Recommendations & Conclusions
24 items
1
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We understand that the FCDO has reasons for clearly defining and limiting its liability in respect of its contractual relationships with its external partners. However, we believe that events in Afghanistan have clearly illustrated that the Government’s policies should encompass much more than the legal aspects of duty of care …
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We understand that the FCDO has reasons for clearly defining and limiting its liability in respect of its contractual relationships with its external partners. However, we believe that events in Afghanistan have clearly illustrated that the Government’s policies should encompass much more than the legal aspects of duty of care as defined in its legal relationships with its suppliers and contactors.
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Government response AI summary
The government stands by its duty of care obligations to those whom it employs directly, and the FCDO publishes travel advice to reflect the security situation in each country.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
2
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We believe that the FCDO should consider what moral obligations it has to aid sector workers who deliver UK aid and FCDO aims and objectives. We urge the FCDO to take a broader, more holistic view of its duty of care to people working in the aid sector.
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We believe that the FCDO should consider what moral obligations it has to aid sector workers who deliver UK aid and FCDO aims and objectives. We urge the FCDO to take a broader, more holistic view of its duty of care to people working in the aid sector.
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Government response AI summary
The Government stands by its duty of care obligations to those whom it employs directly and publishes travel advice to reflect the security situation in each country.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We recommend that the FCDO take steps to better identify and assess the particular risks facing aid workers so that it can respond more effectively to those aid workers when they are in need of support in countries or regions where there is acute instability or signs of a rapidly …
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We recommend that the FCDO take steps to better identify and assess the particular risks facing aid workers so that it can respond more effectively to those aid workers when they are in need of support in countries or regions where there is acute instability or signs of a rapidly deteriorating security situation. FCDO staff in embassies in such countries should better communicate any signs of a potential deterioration in the security situation in country to those delivering UK aid programmes so that they can take appropriate steps to protect the safety of their staff.
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Government response AI summary
The government already publishes travel advice reflecting the security situation, available to all including external partners, and committed to consistent safety and security advice.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
4
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We were disappointed about the exclusion from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme of Afghan aid workers to whom the UK Government had clear lines of moral responsibility, either because they were sub- contracted by the UK Government or employed by aid agencies in receipt of UK aid. …
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We were disappointed about the exclusion from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme of Afghan aid workers to whom the UK Government had clear lines of moral responsibility, either because they were sub- contracted by the UK Government or employed by aid agencies in receipt of UK aid. We are disappointed that Afghan aid workers have not been explicitly recognised in the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). We are very concerned about the time being taken by the Government to implement the ACRS and whether Afghan aid workers will receive protection under that scheme.
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Government response AI summary
The Home Office retains responsibility for immigration and visa policy. The government states that the capacity of the UK to resettle people is not unlimited, and difficult decisions about who should be prioritised for resettlement are therefore unavoidable.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
5
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We call on the Government to accelerate without further delay all pathways of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and ensure that aid sector staff are explicitly recognised and prioritised for protection under the ACRS.
Government response AI summary
The government has already begun resettling families under the ‘first pathway’ of the ACRS, with plans to launch the ‘third pathway’ as soon as possible, under which the government will consider eligible at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni for resettlement.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Rejected
The Government should not consider people evacuated under Operation Pitting under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), instead it should consider those people under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme (ARAP) or other pre-existing pathways. The ACRS should be reserved for people: • located in Afghanistan; • located in …
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The Government should not consider people evacuated under Operation Pitting under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), instead it should consider those people under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme (ARAP) or other pre-existing pathways. The ACRS should be reserved for people: • located in Afghanistan; • located in third countries; • who have travelled to the UK, without UK Government assistance, from Afghanistan. (Paragraph 36) Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan people 29
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation and believes it is right that those evacuated under Operation Pitting were offered immediate sanctuary and support in the UK, including some being resettled under the ACRS.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
7
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Not Addressed
The Government should ensure transparency of reporting on the number of people resettled under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) by publishing a quarterly report on the number of people resettled under that scheme, publishing that first report by the end of June 2022.
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The Government should ensure transparency of reporting on the number of people resettled under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) by publishing a quarterly report on the number of people resettled under that scheme, publishing that first report by the end of June 2022.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Not Addressed
We welcome the establishment of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit but note the lack of clarity around the cost, staffing and current workload of that Unit. We are also concerned that more than three months after it was set up there is still no clarity on whether or not any …
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We welcome the establishment of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit but note the lack of clarity around the cost, staffing and current workload of that Unit. We are also concerned that more than three months after it was set up there is still no clarity on whether or not any of the costs of that Unit will be counted as UK ODA expenditure. We recommend that the Government: • establish targets for the performance of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit and report quarterly against those targets, publishing that first report by the end of June 2022; • report the number of cases involving people employed as aid workers that the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit has taken receipt of, and report the status of those cases, by the end of June 2022; and • publish the costs of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit it attributes to the ODA budget. (Paragraph 46) Provision of UK aid to Afghanistan
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the initial target of resettling 5000 people during Year 1 of the ACRS will be exceeded, and that the scheme is expected to resettle up to 20000 people in total, but does not address any of the specific recommendations.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
9
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We are very concerned about the time the Government has taken to disburse the UK aid it has pledged to Afghanistan, given the considerable and escalating humanitarian need in the country. The Government should have worked faster to disburse the UK aid it pledged to Afghanistan in 2021.
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We are very concerned about the time the Government has taken to disburse the UK aid it has pledged to Afghanistan, given the considerable and escalating humanitarian need in the country. The Government should have worked faster to disburse the UK aid it pledged to Afghanistan in 2021.
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Government response AI summary
The FCDO phases aid against developing needs, partners' capability to implement, and responds to aid agencies' appeals, ensuring funds are spent responsibly, engaging with partners and providing funding.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
10
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Government’s publication of 15 December 2021 showing details of the allocation and disbursal of the aid it has pledged to Afghanistan. We urge the Government to publish monthly updates on the allocation and disbursal of its aid to Afghanistan and to countries in the region.
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We welcome the Government’s publication of 15 December 2021 showing details of the allocation and disbursal of the aid it has pledged to Afghanistan. We urge the Government to publish monthly updates on the allocation and disbursal of its aid to Afghanistan and to countries in the region.
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Government response AI summary
The government will publish a second WMS providing details of disbursement for FY 2021/22 and publish financial disbursements on Development Tracker, but without full partner details for security reasons.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
11
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We urge the FCDO to release more information on its Development Tracker web pages to better ensure the transparency of reporting on the ODA funding it has allocated to projects in Afghanistan (if necessary, redacting parts of that information to mitigate any risks to safety and security).
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We urge the FCDO to release more information on its Development Tracker web pages to better ensure the transparency of reporting on the ODA funding it has allocated to projects in Afghanistan (if necessary, redacting parts of that information to mitigate any risks to safety and security).
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Government response AI summary
Information and documents relating to the majority of funding in 2021/22 has been redacted and re-uploaded to Development Tracker, and new or recently amended programmes are currently being redacted for publication as soon as possible.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
12
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We urge the FCDO to update information on all ODA allocations (for all countries) on Development Tracker within a three-month period of those allocations having been made. (Paragraph 63) Other factors affecting the humanitarian situation and the disbursal of aid
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We urge the FCDO to update information on all ODA allocations (for all countries) on Development Tracker within a three-month period of those allocations having been made. (Paragraph 63) Other factors affecting the humanitarian situation and the disbursal of aid
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Government response AI summary
The government states that all financial contributions to partners will be published on the Development Tracker within three months, and in most cases much more quickly, with any potentially sensitive information redacted, as the Tracker is directly linked with FCDO's financial systems.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
13
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
The Government has been far too slow to work with its international counterparts to find ways to help unblock the banking system in Afghanistan. This has put at grave risk the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. It is also deepening the humanitarian suffering of the people …
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The Government has been far too slow to work with its international counterparts to find ways to help unblock the banking system in Afghanistan. This has put at grave risk the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. It is also deepening the humanitarian suffering of the people of Afghanistan. (Paragraph 71) 30 Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan people
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Government response AI summary
The government has been discussing the banking crisis with international partners and the UN since September 2021, secured UNSCR 2615, passed this into domestic legislation, updated UK guidance, and worked to provide assurance to financial institutions, and established mechanisms including co-leading a working group with …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
14
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
The UK Government should be taking more urgent steps to collaborate with its international counterparts, economists, representatives of the banking sector and aid organisations to find ways to help address more rapidly the banking crisis in Afghanistan to ease the humanitarian suffering of, and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance …
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The UK Government should be taking more urgent steps to collaborate with its international counterparts, economists, representatives of the banking sector and aid organisations to find ways to help address more rapidly the banking crisis in Afghanistan to ease the humanitarian suffering of, and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance to, the people of Afghanistan.
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Government response AI summary
The government has been discussing the banking crisis with international partners and the UN since September 2021, secured UNSCR 2615, passed this into domestic legislation, updated UK guidance, and worked to provide assurance to financial institutions, and established mechanisms including co-leading a working group with …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We recognise the necessity of having to work with the Taliban. We endorse the Government’s policy of developing a pragmatic working relationship with the Taliban to enable humanitarian aid to reach the people of Afghanistan.
Government response AI summary
FCDO officials continue to engage in pragmatic dialogue with the Taliban. The UK has opened a temporary UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha to lead diplomatic engagement.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
16
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We urge the Government to maintain its policy of working with the Taliban to enable humanitarian aid to reach the people of Afghanistan.
Government response AI summary
The government states that it regularly makes clear to the Taliban that humanitarian aid requires, among other things, no interference with humanitarian operations, unconditional access for aid workers, and the full access for women and girls to services.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
17
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We stand with the UK Government on seeking to ensure that the rights of women and girls are respected by the Taliban.
Government response AI summary
The government regularly presses the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls, condemns the decision not to reopen girls’ secondary schools, and supports Afghan women's demands for girls' education.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
18
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We call on the Government to ensure that it maintains its focus on working to try and ensure that the Taliban adopts a moderate position whereby it commits to behaving pragmatically towards the inclusion of women, girls and other minority groups in Afghan society.
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We call on the Government to ensure that it maintains its focus on working to try and ensure that the Taliban adopts a moderate position whereby it commits to behaving pragmatically towards the inclusion of women, girls and other minority groups in Afghan society.
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Government response AI summary
The Government states that it regularly consults with Afghan women to inform its policy and programming response, aims for at least 50% of aid recipients to be women and girls, funds child protection and gender-based violence services, and will continue to meet with Afghan women.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
19
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We welcome the adoption of resolution 2615 at the UN Security Council on 22 December 2021, notwithstanding its limitations, and the UK Government’s adoption of that resolution into UK law.
Government response AI summary
The government continues to consult with aid organisations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on the issue of guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan, to address the challenges of delivering aid in high-risk contexts.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
20
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We urge the UK Government to further step up its efforts on working with the UN to ensure that aid organisations can effectively operate under the exemptions that UN resolution 2615 (and consequent UK law) permits. It should also urge the UN Security Council to extend those exemptions beyond their …
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We urge the UK Government to further step up its efforts on working with the UN to ensure that aid organisations can effectively operate under the exemptions that UN resolution 2615 (and consequent UK law) permits. It should also urge the UN Security Council to extend those exemptions beyond their initial 12 months review period.
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Government response AI summary
The government continues to consult with aid organisations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan, and welcomes the engagement of banks and NGOs with regard to the guidance on sanctions.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
21
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
The UK Government should consult with representatives of aid organisations to ensure that it has issued adequate guidance on how to operate further to the adoption of UN resolution 2615 into UK law.
Government response AI summary
The government continues to consult with aid organizations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We welcome the UK’s participation in the Norwegian Government’s talks with the Taliban at the end of January 2021. We call on the UK Government to press for UN resolution 2615 to be extended, or further resolutions to be adopted, to provide exemptions for development assistance, closely linked to the …
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We welcome the UK’s participation in the Norwegian Government’s talks with the Taliban at the end of January 2021. We call on the UK Government to press for UN resolution 2615 to be extended, or further resolutions to be adopted, to provide exemptions for development assistance, closely linked to the performance of the Taliban on upholding human rights and international law.
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Government response AI summary
The UK will have the opportunity to propose edits to Resolution 2615 when it is reviewed within a year of being adopted, but any edits will need to be negotiated with other members of the Security Council and adopted without a Permanent Member veto.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
23
Conclusion
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Accepted
We welcome the steps the Government has taken to help free up the funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. However, the World Bank’s progress on releasing those funds has been agonizingly slow. Political and bureaucratic wrangling is impeding the release of over $1 billion already set aside for the …
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We welcome the steps the Government has taken to help free up the funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. However, the World Bank’s progress on releasing those funds has been agonizingly slow. Political and bureaucratic wrangling is impeding the release of over $1 billion already set aside for the Afghan people.
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Government response AI summary
The UK has been a leading voice supporting the repurposing of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. They were instrumental in supporting the announcement of 10 December 2021 transferring out $280 million of available funds to support the World Food Programme and UNICEF.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
24
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support …
Acknowledged
We ask the Government to do more to encourage the World Bank to swiftly release the remaining funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund so that aid organisations can use that money to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. (Paragraph 100) Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and …
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We ask the Government to do more to encourage the World Bank to swiftly release the remaining funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund so that aid organisations can use that money to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. (Paragraph 100) Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan people 31
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Government response AI summary
The UK supports the release of funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund as soon as possible and continues to work with international partners to support the World Bank in unlocking and repurposing existing funding.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office