Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Rejected
Ringfence Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning spend within programme budgets to protect accountability and impact.
Conclusion
It is essential that the FCDO ringfences MEL spend within programme budgets and protects these throughout the reduction of ODA to 0.3% of GNI. Further cuts to MEL threaten to undermine the very assessments that sustain the accountability and impact of all FCDO work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 109)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to ringfence MEL spend within programme budgets, stating it is not appropriate in the current fiscal landscape as FCDO requires flexibility to prioritise resources. They remain committed to proportionate and strategic MEL.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Disagree. The Government recognises the Committee’s concerns and remains committed to delivering proportionate, strategic MEL that strengthens accountability, adaptability, and VfM. However, ringfencing MEL budgets is not appropriate in the current fiscal landscape. The FCDO must have the flexibility to prioritise and allocate resources in the most efficient way to deliver the greatest impact; in some cases this will involve trade-offs between delivery and MEL spending. Ringfencing limits the ability to navigate these trade-offs to maximise impact. Monitoring will continue to be mandatory, and MEL approaches will be made fit for purpose by adapting systems, targeting evidence gaps, and preparing a new evaluation strategy for 2026 to support a more agile, impactful evaluation function.