UK cuts Commonwealth aid from £546 million to a projected £131 million

UK funding for Commonwealth countries that previously had bilateral aid programs is set to fall from £546 million in 2024–25 to a projected £131 million in 2028–29, the Guardian’s analysis found. The figures compare an earlier funding level with a future allocation, rather than spending already completed in both periods.

The UK has been reducing aid to countries it judges to be rapidly developing and middle-income, including India and Antigua. The Commonwealth reductions also reach some of the poorest countries and countries carrying heavy debts.

Country allocations

Nigeria is allocated £68 million of the projected 2028–29 total, leaving £63 million for the other countries. Its allocation compares with £137 million (about $183.7 million) this year, as of 3 November 2026.

Nature funding and summit

At least 26 Commonwealth countries have been prevented from receiving money from the Darwin Initiative funding stream, worth about £40 million a year. The initiative is a UK government grants scheme supporting nature conservation and restoration alongside economic development and poverty reduction.

The initiative says its Round 32 geographic rules changed significantly: project activities must be in an eligible country and aligned with a relevant biodiversity hotspot there, though projects in borderline areas can be considered. Freshwater projects remain eligible across all listed countries, and marine projects across all countries in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

Campaign for Nature’s UK lead, Adrian Gahan, said some countries rich in biodiversity, many also facing high poverty, were seeing severe reductions in support. He said King Charles attended the launch of a Commonwealth nature initiative this week, but the UK government made no financial contribution.

Charles and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua. Charles called for acknowledgment of the suffering and injustices of slavery, while Burnham’s government sought to keep reparations discussions off the agenda.

Jean McLean, Oxfam GB’s chief influencing officer, warned that the cuts would affect families facing starvation, children’s healthcare and education, and communities coping with conflict and climate disasters.

The Commonwealth meeting is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday. The following week, the UK and Sierra Leone are to co-convene talks on adapting to climate impacts at the Cop31 summit in Turkey. The Darwin Initiative’s invitation-only Main Stage 2 application deadline is 30 November 2026. Main Stage 1 closed with a 20 July 2026 deadline. Extra Stage 1 closed with a July 1 deadline, and its invitation-only Stage 2 deadline was 2 November; Capability & Capacity closed with an August 31 deadline.