Aid budget protected, but UK must benefit too

Experts in international development have largely welcomed Priti Patel’s commitment to protect the aid research budget, in which projects will need to show benefit to the UK and to countries receiving aid.

The international development secretary confirmed in a research review published on 26 October that the government would continue to spend 3 per cent of its aid budget on research, emphasising a need to get “value for money” from the funding. Academics have welcomed the news, particularly as Research Fortnight has learned that there were fears that the research budget would be cut.

Launching the review’s results, Patel said that improving humanitarian responses, combating infectious diseases and tackling child exploitation were to be the focus of UK investment in research, science and technology.