UK may scrap pledge to spend 80% of foreign aid on gender equality projects

David Lammy, the foreign secretary, has said he could not ‘commit to decisions made by the last government’ to ensure 80% of UK’s bilateral aid programmes have a focus on gender equality by 2030. Photograph: Rob Pinney/Getty Images

Ministers are considering scrapping a commitment to spend 80% of foreign aid on projects supporting gender equality, the Guardian has learned.

Critics warned the move could worsen the impact of Donald Trump’s rollback of funding for diversity and aid projects abroad, which has affected maternal and reproductive health services in developing countries.