Recommendation 23

HM Government Deferred

47. The FCDO is committed to shifting towards a more locally led approach, in line with international commitments such as the Grand Bargain1 and Busan Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation2. The IDS makes our ambitions in this area clear, stating: ‘Those who benefit from our work must have a voice in what we do, and how we do it. The difficult reforms and good policies that drive progress must be locally owned. Our country partnerships will be anchored in our respect for the rights of our partners to self- determination. Our support will strengthen their sovereignty’. 48. We recognise that these shifts, like all widespread organisational change, will require time to overcome the challenges involved. We are already piloting new approaches to working with local CSOs through our innovative £60m partnership with Comic Relief to build the capacity of Southern CSOs, as well as new programmes to support local Disabled Peoples Rights Organisations and local Women’s Rights Organisations. 1 An agreement between some of the largest donors and humanitarian organisations who have committed to get more means into the hands of people in need and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the humanitarian action. 2 Busan Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation is the outcome document of the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in 2011 49. The IDS also identified ‘reducing bureaucracy’ among our priorities for future aid delivery. We are working with CSOs to determine how we can make our programme approvals and implementation mechanisms more agile. 50. As stated above, the UK Government values the contribution made by CSOs and will continue to work closely with them on atrocity prevention where appropriate. The OCSM will work with civil society groups to explore how analysis from local organisations can support early warning systems.