The Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, has told MPs this week that the government should focus on attracting private donations and reduce reliance on taxpayers’ money.
Commenting, Girish Menon, chief executive of ActionAid UK said: “At ActionAid, we know from experience that women and girls are at the sharp end of global poverty. The overseas support the UK gives reflects the best of British values – it prevents poverty, supports positive change in people’s lives, and helps those in desperate need.
“Whilst we recognise there is always room for improvement, if the UK is to continue to be a world leader for its support, aid spending must continue to be fully transparent to ensure it is supporting the most vulnerable in the world and delivering lasting change.”
ENDS
For further information, contact the ActionAid UK media team on email: claire.wilkinson@actionaid.org, alice.gillham@actionaid.org or charlotte.clarke@actionaid.org; or if out of hours, call +44 (0) 7753 973 486.
Notes to editors
1. ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. Our dedicated local staff are helping end violence against women and girls and changing lives, for good. We won’t stop until women and girls are out of danger, out of poverty and on track to create the future they want