Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
9th Report - Future of UK aid and development assistance: interim report
International Development Committee
HC 1330
Published 5 February 2026
Recommendations
3
Rejected
Commission a multilateral development review to report on supported organisations' performance by 2026.
Recommendation
The Government should commission a multilateral development review to consider and report on the performance of the organisations it supports, before the end of 2026. (Recommendation, Paragraph 13)
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees, stating that existing mechanisms like the Programme Operating Framework and external assessments already sufficiently evaluate the performance of multilateral organizations.
5
Accepted
Establish communication plan with partners and improve FCDO data accessibility on multilateral spending.
Recommendation
To improve communication and transparency around multilateral spend, we recommend that: a. the Government works with multilateral partners on a communication plan which will convey to bilateral partners and the UK public the work that the UK Government supports; b. …
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Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the recommendation, stating they are putting modern development partnerships at the heart of its new approach, reflects the needs of the UK’s partners. The UK will also continue to use our influence to push the big international institutions to solve global issues.
7
Acknowledged
Assess staffing requirements for multilateral partner reform and retain capacity under FCDO 2030.
Recommendation
We urge the Government to fully assess requirements for the staffing required to oversee and support reform of the UK’s multilateral partners by an upfront skills audit focussed on what is needed to support a future aid landscape. Steps should …
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Government Response Summary
The FCDO is committed to ensuring it has the development capability and technical expertise needed, and is implementing a new Capability Framework and developing a Workforce Strategy.
9
Accepted in Part
Earmark bilateral ODA and grant missions autonomy for Centrally Managed Programme approval.
Recommendation
To enable the FCDO to provide relevant and impactful support in its bilateral partner countries: a. sufficient levels of bilateral ODA must be earmarked for programmes, the design and delivery of which would be overseen by the FCDO (and other …
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Government Response Summary
The FCDO is taking a partnership-led approach to development and will have flexibility to deliver the development our partners want. CMPs have undergone a thorough review, posts will be able to draw on central Communities of Expertise. FCDO recognizes the importance of sufficient capacity overseas, will work increasingly in partnership with local actors.
12
Acknowledged
Ensure missions have access to in-house thematic, geographic expertise, and vital local staff.
Recommendation
Missions must, therefore, have access to in-house expertise both on the ground and in the UK. This expertise needs to cover both thematic issues relating to poverty alleviation, as well as the geographic knowledge of specific contexts. Local staff are …
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Government Response Summary
The FCDO states that it is taking a partnership-led approach, that the country network will have flexibility to deliver development, and that Posts will be able to draw on central Communities of Expertise.
13
Not Addressed
Provide details on prioritising poverty reduction during FCDO departmental restructuring.
Recommendation
We request that, in its response to this report, the Government provides details on how it intends to prioritise poverty reduction as it restructures the department. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30)
Government Response Summary
The FCDO is committed to ensuring it has the development capability and technical expertise needed, and is implementing a new Capability Framework and developing a Workforce Strategy.
15
Accepted in Part
Pause FCDO restructuring until staffing, skills, equalities, and ODA impact assessments are completed.
Recommendation
We call on the Government to pause the processes currently underway until the following actions have been completed: a. a structured assessment of staffing required to deliver the Government’s priorities both in the UK and in countries with a diplomatic …
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Government Response Summary
The FCDO is implementing a new Capability Framework, developing a Workforce Strategy for the Spending Review period and working through a detailed design process to ensure that the future FCDO workforce is sufficiently skilled to deliver Ministerial priorities within the agreed Spending Review settlement, but it is not being paused.
17
Acknowledged
Maintain full funding for ICAI until a comprehensive assessment of future arrangements.
Recommendation
Whilst we agree that the value for money of every aspect of Government spending must be assessed, we caution against any rapid decision- making with regards to the ICAI’s future. Full funding should remain in 16 place until a final …
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Government Response Summary
The Government states they are clear about ICAI’s role and take ICAI reports seriously, and that they remain committed to supporting ICAI for at least the next 3 years; with a average programme allocation of £1.68m per year and £685,000 for operating costs.
18
Acknowledged
Keep Committee fully appraised of Government's work and decisions regarding ICAI's future.
Recommendation
As its Parliamentary oversight body, this Committee must be kept fully appraised of the Government’s work and decision-making around ICAI’s future. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that they take transparency and value for money seriously, that they are clear about ICAI’s role, and that they remain committed to supporting ICAI for at least the next 3 years.
21
Accepted in Part
Ensure FCDO retains expertise and provides gender-specific funding to empower marginalised groups.
Recommendation
The FCDO must have the expertise and resources required to empower marginalised groups in decision-making forums, as well as the ability to equip them in their efforts to bring about lasting change in their communities. The FCDO will need to …
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Government Response Summary
The FCDO is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships and focusing on locally led approaches and the UK's International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls; equality impact assessments (EIAs) which consider impacts on people with relevant and protected characteristics – are an essential part of how the Government makes decisions on ODA allocations.
23
Acknowledged
Consider interconnected challenges in fragile states when deploying ODA financial and human resources holistically.
Recommendation
We urge the Government to consider the nature of interconnected challenges such as nutrition, food systems, education, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and governance challenges—particularly in relation to fragile and conflict-affected states—as it plans how it will deploy its financial and …
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Government Response Summary
The FCDO is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit, will prioritize geographic ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute, and are focusing on locally led approaches. The UK’s International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls reaffirms commitment to advancing the rights, safety and opportunities of women and girls worldwide.
Conclusions (12)
1
Conclusion
Rejected
The Government plans to spend a greater proportion of its shrinking ODA pot through multilateral institutions. There is logic to this, but the Government is yet to set out how it will ensure that its multilateral programme spending is used in line with its principles for ODA spend. (Conclusion, Paragraph …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the conclusion, stating that they are strategically targeting multilateral investments, publishing ODA programme allocations, and adhering to OECD DAC rules while prioritizing poverty reduction.
2
Conclusion
Rejected
A multilateral development review is urgently needed to underpin the change in proportion of ODA spent through this channel. The Government needs a clear understanding of its current commitments and the performance of multilateral organisations it supports. (Conclusion, Paragraph 12)
Government Response Summary
The Government disagrees that a multilateral development review is required to evaluate the performance of multilateral organisations.
4
Conclusion
Rejected
It is the responsibility of the Government to remain accountable to the public, principally through Parliament, on how ODA is spent. However, it is also morally obliged to be accountable to those receiving UK ODA and their governments. We agree with the Development Minister that ODA should not be seen …
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees, stating they are putting modern development partnerships at the heart of their new approach, responding to partners' needs, and using the UK's global soft power assets to promote UK values.
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
To be effective, the Government’s aspiration to spend ODA more efficiently through a reformed multilateral system requires two things: influence and expertise. Both require money that is well targeted and accountable. The Government has not provided adequate reassurance that the internal resources needed to maintain this influence and expertise have …
Government Response Summary
The FCDO is committed to ensuring it has the development capability and technical expertise needed, and is implementing a new Capability Framework and developing a Workforce Strategy.
8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The FCDO has an impressive and nuanced understanding of situations on- the-ground through its overseas network and local staff. As part of the next round of spending decisions, in-country missions must have the autonomy needed to spend ODA within the Government’s wider development policy framework. (Conclusion, Paragraph 24)
Government Response Summary
The FCDO says it is taking a partnership-led approach, giving the country network flexibility to deliver development partners want, and changing how Ministers approve bilateral programming; multiyear allocations include specific allocations for geographic areas and countries; and CMPs have undergone review to improve value for money and impact.
10
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Where missions across a region, or a thematic area, have identified shared opportunities and solutions, collaboration should be encouraged. Supporting such initiatives will be an efficient use of limited funds as well as a good utilisation of expertise, whether in the region or in the UK. (Conclusion, Paragraph 26)
Government Response Summary
The FCDO says it is taking a partnership-led approach, giving the country network flexibility to deliver development partners want, and changing how Ministers approve bilateral programming; multiyear allocations include specific allocations for geographic areas and countries; and CMPs have undergone review to improve value for money and impact.
11
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Badly designed and delivered development and humanitarian assistance is bad for the UK. It carries risks to those it is designed to serve and reputational risks to the UK Government. (Conclusion, Paragraph 27)
Government Response Summary
The FCDO says it is taking a partnership-led approach, giving the country network flexibility to deliver development partners want, and changing how Ministers approve bilateral programming; multiyear allocations include specific allocations for geographic areas and countries; and CMPs have undergone review to improve value for money and impact.
14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We reiterate our previous concerns around the sequencing and speed of the FCDO 2030 programme. (Conclusion, Paragraph 32)
Government Response Summary
The FCDO is implementing a new Capability Framework, developing a Workforce Strategy for the Spending Review period and working through a detailed design process to ensure that the future FCDO workforce is sufficiently skilled to deliver Ministerial priorities within the agreed Spending Review settlement, but it is not being paused.
16
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The existence and adequate resourcing of the Independent Commission on Aid Impact sends a powerful message to all stakeholders that the UK takes transparency and value for money seriously. We are alarmed by apparent misunderstanding of the ICAI’s distinct role by the Development Minister. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)
Government Response Summary
The Government states they are clear about ICAI’s role and take ICAI reports seriously, and that they remain committed to supporting ICAI for at least the next 3 years; with a average programme allocation of £1.68m per year and £685,000 for operating costs.
19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
In the coming years, the greatest need will be in fragile and conflict- affected states, and states most vulnerable to climate change. Working in partnership to address these needs mutually benefits the affected countries and the UK. The empowerment and equipping of these states, and their civil society organisations, should …
Government Response Summary
The government says it is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit and prioritizing ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute. It notes the importance of local civil society and the UK's International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls.
20
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Upholding the rights of marginalised groups, as well as realising the potential of women and girls in both achieving societal resilience and poverty reduction, should be strategic priorities for UK ODA. This must be reflected in the spending allocations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
Government Response Summary
The FCDO is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit and will prioritize geographic ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute, focusing on locally led approaches and reaffirming commitment to women and girls.
22
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The Government’s focusses on global health, and climate and nature are welcome. However, the Government must maintain the flexibility within these priorities to accommodate the interconnectedness of development challenges. It also needs the flexibility to be able to respond to needs expressed by its bilateral partners in governments and civil …
Government Response Summary
The government says it is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit and prioritizing ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute. It notes the importance of local civil society and the UK's International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls.