Recommendation 19

HM Government Acknowledged

Partially Agree 34. The FCDO is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit – taking account of country need and long term UK interest. The UK will prioritize our geographic ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute – to reach those in greatest need and address underlying causes of conflict and fragility. 35. Local civil society is an essential partner as they bring qualities which allow them to support sustainable solutions over the long-term due to their understanding of local contexts and needs. The UK is focusing on locally led approaches that allow governments and civil society to anticipate, manage and reduce risks, strengthen resilience and bring long-term mutual benefits for partner countries and the UK. 36. The UK’s International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls reaffirms our enduring commitment to advancing the rights, safety and opportunities of women and girls worldwide. The Framework sets out a clear and ambitious agenda for action, recognizing that women’s and girls’ rights, while important in their own right, are also essential to global stability, prosperity and sustainable development. 37. It outlines four priorities: tackling violence and abuse, driving growth and shared prosperity, advancing women’s political and civic participation, and access to essential health and education, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. 38. In launching this Framework, the Government is setting out how advancing women’s and girls’ rights will be ingrained across all work, bilaterally and multilaterally and across diplomacy, security, development and trade. 39. Funding towards ending violence against women and girls has been protected in the allocations. The Foreign Secretary has called violence against women and girls a global emergency and has pledged to ensure women and girls around the world can thrive and flourish – free from violence and free from fear. 40. The FCDO has raised our ambition, committing that at least 90% of FCDO bilateral ODA programmes will have a focus on gender equality by 2030. Our approach is grounded in evidence driven policy and programming, improved transparency, and a commitment to ensure women and girls—particularly the most marginalised—are at the centre of our priorities across every context. 41. The FCDO has Social Development Advisers (SDAs) who are deep experts accredited against technical competencies, including gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women and girls, and empowerment and accountability. 42. In addition, the FCDO also has Regional Gender and Equalities Advisers and a network affiliates engaged in issues to do with gender—and wider— equalities and social inclusion. The FCDO will continue to monitor staffing decisions and provide support across the Department to enable sufficient technical capability to deliver on objectives. 43. Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) which consider impacts on people with relevant and protected characteristics – are an essential part of how the Government makes decisions on ODA allocations. As set out in the EIA, the UK has protected bilateral spending on violence against women and girls, and relatively protected sexual and reproductive health and rights programming and funding for Education Cannot Wait. 44. The UK is prioritising ODA where it can have the greatest impact, including in the areas partners consistently say matter most – humanitarian, health, climate & nature and economic development. Meanwhile, the UK’s bilateral partnerships are being transformed to be more responsive to partner needs. Our missions abroad will have the flexibility to deliver the most effective programming, informed by bilateral partners and experts on the ground, including in fragile and conflict-affected states.