It is right that UK aid protects both the British public and help prevent a second wave of coronavirus coming to the UK by slowing its spread in the world’s most vulnerable countries.
Protecting against a ‘second wave’
The UK is sending funding of £200 million around the world to help mitigate the heath and economic impact of coronavirus including:
- £130 million for the UN
- £65 million for the World Health Organization
- £20 million for UNICEF
- £20 million for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
- £15 million for the World Food Programme
- £10 million for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
- £50 million for the new International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement appeal
- £20 million for international NGOs, including UK charities.
The UK has so far provided £744 million of UK aid for the global response to coronavirus.
Developing vaccines and therapeutics
The UK is also committed to bringing the world together to produce new vaccines, tests and treatments for coronavirus and has also pledged the equivalent of £330 million a year over the next five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
UK’s has announced £388 million support for new vaccines, tests and treatments:
- £250 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, the biggest contribution of any country, to this fund to research a coronavirus vaccine.
- £40 million to support the Global Therapeutics Accelerator, a fund for the rapid development of coronavirus treatments.
- £23 million to support Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics to develop rapid tests for the virus to help identify and slow its spread.
- £75m for the World Health Organization’s critical health systems response.
The UK is also co-leading a global initiative to encourage other countries and organisations to follow the UK’s lead in investing in the work of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.