Aid or Extraction? Examining the Financialisation of UK Development Assistance in Kenya

With Melita Lazell

The financialisation of official development assistance is increasing, yet remains an under-researched area of public policy. This project will enhance understanding of the scope, drivers, and consequences of the financialisation of UK official development assistance (ODA), with a particular focus on private equity investments channelled through British International Investment in Kenya. As the UK’s primary private sector instrument for official development assistance, British International Investment’s activities have expanded significantly over the past decade, yet their development impact remains insufficiently explored.