Recommendations & Conclusions
24 items
1
Conclusion
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Acknowledged
The cuts to bilateral and multilateral Official Development Assistance on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) since 2020 have had a considerably negative impact upon the aid recipients of SRHR programmes, particularly on women and girls and those belonging to marginalised groups. The abrupt nature of the aid cuts …
Government response. The FCDO agrees with the committee's conclusions, acknowledging that cuts to UK ODA budgets have negatively impacted SRHR work and caused damage, while noting the UK remains a major SRHR donor.
2
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The Committee welcomes the FCDO’s recent policy statements which have renewed the FCDO’s commitment to SRHR. To turn words into action, this should be backed up by consistent and long-term funding.
Government response. The FCDO agrees that consistent and long-term funding is necessary, highlighting ongoing long-term partnerships, renewed funding of £80m to the Global Financing Facility, and the next iteration of the Reproductive Health Supplies programme until 2030.
3
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Rejected
In order to meet previously set targets in this area, the FCDO should calculate a minimum percentage of bilateral Official Development Assistance to be spent on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). It should explain to the Committee why it has chosen this target and ensure adequate commitment of …
Government response. The FCDO disagrees with setting minimum percentage spending targets for SRHR, arguing it would reduce budget flexibility, limit financial management capabilities, and lead to suboptimal programming.
4
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
Multilateral organisations are sometimes best placed to act and implement aid programming on sexual and reproductive health. The UK has historically been a key donor to multilateral organisations working on sexual and reproductive health. Evidence to the Committee has shown the benefits of both bilateral and multilateral funding. The FCDO …
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees, acknowledging the importance of multilateral organisations and outlining its current support. However, it states it cannot commit to a set level of financial contribution or restore discretionary funding to pre-pandemic levels, preferring to assess funding based …
5
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
The Committee is pleased to see the FCDO’s continuing commitment to family planning as a core part of its work on sexual and reproductive health, including the provision of safe and legal abortion services. However, the FCDO’s abrupt and sudden cuts to SRHR programmes directly led to the reduction in …
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees, stating it has returned funding to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership to 2019 levels (£60m in 2022 and 2023). However, it is unable to restore core funding to the UNFPA to pre-Covid-19 levels, though it is increasing …
6
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The use of telemedicine and self-management in SRHR programmes could increase the accessibility, reach and effectiveness of such programmes. The FCDO should consider how to incorporate the use of telemedicine and self-management of SRHR in its aid programming, such as in providing access to safe abortion, and update the Committee …
Government response. The FCDO agrees that telemedicine and self-management can improve SRHR programming, detailing how it already supports these approaches through initiatives like the UNFPA Supplies Partnership for self-managed medical abortions and the WISH programme for self-injectable contraception and telemedicine services.
7
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
The FCDO’s approach papers on ending preventable deaths of mothers, babies and children by 2030 (EPD) and health systems strengthening (HSS) show a positive step in the right direction. However, in the absence of key targets for progress or regular updates, it has proved difficult to assess the effectiveness of …
Government response. The FCDO will publish an Ending Preventable Deaths (EPD) narrative report in 2024 with progress, and will report against key EPD indicators through existing mechanisms like the FCDO Outcome Delivery Plan, rather than establishing a new annual reporting framework.
8
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
Access to clean water and the provision of adequate sanitation and hygiene reduces the risk of maternal and newborn mortality. In complementarity to its approach on SRHR spending, the FCDO should calculate and justify a minimum bilateral ODA percentage that it must spend on WASH to reach its development targets. …
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees, committing to an integrated approach for WASH and SRHR and detailing its £18.5 million WASH Systems for Health programme. However, it rejects setting a minimum bilateral ODA percentage for WASH, citing the need for budget flexibility.
9
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
The involvement of trained health personnel and access to adequate health care facilities for maternal and newborn health improves health outcomes for the mother and child. The FCDO should support the strengthening of healthcare systems by prioritising investment in the development of health infrastructure, particularly WASH infrastructure. The FCDO should …
Government response. The government agrees to support healthcare systems, training, and WASH infrastructure through existing and new programmes like WISH Dividend and the new WASH Systems programme. However, it explicitly rejects setting a minimum percentage of ODA for health personnel training, citing …
10
Conclusion
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Acknowledged
To meet menstrual health needs, women and girls must be able to access accurate, timely and age-appropriate information about menstruation. In addition, they need access to WASH services and inclusive infrastructure. Without adequate services and facilities, managing menstruation can be a challenge for women and girls in low-and-middle-income countries, preventing …
Government response. The FCDO agrees, affirming its belief in enabling women and girls to manage periods safely and with dignity, and recognising that inadequate WASH services in schools can lead to girls missing education.
11
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The FCDO should support menstrual health by supporting the provision of WASH services and infrastructure and access to menstrual products. In particular, the FCDO should ensure that its work in the education and WASH sectors complement its SRHR work in this area, for example, ensuring that education programmes include the …
Government response. The FCDO agrees and states it is already supporting menstrual health through constructing menstrual-friendly toilets, providing reusable sanitary products, offering comprehensive sexuality education, and investing in reproductive health supplies via programmes like the Girls' Education Challenge.
12
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The FCDO has not sufficiently addressed the threat of gynaecological disease in its SRHR programming, despite the risk it poses to the SRH of women and girls. The prevalence of cervical cancer among women and girls in lower-income countries is also concerning, especially as adequate provision of the HPV vaccine …
Government response. The FCDO agrees, detailing its existing support for HPV vaccine rollout through Gavi and market shaping for cervical cancer screening via Unitaid. It also confirms the forthcoming WISH Dividend program will include treatment of benign gynaecological disease where feasible, and …
13
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
Female genital schistosomiasis is a painful and debilitating but treatable condition affecting up to 56 million women. FGS is best tackled through an integrated approach with wider SRHR programming, as well as with other areas of programming such as education, WASH and HIV and AIDS. The UK should integrate female …
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees, noting existing research support and integration efforts for FGS with HIV/SRHR services via UNAIDS. It commits to including FGS treatment in the forthcoming WISH Dividend program where feasible and will explore further integration into SRHR programming.
14
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The UK Government has long been an opponent of female genital mutilation (FGM) and has worked against FGM both bilaterally and multilaterally. The UK Government should renew its commitment to preventing female genital mutilation through funding multilateral and bilateral programmes, including those tackling the medicalisation of FGM and ‘cross-border cutting’, …
Government response. The FCDO agrees and reaffirms its commitment to ending FGM, detailing ongoing funding for the Africa-led Movement (£35m) and the UN Joint Programme. It also commits to using diplomatic levers, potentially sanctions and travel bans, mobilising new funding for grassroots …
15
Conclusion
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The goal of ending AIDS cannot be reached without access to proper care and treatment for all people living with HIV, and action to bring down the large numbers of people newly acquiring HIV (1.3 million in 2022, far above the global target of 500,000 by 2025). More than 40 …
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees the AIDS epidemic is a major barrier and acknowledges COVID-19's impact, stating it remains a significant funder in the HIV response and continues to support key partners like the Global Fund, WHO, Unitaid, and UNAIDS.
16
Conclusion
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Acknowledged
To support the achievement of global targets on ending AIDS, and to retain the UK’s historical leadership in this important area of SRHR, the FCDO should retain bilateral investments in HIV prevention and treatment, both through dedicated HIV programming and in its support for integrated SRHR, with a special focus …
Government response. The government gives a 'Partially Agree' response but provides no further details or specific commitments under this recommendation.
17
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The FCDO should also actively encourage the effective integration of HIV into sexual and reproductive health services, by explicitly including HIV in SRHR policy documents and funding calls and requiring the inclusion of organisations with HIV expertise in the SRHR programmes that it funds. These services should also be designed, …
Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation, stating its HIV support is part of comprehensive SRHR and it expects all health programming to become integrated. It highlights that bilateral programmes are designed with community engagement and that existing funding supports civil …
18
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The FCDO should have a holistic and integrated approach to all of its sexual and reproductive healthcare programming to enable recipients to live a healthy life and reach their full potential. When funding sexual and reproductive healthcare, the UK should also consider investing in a ‘one-stop shop’ approach to SRHR …
Government response. The FCDO agrees with a holistic and integrated approach to SRHR, detailing how its WISH programme and the upcoming WISH Dividend will provide integrated services, and how its Girls' Education Challenge offers comprehensive SRHR interventions. It notes that some targeted …
19
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
Access to SRHR services and comprehensive sex education is vital to adolescents; however, adolescents may often face barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Ensuring that women and girls are fully educated on sexual and reproductive health can empower them and give them the autonomy to make informed decisions …
Government response. The FCDO agrees and states it is already supporting comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) through several programmes, including its Girls’ Education Challenge and the upcoming WISH Dividend programme, which will include CSE where appropriate.
20
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
People accessing SRHR services may be vulnerable, such as adolescents. The FCDO should ensure that staff who are delivering FCDO-funded aid programmes receive training to be able to recognise safeguarding concerns when interacting with aid recipients. These staff should be empowered to signpost aid recipients to the appropriate services and …
Government response. The FCDO agrees with the recommendation, stating it already works closely with partners to ensure a strong safeguarding culture and systems, which includes responding to concerns and signposting vulnerable individuals to wider services.
21
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted in Part
People with disabilities may face additional barriers to accessing SRHR programmes and providing services to people with disabilities may often take additional resources. Consequently, organisations implementing development programmes may be disincentivised from reaching marginalised groups as programmes are often required to show that they have reached as many recipients as …
Government response. The FCDO partially agrees, committing to embed disability inclusion by 2030 and ensure new SRHR programmes like WISH Dividend disaggregate data, have targets, and dedicated budgets. However, they state it is not possible to disaggregate data for all SRHR programming …
22
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
People from marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities and LGBT+ people, may face additional and unique challenges in accessing SRHR services. The FCDO should ensure its commitment to the principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’ in all its SRHR aid programmes. The FCDO should include hard-to-reach aid recipients, often …
Government response. The FCDO agrees and, as outlined in its 2022 Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy, commits to increasing consultation and active involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities in SRHR programs, strengthening their capacity, and partnering in delivery, citing the ongoing …
23
Recommendation
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Accepted
The FCDO has made positive progress in tackling sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian contexts, such as by adopting the Minimum Initial Services Package. The FCDO should ensure that SRHR services in these contexts reach the most marginalised groups and consider how to further implement SRHR aid programming in humanitarian …
Government response. The FCDO agrees, committing to considering SRHR in all humanitarian funding, supporting MISP rollout, ensuring cross-working, and producing a technical guidance note. It states the WISH Dividend programme is designed to prioritise support to fragile states and ensure services reach …
24
Conclusion
First Report - The FCDO’s approach to s…
Acknowledged
Over recent years, there has been an alarming rollback on the rights of women and girls globally, of which SRHR are integral, and further criminalisation of LGBT+ people. The merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the Department for International Development offers an opportunity for the FCDO to better …
Government response. The government gives a 'Partially Agree' response but provides no further details or specific commitments under this recommendation.