Might representation of the UK's international aid be overly positive?

The UK Government reneging on its long-standing commitment to spending 0·7% of gross national income international aid is being lamented as a stain the country's proud record aid. Originally based 1970 UN General Assembly resolution,1UN AssemblyInternational development strategy for 2nd United Nations Development Decade.https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/201726?ln=enDate: Oct 24, 1970Date accessed: December 16, 2020Google Scholar first reached target in 2013, and enshrined it law 2015.2UK ParliamentInternational (Official Assistance Target) Act 2015.www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/12/pdfs/ukpga_20150012_en.pdfDate: March 26, 2015Date In 2019, UK's official assistance spend was £15·2 million, representing 4·4% increase 2018, probably highest we will see several years. Of this amount, more than two thirds classified bilateral aid, term used describe money given directly from one government another. My country, Pakistan, received country-specific (£305 million) past 5 years any other country.3UK ForeignCommonwealth & OfficeNational statistics—statistics development: final 2019.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-on-international-development-final-uk-aid-spend-2019/statistics-on-international-development-final-uk-aid-spend-2019Date: 2020Date November 27, Before lose too much sleep over concerns about reversing aid-driven progress made by low-income middle-income countries, I would argue an examination some truths First, implies that funds have been going recipient countries. reality, most spent via organisations, charities, for-profit private contractors.4Dodwell A Provost C Shutt Re-imagining aid: what progressive could look like.https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/resources/re-imagining_uk_aid_webpages.pdfDate: July, 2017Date London-based firm Adam Smith International won £450 million worth contracts Department (DfID) between 2011 2017,5Provost privatisation how profiting budget. Global Justice Now, London2016Google which approximately double amount programmes tackling HIV sexually transmitted diseases during period.5Provost halt funding DfID 2017 only occurred because found attempted falsify evidence submitted parliamentary inquiry scrutinising use Second, abounds domestic health priorities, also expertise, are side-lined6Khan MS Meghani Liverani M Roychowdhury Parkhurst J How do external donors influence policy processes? Experiences actors Cambodia Pakistan.Health Policy Plan. 2018; 33: 215-223Crossref PubMed Scopus (40) Google if there large inflows. Redefining political priorities countries has described core goal development, evidenced fact many countries·each with different political, cultural, health-system contexts·have introduced similar policies, aligned donor around same time.7Katerini T Storeng KT Palmer Daire Kloster MO Behind scenes: NGOs' reproductive Malawi South Sudan.Glob Public Health. 2019; 14: 555-569Crossref (13) salient example such push greater role sector, including delivery care education organisations. focus supporting so strong own watchdog, Independent Commission Aid Impact, warned 2014 “DfID needs recognise sector not developmental panacea”.8Provost watchdog lambasts ‘miracle’ sector.https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/may/15/uk-watchdog-aid-private-sector-developmentDate: May 15, 2014Date Therefore, energy directed towards lamenting decrease might instead be channelled ensuring principles social justice, need redistribute economic power, self-determination. MK receives grants Health Systems Research Initiative, jointly funded Foreign, Commonwealth, Office, Medical Council, Wellcome, unrelated Correspondence.