How aid is spent

We deliver aid in many different ways. This is to increase the likelihood of it working in different environments.

We continually monitor how we use our money so that more goes where it is needed. If we become aware of obstacles in a country such as corruption or human rights abuses, we may stop our aid or change the way we deliver it.

Well over half the UK‘s aid (65% in 2006/2007) goes to developing countries either directly or through an international body. Last year, 9% went directly to governments, to spend on the priorities they set themselves for helping their people out of poverty. 

Almost a third of the UK’s aid (31% in 2006/2007) goes to international bodies for their own development activities, such as healthcare, education and economic growth. The main recipients are the European Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

But our work is about more than just aid. We also aim to influence governments and organisations to work to reduce poverty.

• Statistics for International Development sets out how we have spent money over the last financial year to fight world poverty.
• Find out more about how DFID works with international bodies.