Here’s our view from @wellcometrust following the UK Govt announcement that @DFID_UK will be merged with @foreignoffice. 1/7

Aligning foreign policy and development goals mustn't mean losing sight of the UK’s role in improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people – or any commitment to the values vital to achieving this. 2/7

It's encouraging that the UK Gov't will maintain the current levels of Official Development Assistance, but the aid budget must not be used as a diplomatic lever. It must be used alongside diplomacy to continue and strengthen the UK’s global role in international development. 3/7

This includes continuing to support UK-based researchers whose work is vital to progress on global development goals, including preparing for epidemics. 4/7

This funding meant UK-based researchers were able to play a central role in the development of the world’s first Ebola vaccine, now protecting communities in the ongoing outbreak in the DRC. 5/7

The UK must continue to play a leading role in global, scientific collaboration to address the world’s most urgent health threats, such as emerging infectious diseases, and ensure health advances reach communities everywhere equally and fairly. 6/7

Preserving experience and expertise from DfID through this merger will be important to achieve this. 7/7