Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Initiate new multilateral aid review by 2025/26 to assess ODA value for money and impact.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government conducts a new multilateral aid review of its current ODA spending to ensure that VfM is being achieved by the end of the 2025/26 financial year. This should include: a. An evaluation of the most effective proportion of spending through multilateral vs bilateral programming; b. Consideration of the benefits the UK receives through its multilateral development programming; c. How much UK funding to multilateral organisations is going towards administration costs compared to direct programme activities; and d. Evaluation of the performance of each multilateral organisations receiving UK ODA, including their impact, efficiency and alignment with UK priorities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with conducting a new multilateral aid review, stating that FCDO funding to multilateral organizations is already regularly scrutinized through existing processes like PrOF, Central Assurance Assessments, and Spending Review evaluations.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Disagree. The FCDO’s funding to multilateral development organisations is scrutinised regularly in line with the PrOF. This specifies the rules which must be applied when delivering the FCDO’s policy and programmes. These include reviewing performance against objectives and alignment to UK priorities and conducting Central Assurance Assessments of each multilateral organisation that are given core funding. As well as these internal tools, HMG also uses external assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the multilateral organisations that the UK funds. This includes the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network which carries out regular assessments of multilateral organisations that receive ODA. During Spending Review processes, the FCDO evaluates how well the multilateral portfolio aligns with UK objectives and assesses the impact and VfM of multilateral programmes. As part of the current ODA allocation process, the FCDO is prioritising funding for multilateral organisations that deliver the greatest impact for UK priorities.