Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 17
We recommend that, as part of its problem-solving and burden sharing role, the FCDO prioritises...
Recommendation
We recommend that, as part of its problem-solving and burden sharing role, the FCDO prioritises mediation, conflict resolution, and atrocity prevention. And we recommend that the Government equips the FCDO with an enhanced and institutionalised capability to coordinate with the Ministry of Defence in this space, to maximise the coherence and impact of the UK’s contribution.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government response does not address the recommendation to prioritise mediation, conflict resolution, and atrocity prevention, nor to enhance FCDO and Ministry of Defence coordination in this area. Instead, it vaguely references other reforms and discusses the role of UK Trade Commissioners and the Integrated Review's focus on trade.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
17
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
15.1 While we await publication of the Integrated Review, we would not want to prejudge its outcomes. We agree that the creation of FCDO provides an opportunity to enhance our impact on conflict resolution and atrocity prevention through the integration of our diplomatic and development levers and a stronger focus on mediation. 15.2 However, shifting the trajectory of violent conflicts, preventing atrocities and supporting conflict resolution, will require us to apply all of UK Government’s capabilities. We agree on the importance of an institutionalised capability to coordinate activities across UK Government, including with MoD. This will ensure that our various instruments, including our aid spend, are applied in greater concert with each other, building on the experience and cross-government collaboration established through the Stabilisation Unit, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and the UN Peacekeeping Joint Unit. The creation of the FCDO will also make our role in conflict prevention and management more coherent. 15.3 We will also continue to shape international responses to conflict, as a burden-sharing partner, providing contributions that influence the efforts of others. To date, we have led international efforts to recalibrate the UN towards conflict prevention through the Secretary-General’s Sustaining Peace agenda, including through political leadership in New York during the Peacebuilding Architecture Review this year. Historically, we have been the largest donor to the Peacebuilding Fund since its inception, and remain among the top three donors, demonstrating positive burden sharing. Working closely with the MoD, we have also sought to inject UK expertise into key UN missions, and we have deployed UK staff in a number of strategic positions in key multilateral organisations, providing niche expertise on peacebuilding, conflict resolution and the humanitarian, peace and development nexus. The UK also routinely provides training support to improve the capabilities of UN police and troop-contributing countries deploying on peace operations. We also train 10,000 peacekeepers each year, principally in Africa, with partners such as Malawi (deploying peacekeepers to MONUSCO, Democratic Republic of Congo) and Zambia (deploying peacekeepers to MINUSCA, Central African Republic).
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