Some thoughts on the collapse of the international aid system, the implications for UNICEF and the potential role for retirees: Paul Edwards
By Paul Edwards United Kingdom Prime Minister Starmer’s announcement yesterday that the UK will cut its aid budget by 40% in order to boost defence spending is another sign of the collapse of the humanitarian aid and development assistance system as we used to know it. This is not just about funding, though that is serious enough. This is about the whole approach to supporting the development of countries of the world and responding to humanitarian crises. Everything that we have taken for granted, such as the UN system, the role of NGOs, the relationships with governments, can no longer be relied upon. We are truly in new territory, and it is extremely scary.