Report: Sharp Decline in UK’s Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Investments
A new report by Mercy Corps and Saferworld, Time to Turn Around II: Rebuilding UK Conflict Prevention Leadership, reveals a sharp decline in the UK’s investment in peacebuilding, violence prevention, and conflict resolution over recent years —an area where it was once a leader. In 2016, the UK allocated 4%, the highest percentage of its aid budget to these efforts. By 2023, this had dropped to just over 1% of UK aid.
Miranda Hurst, Mercy Corps UK Director of Policy and Advocacy, says:
“Preventing war and promoting peace is, unsurprisingly, extremely popular with the UK public. As the UK conducts a spending review to define spending for at least the next three years, it has the opportunity to renew its investments and global leadership role in preventing and ending conflict around the world.”
“As conflict and instability reach record levels globally, and are more protracted and internationalised, we cannot afford to step away. The UK must seize this moment to resume its leadership and make good on Labour’s manifesto commitment to renew UK focus and expertise for conflict prevention."
“4% seems a small amount but can achieve extraordinary things. The UN and World Bank’s landmark Pathways to Peace report demonstrated that prevention works, saves lives, and is cost effective. Indeed Mercy Corps’ work around the world proves just this. In Somalia, for example, an impact evaluation of a peacebuilding programme found that providing young people with access to secondary education whilst engaging them in civic activities reduced support for political violence and violent extremism by 65%.”
Alex Ballinger MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, says:
"These figures underscore the pressing need for the UK to renew its leadership in addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting sustainable peace."
"The sharp decline in UK investment in peacebuilding does not only have implications for fragile states but directly impacts the UK, contributing to disrupted supply chains, economic instability, and escalating global displacement."
"The number of conflicts worldwide is now at its highest since the Second World War. As Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, I am working to build cross-party consensus on effective peacebuilding approaches and ensuring the Government is held to account for its role in addressing these challenges."
Lewis Brooks, Saferworld UK Policy and Advocacy Adviser, says:
“Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending on conflict prevention in fragile states has hit a historic low. Meanwhile, humanitarian spending continues to soar. UK leaders are reacting to crises rather than investing in known strategies to prevent them. The second phase of the Spending Review and ongoing FCDO Development Review offer this government a chance to turn this around.”
“Spending on conflict prevention is by no means a panacea to the world’s challenges, but time and time again UK efforts in this area have helped to solve disputes, diffuse tensions and address inequalities where violence was likely. Alas this leadership has declined in recent years but with a new strategy fit for 2025 and renewed investment, the UK could restore its contribution to preventing clashes, reducing the intensity of violence, and resolving conflicts.”
For more information please contact:
Alexandra Bingham, Senior Media and Communications Officer at abingham@mercycorps.org