6th report - The FCDO's Approach to Displaced People

The government's response

What the committee recommended 23

1. 1
   UK ODA cuts indicate stepping back from addressing global displacement crisis. Conclusion
2. 2
   ODA share for poverty reduction programming has declined in recent years. Conclusion
3. 3
   Department failed to learn from cuts to peacebuilding programming, risking escalating conflict. Conclusion
4. 4
   Better integrate climate threat modelling into displacement work planning. Conclusion
5. 5
   Set out measures to increase data for climate adaptation and displacement prevention planning. Recommendation

See all 23 recommendations and conclusions

Sources

• 6th report - The FCDO's Approach to Displaced People ↗The committee's report, HC 525, parliament.uk
• 6th Special Report - The FCDO's approach to displaced people: Government response ↗The government's response, 4 December 2025, parliament.uk

Recommendations and conclusions 23

1. 1
   UK ODA cuts indicate stepping back from addressing global displacement crisis. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

   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. (Conclusion, Paragraph 15) FCDO strategy
2. 2
   ODA share for poverty reduction programming has declined in recent years. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

   Programming to reduce poverty, which drives displacement and exacerbates other drivers, has received a declining share of ODA in recent years. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)
3. 3
   Department failed to learn from cuts to peacebuilding programming, risking escalating conflict. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

   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 the UK both at home and abroad. (Conclusion, Paragraph 40)
4. 4
   Better integrate climate threat modelling into displacement work planning. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

   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)
5. 5
   Set out measures to increase data for climate adaptation and displacement prevention planning. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

   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 of the criteria that these teams must remain cognisant of. (Recommendation, Paragraph 49)
6. 6
   Government strategy for influencing multilateral institutions is a welcome engagement effort. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

   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
7. 7
   Formulate independent strategy for preventing and reducing displacement, not outsourcing to multilaterals. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

   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)
8. 8
   Department lacks holistic view and overarching strategy for displacement solutions and prevention. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

   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 assist displaced people. (Conclusion, Paragraph 58)
9. 9
   Commission a holistic review of displacement drivers and solutions, reporting findings within one year. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

   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)
10. 10
    Appoint a new Special Envoy for Displacement to oversee policy teams and facilitate coordination. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

    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
11. 11
    Funding cuts to gender-specific programming devastate women and girls, denying vital support. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

    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)
12. 12
    Government lacks infrastructure for effective gender mainstreaming, reducing UK programming impact. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

    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 place to make it work. This gender mainstreaming will therefore reduce the impact of UK programming, as the problems faced by women and girls require gender-specific interventions. It is uncertain whether the Government will be able to mitigate the impacts of aid cuts to women and girls as it intends. (Conclusion, Paragraph 78)
13. 13
    Publish impact assessments for gender-specific programming cuts, no later than report response. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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 the response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 79) 35
14. 14
    Reconsider cuts to women and girls-specific programming and consider ringfencing funding. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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)
15. 15
    Develop a robust strategy and data-led methodology for gender mainstreaming and integration. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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 sector
16. 16
    British International Investment demonstrates strong track record investing in fragile states, mitigating displacement drivers. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

    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)
17. 17
    Work with British International Investment to target investment at mitigating displacement drivers. Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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 88) Localisation
18. 18
    Insufficient progress meeting localisation commitments in humanitarian programming. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

    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)
19. 19
    Explain reasoning for not signing Global Compact on Refugees multi-stakeholder pledge Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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)
20. 20
    Set out plan to rapidly increase engagement with local actors in humanitarian settings Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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 national actors in humanitarian and development settings. (Recommendation, Paragraph 98) 36 FCDO’s use of data on displacement
21. 21
    FCDO's sub-optimal data collection limits accurate targeting of displacement spending Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)

    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)
22. 22
    Start systematically tracking and publishing official data on spending for refugees overseas Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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)
23. 23
    Ensure UK and partners disaggregate programme data by age, gender, ability, and displacement status Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)

    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