Recommendations & Conclusions
17 items
1
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Deferred
Globally, the UK has been at the forefront of advancing disability inclusion across development programmes. However, as equality impact assessments published in recent years confirm, the FCDO knew that Official Development Assistance cuts would significantly harm people with disabilities. (Paragraph 12) Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy 2022–30
Government response. The FCDO's response focuses on the disability strategy's delivery plan, stating that the updated plan will be published following the completion of a strategy review process currently underway. This does not directly address the committee's observation that FCDO knew ODA …
2
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
The Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy provides an excellent framework for improving the disability-inclusivity of the FCDO’s development portfolio. However, major shortcomings have become apparent in the application of the strategy, which are set out in later chapters of this Report.
Government response. The FCDO committed to explicitly referencing the definition in any future iterations of the strategy and delivery plan.
3
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted in Part
The Department should publish the delivery plan alongside its response to this Report, with all subsequent iterations published on completion.
Government response. The government partially agrees, committing to publish the updated delivery plan after the ongoing strategy review process is completed, rather than alongside its current response.
4
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
The Department should include in future iterations of the delivery plan, and any update to the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities definition of disability, to ensure that stakeholders are clear on who the Department is targeting development spending towards, …
Government response. The government agrees and commits to explicitly referencing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities definition of disability in all future iterations of its strategy and delivery plan.
5
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
Despite Government commitments, disability inclusion has not been sufficiently integrated into the FCDO’s policy-making procedures: the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy receives little to no mention across other departmental strategies, suggesting that disability inclusion is not at the forefront of departmental thinking.
Government response. The FCDO stated that its current value for money approach already prioritizes equity, including people with disabilities. It committed to updating its equity and value for money guide and sharing it across its network, with an additional update to be …
6
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Acknowledged
ODA spending on disability inclusion, as measured by the OECD-DAC markers, falls short of our expectations. Whereas efforts to improve gender equality across the Department’s development programmes are assessed against measurable spending targets, disability inclusion does not receive the same focus.
Government response. The FCDO's response is a vague commitment to explore further advocacy, policy, and programme work related to de-institutionalisation and children's social care reform globally, without directly addressing the committee's concerns about ODA spending targets and OECD-DAC markers for disability inclusion.
7
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Deferred
The FCDO must introduce Department-wide targets on disability inclusion, as measured by the OECD-DAC markers, by March 2025, reporting progress to this Committee by September 2025. (Paragraph 38) Data collection
Government response. The FCDO's response focuses on the importance of engaging Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) and has published guidance for staff, stating it will consider additional commitments as part of an upcoming delivery plan review. This does not address the …
8
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Deferred
The FCDO acknowledges the importance of disaggregated data collection, and has in the past made repeated commitments to disaggregate data by disability. However, as acknowledged by the Second Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO, Nick Dyer, this has not been undertaken. We fail to understand how the FCDO and disability-inclusive development …
Government response. The government's response addresses a recommendation for the FCDO to lead government efforts on disability inclusion in humanitarian and climate change policies, acknowledging its importance but stating the scope is beyond the Disability Inclusion Team's capacity. This response completely avoids …
9
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
We recommend that the FCDO includes specific, measurable data disaggregation policies, guided by the UNCRPD definition of disability, in the upcoming iteration of the Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy delivery plan, which it should then share with stakeholders and delivery partners. All bilateral ODA projects should include these targets from …
Government response. The government agrees and is developing a new Inclusive Data Charter Action Plan (IDCAP) to meet commitments to disaggregate data by disability, sex, age, and geography in development programs. The current delivery plan already includes explicit references to disaggregated data.
10
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Acknowledged
People with disabilities are significantly more at risk of sexual exploitation, as well as other forms of exploitation, highlighting the importance of their appropriate safeguarding. However, we are not convinced that the FCDO is doing all it can to properly safeguard people with disabilities in its programming.
Government response. The government states that equity and safeguarding considerations are an integral part of delivering good value for money in the FCDO and intends to update the equity and value for money guide and share across its network, providing an update …
11
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted in Part
We have heard worrying indications that mass institutionalising of people with disabilities can have negative impacts. The FCDO should consider this in its programming, and to ensure that none of its programming perpetuates the negative impact of mass institutionalisation.
Government response. The government partially agrees, recognizing the harm of institutionalisation and reaffirming its commitment to de-institutionalisation in its Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy. The FCDO will consult on related actions for future delivery plans and explore further advocacy and programme work …
12
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
The FCDO should review its approach to securing value for money in development programmes, to ensure that these considerations do not impact on the ability of programmes to effectively safeguard people with disabilities, reporting progress to the Committee within one year of publication of this Report.
Government response. The government agrees, stating that their value for money policy is consistent with safeguarding people with disabilities and already prioritizes equity. They intend to update and share the equity and value for money guide across their network and will provide …
13
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted in Part
In its response to this Report, the FCDO should set out what steps it has taken to end the mass institutionalising of children with disabilities, as well as sharing with the Committee the metrics by which the Department measures its performance in this area. (Paragraph 61) Engagement with Organisations of …
Government response. The government partially agrees, acknowledging the issue and committing to consult on actions for future delivery plans to improve monitoring and evaluation, and to explore further work on de-institutionalisation. However, they note a lack of current robust data makes setting …
14
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
The FCDO is not adequately fulfilling its commitment to the “Nothing about us without us” campaign for engagement with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), which risks undermining support and buy-in for its development programmes from people with disabilities and OPDs.
Government response. The government agrees with the conclusion, stating it has published internal and external guidance for staff to engage more meaningfully with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and its current strategy delivery plan includes key actions to improve consultation and …
15
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted
The next iteration of the DIRS delivery plan should be amended to ensure that Organisations of Persons with Disabilities are consulted on any policies that may affect them. (Paragraph 68) Humanitarian response and climate change
Government response. The government agrees that Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) should be actively involved in FCDO's disability inclusion work. They confirm the current strategy delivery plan includes actions for improving consultation with OPDs, and they will consider additional commitments in …
16
Conclusion
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted in Part
Despite the increasing importance of climate change adaption, as well as the constant threat of conflict, disability-inclusive programming is not sufficiently mandated across FCDO policy documents, risking persons with disabilities being overlooked at times of crisis. (Paragraph 83) 30 FCDO and disability-inclusive development
Government response. The government partially agrees, acknowledging the importance of disability inclusion in humanitarian and climate change policies. The FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy already recognizes this, and inclusive climate action will be upgraded as part of a strategy review, alongside …
17
Recommendation
Third Report - FCDO and disability-incl…
Accepted in Part
Led by its Gender & Equalities Department and Disability Inclusion Team, the FCDO should lead Government efforts to review all humanitarian response and climate change adaption policies, ensuring that each includes stronger commitments on ensuring that disability inclusion is properly considered and funded. (Paragraph 84) FCDO and disability-inclusive development 31
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating that while they accept the importance of disability inclusion in humanitarian and climate policies, the recommended cross-governmental leadership role goes beyond the capacity of the FCDO's Disability Inclusion Team. They detail ongoing internal efforts to …