BRAC statement on the UK International Development White Paper

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published the UK International Development White Paper, which sets out the UK government’s vision for international development until 2030.

This is the first UK White Paper on international development since 2009 and outlines a clear direction for UK International Development, which is “to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.”

In response to the White Paper, Shameran Abed, Executive Director of BRAC International, which is responsible for BRAC’s work outside of Bangladesh and operates in 16 countries across Africa and Asia, said:

“I am delighted to see the UK returning to a focus on ending extreme poverty. As the White Paper points out, over 700 million people still live in extreme poverty today. The UK was once a leading voice in the promise to leave no one behind.”

“Now is the time for the UK to help make good on that promise by once again building patient and mutually respectful relationships, particularly with Governments and organisations in the Global South, that scale up proven solutions, some of which UK funding has helped establish. For example, in Bangladesh alone, the UK and BRAC worked together to help 2 million families lift themselves out of extreme poverty.”

“BRAC stands ready to work in partnership with the UK Government, as we have done so effectively in the past, to bring this new vision to reality. We will continue to support healthy dialogue, focus and debate on Sustainable Development Goal 1, to eradicate poverty for all people everywhere, in parliament through the All Party Parliamentary Group on Extreme Poverty.”