UK aid and privatisation

Quality public services provide the best means of reducing poverty and inequality around the world.

They help build fairer, more peaceful and democratic societies, and are far more efficient, effective and sustainable than the private sector alternative.

Yet despite the importance of public services for international development, our government is aggressively pushing privatisation in some of the world’s poorest countries through UK aid investment.

Privatised public services motivated by profit result in a lack of accountability, poorer services, escalating costs, and poorer terms and conditions for workers. They weaken human rights and increase inequality. 

UNISON is calling on the UK government to change its aid strategy and rethink its financing of privatised public services.

What can I do?

You can help put pressure on the government to make better use of our aid budget so it promotes public services, not privatisation.

Write to your MP

Learn more about aid and privatisation

Resources