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Stopping UK aid being spent on big business
You might think that UK aid would be spent on things that reduce inequality. Instead our government is putting money into expanding big business worldwide.
It’s estimated that the global education market is worth $5 trillion. Our government has put millions of aid money into private education in the global south. Along with the National Education Union we published a report exposing how these schools are seriously failing children, all because they’re putting profit first. In February last year two of our staff went to Côte d’Ivoire to meet campaigners across countries in Africa who are fighting back against these schools. Their firsthand experiences informed our campaign and meant we could raise awareness about the impact on children among the public and MPs. Four
thousand supporters signed our online petition calling for an end to aid money being spent on private schools.
CDC Group is the government’s international development bank, and shockingly funds profitable overseas projects like luxury hotels and malls. Last year we put together a briefing showing how CDC could work for people and planet. The Labour Party adopted our recommendations, which was a huge success in strengthening opposition to our government’s profit-oriented approach to aid.
What next?
f Focus on campaigning to end all UK aid going to fossil fuel projects.
f Co-ordinate with allies
