Colonial Development Act

United Kingdom [1929]

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June 24, 2026

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The Colonial Development Act of 1929 was enacted by Britain to provide a small amount of government funding for economic development in its colonies. This act aimed to break a deadlock where only colonies with sufficient revenue could initiate development programs. The idea of actively developing colonies for the benefit of both Europe and Africa gained momentum, particularly after World War II, leading to expanded funding for both economic and social initiatives.1

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western Africa
Decolonization and the regaining of independence
…Britain had enacted the first Colonial Development Act, providing that small amounts of British government money could be used for colonial economic development, thus breaking the deadlock by which the only colonial governments that could embark on development programs to increase the wealth of their subjects, and to improve their…
Read More
…Britain had enacted the first Colonial Development Act, providing that small amounts of British government money could be used for colonial economic development, thus breaking the deadlock by which the only colonial governments that could embark on development programs to increase the wealth of their subjects, and to improve their…
Read More