UK Government Slashes £35 Million Funding for Sierra Leone to £1 Million, Cuts Nearly All Developmen

The United Kingdom has drastically reduced its development assistance to Sierra Leone, effectively eliminating nearly all bilateral aid, including a major £35 million grant dedicated to improving maternal and newborn health.
The Independent reports thay the cuts represent the first clear example of a country-specific impact from the UK government’s broader plan to reduce its global development budget by 40%.
The axed programme, managed by a consortium including Concern Worldwide and Helen Keller International, provided essential medicines, staff training, and supported access to blood supplies and testing for life-threatening conditions like pre-eclampsia in hospitals across Sierra Leone. Funding for the programme will now be slashed from £35 million to just £1 million by 2027 before it closes entirely.