Foreign aid spending is targeted at improving the lives of people around the world. This includes tackling global diseases, providing humanitarian assistance, responding to natural disasters in emergency situations, eliminating poverty and making progress towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Q: Why should the UK address poverty abroad when we have it here at home?

A: Not only is it the right thing to do, but supporting the world’s most vulnerable and working to ensure every person has their basic needs met will also build security, stability and opportunity here at home. For example, terrorist attacks, such as the 2005 bombings and 2017 Manchester Arena bombings, are examples of poor, unstable nations that caused harm to the UK's national security. By tackling poverty, we in turn tackle the root causes of instability, insecurity and conflict, therefore, reducing these issues as such and strengthening the safety of the UK as well.

Q: How is poverty fought on the ground?

A: The strategies range from teaching farmers how to increase crop productivity to giving small loans to women so they can buy ovens and earn money selling bread.

Q: What role does the UK really play in reducing global poverty?

A: By reducing global poverty, we are also strengthening global resilience in responding to crises. The war in Ukraine has taken an incredible toll on areas that receive grain and wheat from the country. For the first time in decades, the world is seeing an increase in the number of people experiencing hunger. The war has also greatly impacted the UK. This is evident by the cost of living crisis. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic shows just how interconnected we all are. Pandemics have no borders, and if low-income countries do not have the infrastructure and necessary resources needed to tackle the disease, the consequences of new strains and increased hospitalisations can be seen right here in the UK. Wealthy nations, such as the UK, have the responsibility to help tackle these issues which both directly and indirectly impact the country as well.

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''Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom''
- Nelson Mandela

''Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom'' - Nelson Mandela

''Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom''
- Nelson Mandela