France's proposed budget cuts set to slash overseas development aid

Members of the Coordination Sud collective of French NGOs petition MPs and Senators over drastic cuts to international development aid.

France is planning to reduce public development aid by up to 40 percent as part of its €32 billion budget cuts for 2025. French NGOs engaged in international solidarity are deeply concerned about the impact this will have on the world’s most vulnerable populations, especially as the United States – the largest provider of overseas aid – prepares to withdraw its support entirely.

France’s international solidarity mechanism helps finance development projects around the world on everything from health, food, education, water, to human rights and the fight against inequality. Many programmes are angled in favour of women and girls.

While global warming and conflict mean needs are greater than ever, France's austerity budget for 2025, if passed, would reduce public development assistance (PDA) by more than €2 billion – close to 40 percent of its annual funding.

Rolling back development aid

Coordination Sud – a collective representing some 180 French non-profits working on international solidarity programmes – gathered outside the National Assembly last week to protest the cuts.

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“We understand everyone has to make an effort" says Elodie Barralon, the group’s advocacy officer, but the cuts are "huge compared to compared to any other public service budget."

The cuts follow a growing trend worldwide to roll back development aid.

American president Donald Trump has announced that the US – the world’s largest international aid donor – is freezing almost all foreign aid.


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