Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Paragraph: 81
Classifying all spending in low-and-middle-income countries as ODA may meet the letter of OECD rules,...
Conclusion
Classifying all spending in low-and-middle-income countries as ODA may meet the letter of OECD rules, but it contravenes their spirit. Programmes that may contribute to foreign policy objectives, but that do not have a measurable effect on poverty, should not be classified as ODA spending.
Government Response Summary
The government stated that all UK ODA spending adheres to OECD DAC rules, promoting economic development and welfare in developing countries. The UK’s ODA spend is guided by the International Development Strategy, aligned to the SDGs and focused on poverty reduction.
Paragraph Reference:
81
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
All UK ODA spending adheres to the international rules on aid as set and governed by the OECD DAC. These stipulate that all ODA spend must be administered with the promotion of economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective. The DAC rules ensure that aid statistics from member states are reported in a consistent and comparable manner. The UK’s ODA spend is guided by the International Development Strategy, which is closely aligned to the SDGs and focused on poverty reduction. Where aid is spent under the International Development Act, it requires that the Secretary of State must be satisfied that providing assistance is likely to contribute to a reduction in poverty.