Britain should give a larger share of its international aid to the world's poorest countries, according to a new report.
Development campaign One hailed the UK as "a global leader in development" after the Government enshrined in law the commitment to spend 0.7per cent of national income on aid.
But it said that just 38per cent of the total £12 billion aid budget in 2014 went to the 48 states classed by the UN as the world's least developed countries (LDCs) - most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ahead of the G7 gathering of leaders of the world's most powerful economies - including David Cameron - in Germany next month, the One campaign is calling on all developed countries to match the UK's 0.7per cent aid figure and to ensure that half (50per cent) of their aid cash goes to LDCs.
Diane Sheard, UK director of One, urged International Development Secretary Justine Greening to put pressure on fellow EU nations to commit to aid targets at a financing conference in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in July.
"The UK has set a clear example in legislating to protect its aid budget," said Ms Sheard.
"Across the EU, governments must not only recommit to the 0.7per cent target but must also ensure that a greater share - 50per cent - of development aid goes to countries who have the least .
"Justine Greening should push other ministers to keep rather than roll back on the EU's long-held promises."
In its annual Data Report, One found many donors missing their aid targets, and financial support for LDCs continuing to fall.
Although LDCs are increasingly home to those who live on less than 1.25 US dollars (£1.12) a day, they received less than a third (30.3per cent) of aid in 2014. One calculates that if that share was increased to 50per cent, an additional £24 billion would have been available to those who need it most.
One's global policy director Eloise Todd said: "2015 could be a game-changer for the world's most vulnerable people, but decisions taken in Addis Ababa will determine whether the opportunity is seized or squandered."
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