Select Committee · International Development Committee

Effectiveness of UK AID

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Mar 2020 Closed: 2 Oct 2020 12 recommendations 4 conclusions 2 reports

Interim and final Report's published The International Development Committee launched an inquiry into the role of UK aid and the work of the Department for International Development (DFID). The inquiry was aimed at the fundamentals of what UK aid is spent on and who spends it. During this inquiry, the Government merged the FCO and … Show more

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Effectiveness of UK aid: potential impact o… HC 596 16 Jul 2020 16 Responded
Second Report - Effectiveness of UK aid: interim findings HC 215 9 Jun 2020 0

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
12 Recommendation Fourth Report - Effectiveness of UK aid… Accepted in Part

Aid spending through the FCO continues to raise concerns relating to transparency and quality of...

Aid spending through the FCO continues to raise concerns relating to transparency and quality of programming. With the new FCDO set to become the largest Effectiveness of UK aid: potential impact of FCO/DFID merger 39 implementing department of UK aid spending, this trend is very concerning. The Government should set … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government commits to improving global aid transparency and maintaining high standards, stating that work has begun to integrate data systems and that the FCDO will be assessed in the 2022 Aid Transparency Index, but it does not commit to all UK ODA funding meeting …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15 Recommendation Fourth Report - Effectiveness of UK aid… Accepted in Part

Through its close work with us, and our sub-committee, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact...

Through its close work with us, and our sub-committee, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) is a crucial part of the robust scrutiny architecture which ensures the aid budget is well spent. ICAI’s expert reviews identify areas of good practice as well as areas for improvement, helping the UK … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government confirms ICAI will continue to provide independent scrutiny, but its mandate will be broadened to include policy recommendations. A review has been commissioned to ensure its remit and methods align with the new department's aims, rather than retaining it in its exact current …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
28 Apr 2020 Joelle Jenny · Cabinet Secretariat, Nick Dyer · Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Rt Hon James Cleverly View ↗
17 Mar 2020 Emma Mawdsley · University of Cambridge, Ian Mitchell · Centre for Global Development, James Rogers · Henry Jackson Society, Tamsyn Barton · Independent Commission for Aid Impact View ↗

Who gave evidence

8 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Emma Mawdsley · Vice-Principal, Fellow, Newham College University of Cambridge 1
Ian Mitchell · Co-Director, Europe and Senior Policy Fellow Centre for Global Development 1
James Rogers · Directory of the Society's Global Britain Program… Henry Jackson Society 1
Joelle Jenny · Director of Joint Funds Unit Cabinet Secretariat 1
Nick Dyer · Second Permanent Under-Secretary Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan 1
Rt Hon James Cleverly 1
Tamsyn Barton · Chief Commissioner Independent Commission for Aid Impact 1

Correspondence

10 letters
DateDirectionTitle
22 Sep 2020 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary to the Chair, concerning the creation…
10 Jul 2020 Correspondence from the Deputy National Security Adviser, 10 Downing Street to …
10 Jul 2020 Correspondence to the Prime Minister from the Chair's of the Defence, Foreign A…
10 Jul 2020 Correspondence from the Deputy National Security Adviser to the International D…
2 Jul 2020 To cttee Correspondence following Chair's letter from the Secretary of State for Interna…
2 Jul 2020 Correspondence from the Secretary of State for International Development and Fo…
2 Jul 2020 Correspondence from the Chair to the Secretary of State for International Devel…
19 May 2020 Correspondence from the Director, Joint Funds Unit, relating to follow-up on th…
19 May 2020 Correspondence from the Secretary of State, relating to follow-up to the Effect…
26 Mar 2020 Correspondence from the Prime Minister, second reply, concerning the Integrated…