The Price of Progress: What Cutting Aid Really Means for People’s Lives

In 2015, world leaders made a promise. They pledged to end poverty, tackle climate change and create a fairer, more sustainable world by 2030. These promises became the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals—a blueprint for a better future for everyone, everywhere.

But in 2025, the world looks very different.

Geopolitical tensions are rising, economies are strained and global solidarity is weakening. Conflicts are displacing millions, climate disasters are intensifying, and the cost of living is hitting communities everywhere.

At a time when global cooperation is needed more than ever, too many governments are pulling back instead of stepping up.

The Global Goals remain one of the best examples of international cooperation—a shared vision for a better world that transcends borders, politics and divisions. And a reminder that solutions exist when nations work together.

But progress isn’t automatic. It takes commitment, funding and leadership—and right now, those commitments are at risk.

What is ODA and Why Does It Matter?

Official Development Assistance (ODA)—also known as international aid—is funding provided by governments to support economic growth, healthcare, education and crisis response in lower-income countries.

It is not charity. ODA is an investment in global stability, security and shared prosperity.

ODA represents less than a penny per pound, dollar, or euro of national income, yet its benefits ripple across borders.

When invested effectively, ODA strengthens economies, prevents crises, and builds resilience against global shocks like pandemics, natural disasters and economic downturns.

Today, aid operates within the framework of the Global Goals, ensuring that global financial and policy efforts serve as a common agenda for building a more equitable and sustainable future, fostering unity and shared responsibility among nations.

A Proven Tool for Progress

For decades, ODA has helped to deliver measurable results. Since 2015, it has helped millions of people across the world:

• 50 million more girls are in school,
• 120 million people have escaped extreme poverty, and
• Over 1 million children under five saved from preventable deaths

These are not just statistics. They represent students gaining education, families building better futures, and communities accessing the resources they need to thrive. When governments invest in development, they invest in people’s potential.

Why Cutting Aid Now Is a Setback for Us All

Despite this progress, aid budgets are shrinking at the very moment they are needed most.

Several governments have announced significant cuts, arguing that domestic issues take priority—but global stability and prosperity are deeply interconnected. Investing in development means investing in security, economic resilience and a more stable world for everyone.

At a time when global challenges and divisions are intensifying—climate change, conflict, economic instability—cutting back on aid is counterproductive.

When aid is reduced, crises worsen, economic opportunities shrink and inequity grows—creating ripple effects that impact all nations, not just those directly affected.

It goes without saying that this has a negative impact across multiple Goals.

Now Is the Time to Unite, Not Withdraw

With just five years left to drive progress on the Global Goals, the question isn’t “Can we afford to invest in aid?”—it’s “Can we afford not to?”

The Global Goals offer a roadmap for a stronger, more stable world—one where every country has a stake in success. Recommitting to them is not only essential for tackling poverty and climate change but also for rebuilding trust and cooperation in an increasingly divided world.

Of course ODA alone is not enough. Governments must also fix a broken financial system—by tackling crippling debt and closing tax loopholes that drain public resources, as well as mobilising private investment for sustainable development.

ODA is still a vital tool in this fight, and governments must recognise that cutting aid is not a solution—it’s a setback. If we are serious about achieving the Global Goals, governments must stop retreating and start leading. That means restoring aid commitments and fixing global finance to unlock real, lasting change.

Author: Sabrina de Souza, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Project Everyone