Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted in Part
Continue support and restore discretionary funding for key multilateral SRHR organisations to pre-pandemic levels
Recommendation
Multilateral organisations are sometimes best placed to act and implement aid programming on sexual and reproductive health. The UK has historically been a key donor to multilateral organisations working on sexual and reproductive health. Evidence to the Committee has shown the benefits of both bilateral and multilateral funding. The FCDO should continue to support key multilateral organisations such as the UNFPA, the Global Fund, Unitaid and UNAIDS that are uniquely placed to work with national governments, and with civil society and communities, on aspects of SRHR. As a minimum, it should meet its prior commitments to these organisations. It should also restore discretionary funding to at least the same levels as before the covid-19 pandemic. (Paragraph 18) Family planning
Government Response Summary
The FCDO partially agrees, acknowledging the importance of multilateral organisations and outlining its current support. However, it states it cannot commit to a set level of financial contribution or restore discretionary funding to pre-pandemic levels, preferring to assess funding based on impact and value for money.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Partially Agree 17. The FCDO recognises the importance of delivering its international development objectives through multilateral organisations in conjunction with our bilateral engagement. The FCDO maintains a strong health and SRHR multilateral investment portfolio. This includes our support to: the UN Population Fund; the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents; our core support to the World Health Organisation, UNAIDS, Unitaid and our investment in the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 18. However, all of the FCDO programmes go through a rigorous design process that seeks to ensure our funds are used effectively and in line with our strategic priorities. This includes rooting our designs in evidence and data (on what people need and ‘what works’), consultation with diverse stakeholders, and strategic assessments of options to maximise impact and value for money. The FCDO must therefore continually assess where we can best focus our funding for the greatest impact and cannot agree to meet a set level of financial commitment, or restore discretionary funding, to these multilateral organisations.