Kirsty McNeill, the UK’s new minister for development and Africa, has highlighted the "moral purpose" of foreign aid, emphasizing that saving and changing lives overseas is the "new focus" of UK aid. McNeill, who has previously worked with Save the Children and served as an advisor to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is advocating for a more "values-led" approach to development. She has reiterated Labour’s commitment to spending 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) on aid, provided that the country’s financial situation allows. This pledge aligns with a long-standing policy, though the UK has fallen short of this target in recent years. McNeill succeeds Baroness Jenny Chapman, who reduced the UK’s aid budget from 0.5 to 0.3 percent of GNI, significantly limiting bilateral aid programs with many African nations. This reduction has drawn criticism from MPs and aid organizations, who have called it a "moral catastrophe." McNeill has stated that she will maintain the current aid spending levels and continue key strategies, including the shift from being a "donor" to an "investor" in development and the Africa strategy announced in December 2025. She emphasized that skepticism toward aid often stems from concerns about its effectiveness, not its moral purpose, and pledged to focus on demonstrating aid’s impact while reinforcing its ethical importance. A key part of McNeill’s agenda includes a focus on children’s rights and opportunities for young people, in line with priorities previously championed by former Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. The UK will continue to support global institutions like the World Bank and the United Nations, with Ed Miliband’s recent appointment as UK governor to the World Bank signaling the government’s commitment to global leadership in development and climate action. McNeill has also announced that the UK will prioritize development issues at upcoming international events, including the UN General Assembly, the World Bank-IMF Autumn meetings, and the COP climate conference in Turkey. Despite some disappointment that the development secretary will no longer attend cabinet meetings, McNeill has said she is "profoundly relaxed" with the current arrangement, believing that cross-government discussions can still be effectively managed through other channels. The UK government has also announced a £15 million fund to support communities affected by the upcoming super El Niño climate event, which is expected to worsen global food insecurity and threaten the livelihoods of millions. While MPs have urged the government to reconsider cuts to aid funding in light of these challenges, Romilly Greenhill of Bond, a development advocacy group, has welcomed the focus on global cooperation but called for the government to ensure that future budgets avoid further aid reductions and set a clear path back to the 0.7 percent GNI aid target.