A Bond review by Lena Cohrs and Gideon Rabinowitz describes the FY 2024/25 for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) budget as “two steps forward, one step back.” The planned budget for 2024/25 is £11.87 billion, representing a reduction of £552 million (4.4%) compared to the previous government’s plans and £221 million (1.8%) less than FCDO’s actual spend in 2023/24, partly due to the high levels of ODA spending on refugees in the UK.
Balancing budget constraints with development needs is a critical challenge for the FCDO in the coming year. The government’s choices will shape its reputation on the global stage.
