The international development secretary wrote in the Daily Telegraph that this could happen if countries fail to "invest in their people".
Penny Mordaunt added that the UK government "will not invest when others should be putting their hands in their pockets".
Simon Kirkland from Christian Aid told Premier's News Hour the government has a responsibility to countries that may be struggling.
Explaining, he said: "For example in Syria the government is obviously in crisis with the conflict that's going on there but our responsibility is to help people there as best as we can.
"Sometimes funding civil society can be a very good way to help people even when their government may not be doing the right thing."
Under legislation approved in 2015, the UK government is legally required to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income on foreign aid.
Mordaunt's comments come two weeks after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the UK's aid budget will be geared towards projects that promote its interests.
He also said the money will be "more sensibly distributed" to support foreign policy aims such as denying safe havens to Islamist militants.
Listen to Simon Kirkland from Christian Aid speaking with Premier's Alex Williams:
