The UK is to stop direct aid to 16 countries, including Russia, China and Iraq, papers seen by the BBC suggest.
A draft copy of the government's review of its overseas aid budget - due to be published this week - also reveals aid to India will be frozen.
But overall, the international development budget will rise by a third in this Parliament as a new approach focuses on value for money, it says.
The report states that aid spending is good for Britain's economy and safety.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12589626
Note: 27 February 2011 Last updated at 07:30 GMT