Director of Humanitarian Policy and Practice at ActionAid UK, responds to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s (FAC) report on violence in Rakhine State and the UK’s response.

Action Against Hunger UK, ActionAid UK, Christian Aid, Save the Children UK and the International Rescue Committee UK issue a joint statement calling for an end to violence in Myanmar and immediate access for humanitarian aid.

More than 300 people have been killed in mudslides and flooding near Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, following heavy rains.

Following a government report on transparency of UK Aid budget spend, ActionAid UK seeks re-opening of International Development Committee inquiry on aid budget management by non–DFID departments.

A new ActionAid report provides detailed evidence of the link between domestic violence and women and girls’ ability to control their bodies and fertility.

Ssome of the world's poorest people are set to suffer the consequences as the Trump administration plans to withdraw from Paris climate change agreement.

New ComRes poll of Great Britain reveals that eight in ten British adults support new measures to crackdown on tax havens and corporate tax avoidance.

Education is a vital tool in the fight against global poverty. Women and girls stand to benefit the most from improved school access.

Somalia aid response critically underfunded.  World risks repeat of 2011 famine which killed 250,000 people.

Horn of Africa drought means women and girls in Somaliland and Kenya are facing devastating impacts, including sexual violence. 

As the leaders of the UK’s Overseas Territories gather in London today to meet Theresa May, a new poll has revealed that Britain’s politicians back a crackdown on tax havens and tax dodging. 

Calling on Prime Minster Theresa May to bring critical women’s rights issues to the table when she meets Donald Trump.