Written statement made by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 in the House of Lords, on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The FCDO’s planned ODA programme country and regional allocations 2026/27 – 2028/29

The FCDO ODA programme allocations I set out on 19 March 2026 (HCWS1425) reflect how we are modernising and improving our approach to international development, following a year spent reviewing our priorities and redefining how we work.

In that Statement, we did not publish individual country allocations. This was to allow our teams across the network to communicate with their host governments before we published country allocations. Today, I am updating the House with the FCDO’s ODA programme country and regional allocations from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

As I set out in March, the world has changed dramatically in the last three decades. Crises and instability across the world undermine our security and prosperity at home, as we have seen play out in the Strait of Hormuz. Poverty, insecurity and climate risks are increasingly concentrated in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS). New actors are shaping global development, and the countries we work with today want genuine partnership, not the paternalism of the past.

In reaction to this, we are modernising and improving our approach to have the greatest impact abroad and secure the best value for money for taxpayers at home. We are sharpening our focus on priorities that align with partner needs, UK public interest, and where we can drive real change. The changes we are making are encapsulated in four shifts, as we move from donor to investor, from service delivery to systems strengthening, grants to expertise, and international intervention to local leadership. Our policy paper, published today on gov.uk, sets out our approach in greater detail.

Our bilateral programmes are being transformed. We will prioritise bilateral ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute, including fully protecting bilateral ODA allocations to Ukraine, Palestine, and Sudan. The proportion of spending in FCAS will increase by around 13 percentage points to over 70% of all country and regional spending by 2028/29.

In other contexts, we will transition away from spending high levels of grant ODA, but our ambition and effort will remain high – our bilateral programmes will support partnerships with governments to strengthen systems, leverage finance and move away from reliance on aid. Our work will be focused on areas that transform lives and build stability, and it will be demand-led, including: meeting the most basic need with lifesaving humanitarian assistance; supporting women and girls and helping them thrive; keeping children learning even in conflict; upholding international humanitarian law and protecting vulnerable populations; strengthening health security; creating jobs and economic opportunity; and investing in climate action that protects people and prevents future crises.

We are limiting reductions of bilateral aid to humanitarian crises across the Middle East & North Africa and South Asia & Afghanistan, including in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. We will phase out FCDO bilateral country allocations to G20 countries, except in Turkey where we help to share the burden on account of their hosting of refugees.

We expect that well over £1bn per year of UK multilateral ODA will go to sub-Saharan Africa, as measured by Imputed Multilateral Share statistics. That is because of our choices to increase our contribution to the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) – which delivers around two-thirds of its work in Africa – and maintaining strong support for the African Development Fund. Factoring in imputed multilateral ODA and bilateral programmes which operate in sub-Saharan Africa but which are managed from the UK, we expect the share of FCDO ODA to sub-Saharan Africa to stay approximately the same (at around one-third) compared to recent years.^[1] Moreover, British International Investment (BII) – the UK’s development finance institution – invests 60% of its portfolio in Africa. The UK’s new Africa approach recognises that delivering strong partnerships requires looking beyond aid, consistent with our modern international development approach. It is a shift towards modern, equal partnerships based on shared interests and using the full range of UK tools, not just ODA.

This reflects the broader shift we are making to our bilateral partnerships. To support progress on shared global challenges we need long-term, resilient partnerships. Stakeholders increasingly expect a more equal partnership with the UK. We need a systematic and coherent approach to build trust and credibility and to shift toward genuine, equitable partnership. We need to build partnerships beyond short-term transactions, that foster long-term cooperation based on ideas of mutuality: mutual respect, interest, accountability and learning.

While we will prioritise funding where humanitarian needs are most acute, in other countries our ambition and effort will remain high – shifting to a demand-led, partnership model that makes the most of what the whole UK has to offer. Our country network will have the flexibility and autonomy to deliver development interventions in the sectors our partners want and need.

Our bilateral allocations will be complemented by a full spectrum of work. We are increasing the share of FCDO ODA we spend through multilaterals, targeted strategically towards the most effective multilateral organisations like the World Bank’s International Development Association, where each £1 we invest unlocks £4 of additional finance. BII’s £6.6bn portfolio will help deliver the UK’s shift from donor to investor. Our international climate finance will balance support between mitigation and adaptation and maintain a focus on nature. A range of Communities of Expertise (CoEs) will work with countries to access trusted policy advice and strengthen systems.

Setting three years of ODA programme allocations provides teams with the predictability required to manage the transition to spending 0.3% of GNI on ODA. All plans are subject to revision as, by its nature, the department’s work is dynamic. Programme allocations are continually reviewed to respond to changing global needs.

See table attached: FCDO country and regional ODA programme allocations 2026/27 – 2028/29

Attachment: FCDO country and regional ODA programme allocations 2026/27 – 2028/29 ^[2]

Geography	FCDO ODA (£m)			Description
Geography	2026/27	2027/28	2028/29	Description
Overseas Territories (OTs)	130	130	130	Protected allocation for ODA eligible OTs (St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Pitcairn and Montserrat) to meet constitutional and international obligations
Crisis Fund	75	75	75	Humanitarian Crisis Fund to be drawn upon in the event of rapid onset, unforeseen or developing humanitarian crises. For example, £5m from 2026/27 has already been released to respond to the ongoing Ebola outbreak
Africa
Africa Programmes and Expertise (RMP)	22	23	24	Regional programmes focused on supporting trade facilitation, AU efforts at conflict mediation and improving democratic governance, and agile support to emerging humanitarian need
DR Congo	84	84	84	Humanitarian and fragility focused allocation meeting immediate humanitarian need, resilience and emergency health security crises such as Ebola, mpox and cholera. As ICF priority, wider work to support climate and nature and protect the Congo Basin Forest
Ethiopia	88	82	81	Full spectrum development partnership covering climate, conflict, and insecurity, including significant humanitarian spend
Ghana	7	5	5	We advance a modern UK–Ghana partnership that serves both the UK and Ghana. We work together to strengthen domestic and regional security, support sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and expand opportunities for people, businesses, and institutions, deepening our longstanding people to people connections, and protecting the planet
Kenya	32	16	5	Delivery of the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership (2025-30) will focus on harnessing science, innovation and technology partnerships, provide investment capital to drive business growth and inclusive job creation. Increasing green investments and disaster risk financing will build Kenya’s resilience. Security and healthy democratic governance are also in focus (2027 is election year), as is tackling the problem of Kenya as an irregular migration hub
Malawi	20	10	5	Moving to an investment and expertise focussed partnership, prioritising climate & energy, economic resilience and export growth and democratic accountability. We will exit service delivery responsibly, leveraging UK expertise, and multilateral and private finance in our human capital work
Mauritius	2	2	2	Targeted ODA allocation through which we will implement and deliver the new UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework, which delivers shared priorities on maritime security and migration; climate; growth and trade; and anti-corruption
Mozambique	28	16	5	Moving to an investment and expertise focused partnership, underpinned by a new $3 billion inclusive growth compact and major UK supported multilateral engagement. Emphasis on unlocking inclusive growth, climate investment and humanitarian preparedness
Nigeria	68	68	68	Full spectrum development partnership focused on growth, migration, and reducing conflict, terrorism, and humanitarian need, particularly in northern Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and wider West Africa
Rwanda	12	7	5	The UK will transition to a partnership based in technical expertise and investment, which will deliver in priority sectors (climate finance, inclusive economic growth, and human capital) while supporting the wider UK relationship in a country which is an exemplar of development for other countries across the region
Sahel (RMP)	68	68	68	Humanitarian and fragility focused allocation that addresses humanitarian need for the most vulnerable and marginalised people of the Sahel, prevents conflict and builds resilience to climate and other shocks. The UK will prioritise eastern Chad, while shaping how the multilateral system delivers for the region on human development and growth
Sierra Leone	9	5	5	The UK and Sierra Leone development partnership is shifting to focus increasingly on investment, expertise and strengthening national systems. The partnership will promote inclusive, sustainable economic growth, supporting Sierra Leone's pathway to fiscal self-reliance. We will protect gains for women and girls, and support stability through upcoming elections
Somalia	69	69	69	The UK will use its Somalia ODA allocation as a targeted, catalytic investment to reduce conflict, migration pressures and humanitarian need, while building the foundations of a more stable and self‑reliant Somali state. The majority of ODA will be directed towards humanitarian response and resilience, balancing life‑saving assistance with building sub-national resilience to recurrent climatic shocks and environmental degradation, and addressing humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable Somalis
South Africa	11	6	0	Shifting to a development partnership built on investment and expertise sharing for mutual benefit. This will include close work with South Africa on economic policy, low-income business support and urban infrastructure development; working with the private sector to generate project pipeline, energy market reform, support for the just transition and economic diversification; and supporting health system strengthening, enhanced access to SRHR services and gender-based violence response
South Sudan	72	72	72	A humanitarian and fragility focused allocation that addresses the causes and the worst impacts of the protracted humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. The programme is focussed on reducing conflict, preventing famine and building resilience, laying the foundations for development
Sudan	146	146	146	Protected allocation responding to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis alongside making progress towards ending hostilities and laying the foundations for a political process and civilian-led transition, protecting civilians and mitigating regional threats
Tanzania	30	15	5	Shifting to an investment- and expertise-led partnership on climate and environment, inclusive growth, and human capital. Aiming to support system strengthening and to mobilise multilateral, climate, and private-sector finance to help secure stable, resilient futures for Tanzania's young, fast-growing population
Uganda	20	18	18	Allocation focused on strengthening Uganda’s regional role supporting refugees. We will bolster efforts to shift the multilateral system towards more locally led humanitarian models. We will develop modern partnerships with Uganda in energy, growth and health. For example, we will invest in Uganda’s health security and mitigate the risks of Ebola and other disease outbreaks through UK health partnerships and expertise
Zambia	19	9	5	Shifting to an investment and expertise-led partnership focussed on energy, green growth, critical minerals and poverty reduction, which will deliver tangible outcomes for Zambian citizens and UK interests, rooted in mutual benefit and long-term partnership. We will harness the multilateral system to mobilise finance and expertise to deliver shared objectives focussed on system reform and strengthening
Zimbabwe	12	8	5	The UK will transition to a partnership based on investment and expertise, that complements wider UK tools - trade, diplomacy, and institutional partnerships – to deliver goals on migration, green growth and human capital
Americas & Small Island Development States (SIDS)
Caribbean (RMP)	40	40	40	A regional allocation to build a modern development partnership with the Caribbean, focused on delivering resilience – strengthening climate and disaster resilience, supporting economic growth and stability, and tackling violence and organised crime
Colombia	5	5	5	Targeted ODA programme to tackle the conflict dynamics and insecurity that underpin or exacerbate threats to key UK interests in Colombia: preventing deforestation, tackling organised crime and the flow of drugs to the UK, and promoting the rights of women and girls
SIDS Hub (RMP)	6	6	6	A portfolio that complements bilateral and thematic programmes in SIDS and delivers on the UK-SIDS Strategy, focussed on promoting climate and economic resilience in SIDS
Asia Pacific
ASEAN (RMP)	24	24	24	A portfolio to deliver UK commitments as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner and support a more effective multilateral system in Southeast Asia, focused on UK priority themes of climate, economic development, health and education
Asia Pacific (RMP)	15	17	19	Multi-country programme to build resilience across South-East Asia and the Pacific
Indonesia	19	11	0	A transition from traditional bilateral grants to an agile, modern approach that draws on central and regional programmes, including through ASEAN, to channel UK investment and expertise to deliver the shared ambitions of our new long-term UK-Indonesia Strategic Partnership
Myanmar	55	55	55	Humanitarian and resilience allocation, delivering lifesaving assistance and ensuring access to critical basic services. It will mitigate the impacts of conflict alongside overlapping crises, while strengthening the long-term resilience of local systems and communities
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood (Regionally Managed Programme)	13	13	13	A focussed allocation to build lasting partnerships to reduce dependency on Russia, through socio-economic development, including economic reform and private sector investment; strengthening democratic governance; and enhancing energy and water security
Ukraine	240	240	240	A comprehensive development partnership covering humanitarian, energy, economic recovery and reconstruction, as part of the UK’s effort to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion and build its future as a prosperous, sovereign nation
Europe
Turkey	23	23	23	Burden sharing on account of Turkey’s large number of refugees
Western Balkans (RMP)	7	7	7	A focused allocation to tackle drivers of instability and reduce the incidence of violence against women and girls, including in priorities of Kosovo/Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Conflict prevention work will help mitigate against the need for humanitarian responses and/or UK military intervention through NATO
Middle East & North Africa
Egypt	3	3	3	Technical assistance supporting Egypt’s macroeconomic reform programme, boosting private sector-led growth, resilience, and stability
Iraq	5	5	5	Targeted ODA allocation to provide technical assistance and support to address the drivers of fragility, conflict and migration which create risks to the UK. Funding will focus on economic development, resolving conflict-related displacement and responding to crises in support of peace, stability and growth
Jordan	31	31	31	Humanitarian and fragility focused allocation to deliver sustained humanitarian response, supporting Syrian refugees and affected Jordanians. Non-humanitarian activity to support macroeconomic stability, supporting Jordan’s economic resilience and ability to weather external shocks; and inclusive governance
Lebanon	35	24	24	Humanitarian and fragility focused allocation (protected in 2026/27) that will support crisis-affected populations (refugee and Lebanese); build local crisis resilience; support recovery by strengthening national systems; and reduce drivers of irregular migration
MENA Regional	2	0	0	This funding is being used to wind down our regional climate programme PHENOMENAL in an orderly fashion. We have protected programming which is gender transformative and which works with vulnerable communities including IDPs and refugees. The programme has received additional funding (£2.5m) in 26/27 to continue our work with the Met Office while a consolidated Met Office programme is set up
Palestine	127	127	127	With a protected budget we will work to protect the lives, land and rights of Palestinians and the State of Palestine through lifesaving humanitarian assistance, particularly in Gaza, and facilitating early recovery, inclusive Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian institutions, governance and civil society, including working with the Palestinian Authority (PA)
Syria	68	68	68	Humanitarian and fragility focused allocation will meet the needs of the most vulnerable Syrians, and, following the fall of Assad, will shift to early recovery activities to improve access to essential services
Yemen	104	104	104	Humanitarian and fragility focused allocation to address food insecurity; deliver lifesaving primary healthcare for pregnant women and malnourished children; and prevent Yemen’s primary healthcare system from collapsing. Targeted technical assistance to tackle the underlying drivers of humanitarian need by stabilising core macroeconomic functions and limited non-humanitarian funds will address conflict, governance and stability
South Asia and Afghanistan
Afghanistan	105	105	105	This allocation will help mitigate the worst impacts of Afghanistan’s protracted humanitarian crisis and strengthen resilience among the most vulnerable, especially women and girls. We will fund implementing partners on the ground, including the UN. We do not have a development partnership with the Taliban
Bangladesh	31	29	29	Our partnership with Bangladesh will move to an investment and expertise focussed partnership. We will retain a significant humanitarian spend that will focus on alleviating the Rohingya crisis
Nepal	23	12	5	We will build a modern partnership with Nepal based on investment and expertise, reflecting Nepal’s aspirations and UK strengths, focusing on three core outcomes: unlocking sustainable finance; digital development; and supporting local leadership and an inclusive society
Pakistan	51	51	51	UK aid spending is focused on reducing security and migration risks to the UK by building a safer, more resilient Pakistan as part of a full spectrum development partnership

^[1] Based on internal FCDO analysis forecasting FCDO region specific bilateral spend and UK Imputed Multilateral Share data, compared to 2022-25 Statistics on International Development.

^[2] ODA programme allocations within this section do not necessarily reflect the full extent of the FCDO’s planned ODA programming within the region/country listed, including through our central bilateral spend, regionally managed programmes (RMPs), and our multilateral contributions

Secondary information

Type: Written statement
Reference: HLWS292
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Development aid
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written statement on www.parliament.uk

The FCDO’s planned ODA programme country and regional allocations 2026/27 – 2028/29

Secondary information

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