Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 37
37
Acknowledged
Overly-politicised humanitarian responses risk safe delivery of UK-funded aid.
Conclusion
While it is important that the UK’s aid, trade, defence and diplomacy objectives are coherent, there is a risk that overly-politicised humanitarian responses can make the safe delivery of UK-funded support difficult. (Conclusion, Paragraph 73)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that humanitarian aid must be impartial, outlining its current approach to ensure principled aid delivery through strong partnerships, coherent diplomatic action, new humanitarian diplomacy training, and a humanitarian allocation model.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We agree that humanitarian aid must be facilitated in an impartial, neutral and independent way without political or physical impediments. The protection of civilians, including humanitarian aid workers, must be central to UK diplomatic action and is crucial to ensure safe delivery of UK funded aid. Partnership with humanitarian aid organisations, particularly including local actors, is integral to ensure diplomatic action is anchored in the realities faced by those operating on the frontlines, upholds their humanitarian principles and promotes their safety. Close partnership between posts and headquarters including FCDO’s political and diplomatic representatives, humanitarian and conflict advisers and legal counsel, is another key aspect of the FCDO approach to using humanitarian diplomacy to enhance humanitarian outcomes. This ensures a coherent approach to wider UK government objectives. Investment in capability is also key. The FCDO’s new internal humanitarian diplomacy training includes a focus on the opportunities posed by effective humanitarian diplomacy for humanitarian access and protection, lessons learnt, as well as risks and mitigation measures. The FCDO’s Humanitarian Allocation Model uses the best available humanitarian data to inform funding allocations across our bilateral portfolio. The model principally prioritises higher severity contexts over lower severity contexts, helping to ensure that delivery of humanitarian ODA is principled and prioritises those most in need.