Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted in Part
Ensure Official Development Assistance for nutrition and food security programming is predictable and long-term.
Recommendation
We recommend that the FCDO put measures in place to ensure that all Official Development Assistance committed to nutrition and food security related programming is predictable and long term, with better safeguards against, and warnings of, any changes to funding agreements with delivery partners. We request the Government outline clearly in their response how 52 it intends to ensure future programmes keep to these standards, and to send us an update on the detail of the implementation measures before the summer Parliamentary recess. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, acknowledging the value of predictable programming and noting the FCDO's ODA budget will have greater certainty. However, final 2025/26 allocations are pending the Spending Review, though they commit to managing funding changes responsibly and informing partners.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Government Response: Partially Agree 26. We agree about the value of predictable and long-term programming. At the Spring Statement it was confirmed that the FCDO will no longer be required to adjust its budgets to hit a calendar year ODA spending commitment. This means the FCDO will no longer be automatically exposed to the volatility of fluctuations in GNI or spending by other government departments, thereby providing the FCDO’s ODA budget greater certainty and predictability. 27. However, while we are committed to taking a long-term approach to our development work, including ODA, decisions on how the ODA budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review and final 2025/26 FCDO ODA allocations are yet to be set. Until final ODA allocations are set this summer, we are prioritising meeting legally binding commitments and delivering work already underway while maximising the FCDO’s flexibility in 2025/26. To allow for critical new development work to continue, the Minister for Development is running an exemptions process, through which some additional programming may proceed. In that context, we therefore partially agree with the recommendation and will consider if there is relevant information we can share with you ahead of the summer Parliamentary recess. 28. Where changes to funding agreements are required, these will be managed in-line with obligations of agreements to ensure responsible revisions or exits. Programme teams will open dialogue with partners with regards to any future changes in budgets as soon as any decisions are made.