Impact of UK aid cuts on Voluntary Service Overseas
The House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will take evidence from representatives from Voluntary Services Overseas.
The Committee will ask about uncertainty over the renewal of the Volunteering for Development grant from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Committee is concerned that the Government’s decision to cut spending on official development assistance to 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) from next month may result in significant cuts to VSO’s work.
The International Relations and Defence Committee has consistently opposed the Government’s decision to break the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA from 2021.
Meeting details
At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Work
VSO International (Non-inquiry session)
Chief Executive at VSO International
Global Head of Business Pursuit at VSO International
At 11:00am: Private discussion
Work
VSO International (Non-inquiry session)
Possible questions
- How significant is the Volunteering for Development grant to the budget of VSO as a whole?
- What have you been told by the Government about the prospects for the renewal of the Volunteering for Development grant? What is the timeline for this funding decision to be reached?
- If the Volunteering for Development grant is not renewed, what would be the consequences for your organisation and your programmes? Would it be possible for you to scale back your work temporarily, or would cuts now have a serious long-term impact?