UK Axes £45 Million Education Program for Girls Across Africa, Asia and Middle East
Primary region Europe
Tags Policy · Health
Regions Africa · Asia · Middle East · Europe
The British government has withdrawn the tender for the Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE) program, a £45 million initiative aimed at keeping one million girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The program, launched two years ago by the previous Conservative government, had its funding cut by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as part of broader aid reductions.
Strategic interpretation
The cut signals the UK's continued retreat from global development leadership and undermines its soft power in the Global South at a time when China is expanding educational partnerships. It may create openings for Chinese-funded scholarship programs to fill the gap. Domestically, it reflects fiscal pressures overriding diplomatic commitments made at the G7 and Commonwealth forums.