Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Accepted in Part
Sustained focus on underlying hunger causes and whole-of-government approach remains crucial.
Recommendation
We are encouraged that the department appears to understand the importance of harmonising development programming and the importance of considering issues of age, gender, nutrition and food security across the piece. However, it is important that this Government build on the progress of the last by identifying where there is still room for improvement, adequately focussing on addressing underlying causes of hunger, and addressing any inconsistency in policy. It is also important that this is seen as a whole of Government approach rather than simply one that impacts departments spending Official Development Assistance, and that measurement of progress is vital across the full range of programming. (Conclusion, Paragraph 84)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees in principle to a common, coordinated, whole-of-government approach to fighting hunger, with FCDO collaborating with other departments. However, it defers decisions on delivery frameworks for future work until the completion of the ongoing Spending Review.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Partially Agree. We agree, in principle, that any HMG work towards achieving a world without hunger and malnutrition should be guided by a common approach to ensure a coordinated approach across government departments and effective and context-specific interventions. We also recognise the many interlinkages between HMG’s wider work on growth, climate change, nature, gender, disability, and conflict and UK efforts to improve food security and nutrition, particularly in low-income and fragile and conflict affected states. The FCDO is working closely with other government departments, including DEFRA, DBT, DESNZ and DHSC on policies and programmes relating to food, agriculture and nutrition, including on the international dimensions of the new UK Food Strategy. Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review. Decisions on delivery frameworks for future work on specific sectors will therefore need to follow the completion of the Spending Review and subsequent departmental prioritisation and allocation process.