Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
6th report - The FCDO's Approach to Displaced People
International Development Committee
HC 525
Published 17 September 2025
Recommendations
5
Accepted in Part
Set out measures to increase data for climate adaptation and displacement prevention planning.
Recommendation
In its response to this report, the FCDO should set out the measures it is taking to increase the data available to policy teams when planning medium to long-term climate adaptation investments; and whether prevention of climate-induced displacement is one …
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Government Response Summary
The government details its use of climate science from IPCC, Met Office, and a new Natural Hazard Science Hub to inform policy teams on climate adaptation investments. However, it states that preventing climate-induced displacement is not a mandatory criterion for all teams planning these investments.
7
Accepted
Formulate independent strategy for preventing and reducing displacement, not outsourcing to multilaterals.
Recommendation
Engagement with the World Bank’s fragility, conflict and violence strategy update is positive, but the Government should not assume that it can outsource to multilateral institutions the need to also formulate strategy on preventing and reducing displacement. (Conclusion, Paragraph 57)
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Government Response Summary
The government explicitly states it does not assume it can outsource the need to formulate its own strategy on preventing and reducing displacement, affirming it has developed a cross-cutting strategic approach to address forced displacement.
9
Not Addressed
Commission a holistic review of displacement drivers and solutions, reporting findings within one year.
Recommendation
The FCDO should commission a holistic review of the drivers of and solutions to displacement, reporting its findings to the Committee within one year of the publication of this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)
Government Response Summary
The government response details consideration of equalities impacts in ODA allocations and efforts to mitigate negative effects on women and girls, but it does not address the recommendation to commission a holistic review of displacement drivers and solutions.
13
Not Addressed
Publish impact assessments for gender-specific programming cuts, no later than report response.
Recommendation
It is astonishing that the Government has made cuts to gender-specific programming without seemingly understanding the impacts on women and girls. The Government must publish impact assessments, as promised by the Minister, as soon as possible and no later than …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines efforts to improve data collection and disaggregation for various humanitarian projects, but it does not address the recommendation to publish impact assessments for cuts to gender-specific programming.
14
Rejected
Reconsider cuts to women and girls-specific programming and consider ringfencing funding.
Recommendation
In the light of these impact assessments, the Government must reconsider the cuts to women and girls-specific programming announced by the Minister and should consider ringfencing funding for this programming. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that 2025/26 ODA programme allocations have already been made with protections for women and girls, and they will use diplomacy to maximise impact despite reduced spending, with future allocations under review for 2026/27-2028/29.
15
Accepted
Develop a robust strategy and data-led methodology for gender mainstreaming and integration.
Recommendation
The Government must develop a robust strategy and a consistent, data-led methodology for mainstreaming and integration, to ensure that its efforts to mainstream and integrate gender take place in tandem with stand-alone programming (Recommendation, Paragraph 81) Working with the private …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees to develop a robust, data-led strategy and methodology for mainstreaming and integration, stating it is currently refreshing its approach to strengthen gender and equalities issues across its work.
17
Accepted
Work with British International Investment to target investment at mitigating displacement drivers.
Recommendation
The FCDO should work alongside British International Investment ahead of its 2026 strategy refresh, including on how BII can place more emphasis on, and better target investment at, mitigating the drivers of displacement across fragile and conflict-affected states. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees to work closely with British International Investment ahead of its 2026 strategy refresh, committing to explore a wide range of priorities including how BII's ambitions in fragile markets can further mitigate displacement drivers.
19
Deferred
Explain reasoning for not signing Global Compact on Refugees multi-stakeholder pledge
Recommendation
In response to this report, the Government must explain its reasoning for not signing up to the Global Compact on Refugees’ multi-stakeholder pledge on advancing localisation in displacement and statelessness responses. (Recommendation, Paragraph 97)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to the recommendation and states it will review its position on the multi-stakeholder pledge on advancing localisation in displacement and statelessness responses.
20
Accepted
Set out plan to rapidly increase engagement with local actors in humanitarian settings
Recommendation
In response to this report, the Department must set out how it will make rapid progress in meeting commitments made, principally via the Grand Bargain and Global Compact on Refugees, to increase its engagement with and utilisation of local and …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees, detailing how it is making progress by leading global donor efforts to transform humanitarian funding, increasing contributions to pooled funds for local organizations, and integrating local leadership into FCDO partnerships through initiatives like the Sahel Regional Fund and support for the Start Network.
22
Accepted
Start systematically tracking and publishing official data on spending for refugees overseas
Recommendation
To help determine a baseline and future targets, the FCDO should start systematically tracking and publishing official data on how much it spends on supporting refugees and internally displaced people overseas. (Recommendation, Paragraph 103)
Government Response Summary
The government states it already systematically tracks and reports data on spending for refugees and IDPs to the OECD, which is then published online.
23
Accepted in Part
Ensure UK and partners disaggregate programme data by age, gender, ability, and displacement status
Recommendation
The FCDO should ensure that the UK and partners disaggregate monitoring and programme data by age, gender, ability and displacement status at a minimum; do so systematically; and make this data available publicly. (Recommendation, Paragraph 104) 37
Government Response Summary
The government states it already disaggregates data by age, gender, and ability. It will explore implementing disaggregation by displacement status in a future programme management system.
Conclusions (12)
1
Conclusion
Not Addressed
There is a global displacement crisis. The UK cannot solve it alone, and nor should it be expected to. However, significant cuts to UK ODA and development programming indicate a United Kingdom that is stepping back from the world stage at a time when engagement and collaboration are most needed. …
Government Response Summary
The government outlines its comprehensive approach to displacement and notes its collaboration with international partners. However, it then reiterates the committee's conclusion verbatim without providing a direct response to the concern about significant cuts to UK ODA indicating the UK is stepping back from the world stage.
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Programming to reduce poverty, which drives displacement and exacerbates other drivers, has received a declining share of ODA in recent years. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)
Government Response Summary
The government states it is actively engaging internationally to strengthen the response to forced displacement and continues humanitarian interventions, prioritising development, but does not specifically address the observed declining share of ODA for poverty reduction.
3
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department has failed to learn the lessons from previous cuts to stabilisation, peacebuilding and deconfliction programming, which likely contributed to the escalation of conflict in Sudan going unchallenged. We are concerned that the recent cuts to the Integrated Security Fund will lead to escalating conflict, with unpredictable ramifications for …
Government Response Summary
The government justifies the decision to reduce the ODA budget to 0.3% of GNI, stating plans to return to 0.7% when fiscal circumstances allow, but does not address the committee's concern about a failure to learn lessons from previous cuts or the impact on conflict escalation.
4
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Climate change is a current and growing driver of displacement, and the Department must better integrate the modelling of climate threats into its planning for its displacement work. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Government Response Summary
The government response addresses issues related to peacebuilding in Sudan and the Integrated Security Fund, rejecting claims about funding cuts impacting conflict escalation, but it does not engage with the recommendation to integrate climate threat modelling into displacement planning.
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The Government appears to have devised a strategy for influencing multilateral institutions, most notably the World Bank. This is a welcome effort to reinvigorate UK engagement at the multilateral level, given the significant cuts to other parts of the UK ODA budget. (Conclusion, Paragraph 56) 34
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of influencing multilateral institutions, confirming its strategy to prioritise multilateral partners in the ODA budget and continue driving reform to maximise impact and effectiveness, particularly with the World Bank.
8
Conclusion
Rejected
The Department lacks a holistic view of the drivers of and solutions to displacement, and therefore lacks an overarching strategy to establish solutions and prevention mechanisms. This means that UK impact in this area is constrained, reducing value for money of relevant spending and resulting in a wasted opportunity to …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the committee's finding by detailing its existing strategic approach to forced displacement, which it describes as comprehensive, encompassing a wide range of interventions from reducing drivers to finding long-term solutions and supporting host communities.
10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department should appoint a new Special Envoy for Displacement who can oversee the discrete policy teams that work on mitigating the drivers of displacement, facilitating policy co-ordination between teams and ensuring consistency of outputs. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60) Displaced women and girls
Government Response Summary
The government response outlines steps to strengthen gender and equality integration across the Department's work and its approach to mainstreaming, but it does not address the recommendation to appoint a Special Envoy for Displacement.
11
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Funding cuts to gender-specific programming will be devastating for women and girls, starving them of vital support and services. The Government has not learned lessons from the previous Government about the severe impacts of funding cuts to programming for women and girls. (Conclusion, Paragraph 77)
Government Response Summary
The government response highlights British International Investment's role in strengthening the private sector in fragile and conflict-affected states through economic resilience and job creation, but it does not address the committee's concerns regarding funding cuts to gender-specific programming.
12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The policy of gender mainstreaming refers to a strategic approach to achieving gender equality through integrating women’s experiences and concerns in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes. However, while gender mainstreaming is part of the correct goal, the Government does not have the appropriate infrastructure in …
Government Response Summary
The government response details efforts to direct humanitarian funding to local organisations and improve displacement data, completely failing to address the committee's concerns about gender mainstreaming infrastructure or the impacts of aid cuts on women and girls.
16
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The private sector can play a pivotal role in stimulating the economies of fragile and conflict-affected states. British International Investment has a strong track record of investing in difficult environments, particularly within fragile and conflict-affected states, helping to mitigate the drivers of displacement. (Conclusion, Paragraph 87)
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the importance of strengthening the private sector in fragile and conflict-affected states and welcomes the committee's recognition of British International Investment's strong track record in these contexts, affirming its role in mitigating displacement drivers.
18
Conclusion
Accepted
Despite long-standing commitments, the Government is not making sufficient progress in meeting its commitments to localisation in humanitarian programming. The steps taken by the UNHCR on improving localisation in its partnerships should serve as a blueprint for how the Government can make progress in this regard. (Conclusion, Paragraph 96)
Government Response Summary
The government details existing efforts to direct humanitarian funding to local organisations, engage with UNHCR, and advocate for increased funding to local actors through pooled funds.
21
Conclusion
Accepted
The FCDO may be limited in its ability to accurately target displacement- related humanitarian and development spending owing to its sub-optimal data collection. (Conclusion, Paragraph 102)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of improving displacement-related data and lists various ongoing projects and pledges, including contributions to the UN's CRAF'd and EGRISS, and ONS efforts, to enhance data collection and statistical inclusion.