International Development Committee questions Minister for Development and Africa in final evidence on sexual and reproductive health
In August the Committee published the FCDO’s analysis of the impact of its own aid budget cuts on equalities. It set out the FCDO’s assessment of the impact - for people living in poverty, suffering hunger, women, girls, disabled people - of significant, ongoing cuts to the UK’s direct aid spending, and the consequences they will face.
Programmes aimed at reaching those furthest behind – including women, girls and people with disabilities – would be cut. Thousands more women again face unsafe abortions and dying in pregnancy and childbirth.
It showed that the proposed scale of reductions to specific gender interventions, including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), will impact girls’ education and wider efforts to advance gender equality. This includes potential reductions of 70% for bilateral spend and 80% for central spend SRHR programming.
Meeting details
In the final session of this inquiry the Committee will put the evidence it has gathered so far to Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell.
Is FCDO’s approach to sexual and reproductive health compatible with its 2022 commitment to “drive progress on universal, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights including on the fight to end female genital mutilation and other harmful practices”? Are the most marginalised people being disproportionately impacted by the reductions in UK aid spending on SRHR programmes?