Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Adapt to changing conflict resolution by enhancing bilateral partnerships and leveraging regional groupings.
Recommendation
The Government should adapt to the changing conflict environment, recognising the existing geopolitical realities of conflict resolution, whilst continuing to push for multilateral efforts where possible. The Government should enhance its bilateral partnerships with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as Turkey, whilst ensuring it upholds its commitment to a rules- based international order. The Government should also leverage its relationships with regional groupings including the Gulf Cooperation Council, the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. We call upon the Government to ensure that the UK is in the room during these conversations and driving the agenda forward, drawing upon its expertise in diplomacy and stabilisation, and ensuring that British values, and those embedded universally within the United Nations, are furthered. It is imperative that the Government continues to invest resources in these diplomatic posts and in our representatives to these organisations. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)
Government Response Summary
The government commits to ensuring that UK missions to the UN will continue to be staffed at appropriate levels with high-calibre individuals. It notes that the FCDO is becoming a smaller, more agile organisation and is making strategic decisions to retain capability and ensure a higher proportion of staff are overseas.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
19. HMG welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the high-calibre staff at the UK Missions to the United Nations. The UK understands that our influence as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and impact across the UN system requires our international representatives to be highly skilled and effective negotiators, able to respond to the range of challenges a multilateral post can bring. These roles are competitive, allowing the FCDO to ensure that roles are filled in a way that ensures the most impact and influence; retaining necessary skills and talent while also utilising the breadth of knowledge and capability high-calibre individuals can bring. Any planning for the future of an effective diplomatic service will retain individuals who reflect such capabilities. 20. With the workforce reduction, the FCDO will be a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Decisions are being made strategically, guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise to ensure we retain the capability to deliver UK strength, security and prosperity. It is in recognition of the current global challenges we face that we are working to ensure a higher proportion of our staff are overseas, on the frontline of delivery. The FCDO can commit to ensuring that the UK missions to the UN will continue to be staffed at appropriate levels with high calibre individuals.