Recommendations & Conclusions
12 items
3
Recommendation
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
Alongside a clear VfM strategy and framework, the FCDO should publish detailed and practical guidance for its staff and partners on how to approach and conduct VfM assessments, particularly in respect to equity, ensuring that programme activities address the needs of the most marginalised in society. The FCDO should also …
Government response. The government partially agrees, committing to update its internal PrOF Guide on Value for Money (VfM) for staff in 2026 and publish a version for external partners. It will also produce a specific internal 'Equity and VfM' guide for staff.
4
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
The Committee is disappointed to note that per the FCDO’s current published definition of VfM in its Programme Operating Framework, the department frames VfM in the context of value to the taxpayer, not improving the lives of those in poverty. Whilst accountability to the taxpayer should be a key facet …
Government response. The government partially agrees, committing to update its Value for Money (VfM) guidance in 2026 to communicate more clearly the basis on which VfM is assessed. However, it clarifies that, in practice, its ODA expenditure assessments already focus on the …
5
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
It is essential that the FCDO makes it clear in all strategy frameworks and guidance documents that improving the lives of those in poverty is the core principle of the FCDO’s approach to VfM. All economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity assessments must be explicitly considered against this principle. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it will update its Value for Money (VfM) guidance in 2026 to more clearly communicate to staff and partners that improving the lives of those in poverty is a core principle, while affirming that current …
6
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
Sustainability is essential for ensuring that programmes have a long- lasting impact after a programme has ended. Despite broad recognition of the importance of sustainability, the FCDO is yet to formalise this within its VfM criteria. This should not just be an informal consideration within VfM assessments, but should mandatorily …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating sustainability is already integrated into its VfM approach but will develop refreshed VfM guidance in 2026 with a stronger focus on assessing sustainability at each stage.
7
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
The Committee recommend that sustainability should be a named central tenet of the FCDO’s VfM assessment criteria by the end of the 2025/26 financial year, and should be regularly and formally considered throughout the life of a programme. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29) The international development landscape and the UK ODA’s reduction …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating sustainability is already integrated into its VfM approach and that refreshed VfM guidance will be developed in 2026 to strengthen its assessment, but does not commit to making it a named central tenet by the …
22
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
The Minister for International Development must ensure that there is coherence across the department in respect of promoting locally-led programmes and ensuring they deliver good VfM. This should include prioritising the development of a local leadership strategy as a cross- departmental piece of work that places lower- and middle-income countries …
Government response. The government partially agrees, stating it has added ‘locally led’ as a principle in the refreshed PrOF and will provide detailed guidance, indicating local leadership as an organizing principle but not explicitly committing to a new cross-departmental strategy.
23
Recommendation
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
Philanthropic organisations have considerable power that the FCDO is currently not wielding to its maximum impact. Whilst the Government must be aware of the risks and implement mitigations where possible, there are compelling reasons for the Department to improve engagement with philanthropic organisations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 74)
Government response. The government partially agrees on the importance of philanthropic partnerships, stating it is committed to deepening these, has convened strategic roundtables, and is proactively assessing ways to systematically partner, including through strategic dialogues.
24
Recommendation
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the FCDO convenes regular strategic dialogues with philanthropists and development foundations to ensure that work can be aligned and complementary, and to encourage knowledge sharing. (Recommendation, Paragraph 75)
Government response. The government partially agrees, noting it already convenes strategic roundtables with philanthropists and is proactively assessing ways to systematically partner, including by convening strategic dialogues to align work and share knowledge.
26
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
It is essential that the FCDO requires all of its contracts with private contractors to adhere to the International Aid Transparency Initiative, not just most, to ensure that all implementers of UK ODA are held to the same transparency and accountability standards. (Recommendation, Paragraph 88)
Government response. The government agrees more can be done to improve IATI publishing and is reviewing its approach to partner publishing, aiming to increase the proportion of partners that publish data while streamlining the process. However, they acknowledge challenges with sensitive data …
32
Conclusion
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
Whilst the FCDO’s strong MEL processes help to ensure that programmes are delivering VfM, these expectations increase administrative demands on organisations delivering these programmes. This may lead to smaller NGOs not applying for programme funding. (Conclusion, Paragraph 102)
Government response. The government partially agrees, acknowledging the need to ensure MEL requirements do not create barriers for smaller organisations. They commit to forthcoming updates to MEL guidance and programme performance reviews to reinforce a proportionate approach, and will work to eliminate …
33
Recommendation
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
Wherever possible, the UK should support smaller organisations in MEL processes without placing unrealistic expectations on the level of data and reporting they are able to provide. Whilst we recognise and agree that MEL is vital for ensuring VfM, this should not be at the expense of using local organisations. …
Government response. The government partially agrees, committing to ensuring MEL requirements do not create barriers for smaller organisations through proportionate application and forthcoming guidance updates. However, they do not accept the recommendation to establish business hubs, deeming a one-size-fits-all approach inappropriate.
34
Recommendation
7th Report – Assessing Value, Ensuring …
Accepted in Part
To enhance the effectiveness and accountability of UK ODA spending, we recommend that MEL reporting requirements of ODA programming should be standardised across all Government departments. In line with our recommendation in Chapter 2, the Second Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO should have formal oversight of this, given their responsibility …
Government response. The government partially agrees, noting existing cross-government guidance supports consistent MEL standards and that a refreshed ODA Delivery and Impact Board will improve data sharing and alignment across government. However, they do not fully commit to standardising all reporting requirements …