Recommendation 24

Posts not covered by regional facilities management contracts have to use in-house staff or local contractors.65 While larger posts can have dedicated estate managers and estates teams, smaller posts may not have estates specialists on site.66 FCDO’s recent ‘FMR24’ exercise found limited local expertise in posts led to them routinely failing to monitor and maintain their property, inconsistent approaches to maintenance across posts and deficiencies in staff training and competency. Sixty-five percent of respondents to the NAO’s survey of estates managers at overseas posts reported that lack of capacity and staffing was a challenge, and 44% reported that staff at post not having the necessary training, skills and experience was a challenge.67 FCDO acknowledged that it does not have all the skills and capabilities it would like worldwide.68 In November 2024, FCDO’s principal risk register rated the risk of inadequate capacity and capability at posts as severe and FCDO has acknowledged that limited capacity means that posts cannot adequately maintain their estates.69