The philosophy and culture of aid

International Development Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Feb 2021 Closed: 8 Mar 2023 Parliament page
Report and Government response published The International Development Committee have published a report on racism in the aid sector and called on the development aid sector to recognise and tackle racism in its practices. The report made a series of recommendations, including: the FCDO should facilitate sector-wide initiatives on improving … Read more
19 Recommendations
18 Conclusions
1 Report
7 Oral sessions
1 Letter
7 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
23 Jan
2023
Report published
23 Jun
2022
Report published
13 Jan
2022
Correspondence
30 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
30 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
9 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
9 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
7 Sep
2021
Oral evidence
7 Sep
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
15 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
15 Jun
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
25 May
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 7 sessions
30 Nov 2021
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The philosophy of aid
Mr Tom Wein · The Dignity Project Nabila Saddiq Tayub · STOPAIDS Sanjayan Srikanthan
9 Nov 2021
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The philosophy of aid
Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena · Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa Heba Aly · The New Humanitarian Samuel Wambayo · Kids Club Kampala Themrise Khan
7 Sep 2021
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The philosophy and culture of aid: Racism in the aid sector
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi · Christian Aid Ammara Khan · Save the Children Charlotte Biswas · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15 Jun 2021
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The philosophy and culture of aid: Racism in the aid sector
Dr. Rosanna Duncan · Palladium International Dr Tigist Grieve · University of Bristol and Trustee, South West International Development Network Faraz Hassan · Social Development Direct
25 May 2021
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The philosophy and culture of aid: Racism in the aid sector
Degan Ali · Adeso Dr Lata Narayanaswamy · University of Leeds Lorriann Robinson · The Advocacy Team Natalie Lartey · International Institute for Environment and Development
9 Mar 2021
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The philosophy and culture of aid
Colin Buckley · British International Investment Dolika Banda · CDC Group Dr Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah · Oxfam GB Gloria Soma · Titi Foundation Kam Morshed · BRAC Kate Hargreaves · Crown Agents Paul Wafer · Crown Agents
23 Feb 2021
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The philosophy and culture of aid
Arbie Baguios · Aid Re-imagined Charles Vandyck · West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) Lena Bheeroo Professor Jamie Gaskarth · Open University Sophia Gaston · British Foreign Policy Group Themrise Khan
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Racism in the aid sector HC 150 23 Jun 2022 37 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
19 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Across the global aid sector, racism manifests in decisions around whose expertise we value.
Across the global aid sector, racism manifests in decisions around whose expertise we value. Evidence to our inquiry suggested that institutions in high income countries like the UK assume they have the knowledge and best practice to assist people in … Read more
Government Response
The government states that it does not value international expertise over local expertise, aims to structure tenders accordingly, and requires the use of small and local organizations.
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3 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The FCDO should consider whether applications for funding must always be submitted in English –...
The FCDO should consider whether applications for funding must always be submitted in English – especially in bids for small projects administered by embassies, which are to be undertaken by local civil society organisations.
Government Response
The FCDO states that they do not require bids to always be in English, and that the decision is up to the post running the competition, taking into account the local context and resources.
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6 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The FCDO should apply these same principles to do no harm when it removes funding,...
The FCDO should apply these same principles to do no harm when it removes funding, as well as when aid programmes are initiated.
Government Response
FCDO teams have access to guidance under the Programme Operating Framework which emphasises the importance of engagement with project partners, including Early programme closure guidance that factors in Do No Harm principles and Equalities assessments used to inform allocation decisions.
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9 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The FCDO should consider how it can restructure its funding commitments to give long-term certainty...
The FCDO should consider how it can restructure its funding commitments to give long-term certainty to local civil society organisations to ensure funding that has been committed cannot be suddenly withdrawn at short notice. (Paragraph 27) Communications and storytelling Read more
Government Response
In contracts, ‘Exit Plans’ are written with delivery partners to provide certainty of a responsible exit and mitigate risk.
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10 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Fundraising is extremely important to many international aid organisations, but public appeals that depict the...
Fundraising is extremely important to many international aid organisations, but public appeals that depict the communities they serve as helpless and needy strip those communities of their dignity. They contribute to the narrative that the countries where they work are … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states it is focused on changing attitudes towards development, dismantling harmful narratives, and supporting low-income countries to shape their own development narratives; giving local partners a voice in how their work should be represented.
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11 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Fundraising appeals should depict positive, realistic stories and wherever possible use local filmmakers.
Fundraising appeals should depict positive, realistic stories and wherever possible use local filmmakers. They should seek to inform audiences about the drivers of poverty and inequality instead of giving simplistic messages about the difference donations can make. Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states it is focused on changing attitudes towards development, dismantling harmful narratives, and supporting low-income countries to shape their own development narratives; giving local partners a voice in how their work should be represented.
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14 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Guidelines on informed consent for obtaining and using images should be observed just as thoroughly...
Guidelines on informed consent for obtaining and using images should be observed just as thoroughly in relation to individuals from the communities that aid organisations work with, as they are in the UK. It is unacceptable for images to be … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO has a consent form and guidance related to use of photos, including language about getting consent to use people’s images in its Memorandum of Understanding and Accountable Grant templates, and continues to remind staff about this.
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15 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The aid sector does not operate in a vacuum.
The aid sector does not operate in a vacuum. The different forms of discrimination that permeate British society manifest in the aid sector too. Racism is particularly pertinent for aid organisations because they work directly with individuals from around the … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is committed to representing the people it serves, signed the Business in the Community Race At Work Charter, and aims for parity at all grades with the UK's economically active minority ethnic population.
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16 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Aid organisations must ensure their working practices and programmes are mindful of the intersecting identities...
Aid organisations must ensure their working practices and programmes are mindful of the intersecting identities of their staff and the people they serve.
Government Response
The FCDO signed up to the Business in the Community Race At Work Charter, and added a sixth, FCDO-specific commitment to improve UK foreign and development policy, lead and promote racial equality overseas, and build better relations with communities within the UK.
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17 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Evidence submitted to this inquiry and recent surveys by actors in the UK charity and...
Evidence submitted to this inquiry and recent surveys by actors in the UK charity and international aid sectors show the scale of racism experienced by staff who are Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. Any level of racism in the … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is launching a new Dignity and Respect at Work Policy in December 2022 which aims to respond robustly to bullying, harassment and discrimination, including on grounds of race.
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18 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
All aid organisations should have effective processes in place to tackle instances of racism when...
All aid organisations should have effective processes in place to tackle instances of racism when they occur. They should also be able to measure and assess whether those processes are working.
Government Response
The FCDO is launching a new Dignity and Respect at Work Policy in December 2022 which aims to respond robustly to bullying, harassment and discrimination, including on grounds of race.
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22 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
We are concerned that the decision to designate the merged Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office...
We are concerned that the decision to designate the merged Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as a ‘reserved department’ shuts down the possibility of civil servants from the countries where UK aid funding is spent, from taking part in funding … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the reserved department model best meets the FCDO's objectives and security requirements, and that any non-UK national employed at the time of the creation of the FCDO would be retained in their role.
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25 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The FDCO should publish the first tranche of inclusive data this year and set out...
The FDCO should publish the first tranche of inclusive data this year and set out a timeline for when it will be able to publish further data relating to race, ethnicity and income. (Paragraph 63) Building an equitable and inclusive aid sector
Government Response
The government states it already publishes diversity information via existing reports.
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26 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The barriers to entering the aid sector for candidates from diverse backgrounds can be considerable.
The barriers to entering the aid sector for candidates from diverse backgrounds can be considerable.
Government Response
The FCDO removed the requirement for specific qualifications for some roles, opening the FCDO as a career path to 275 people.
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28 Conclusion Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Some aid organisations are taking action to increase diversity in their workforce, such as reducing...
Some aid organisations are taking action to increase diversity in their workforce, such as reducing unnecessary stipulations in person specifications in job descriptions and banning all-White recruitment boards.
Government Response
The FCDO states that it operates its resourcing and recruitment in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, including selection being made on merit, a fair and open process, anonymised applications, diverse interview panels, and efforts to expand recruitment markets.
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29 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
All aid organisations, including private sector contractors should reflect on their diversity data and seek...
All aid organisations, including private sector contractors should reflect on their diversity data and seek to understand if their recruitment practices need strengthening to support talented candidates from diverse backgrounds. We need sector-wide cooperation to share best practice and identify … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states that it operates its resourcing and recruitment in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, including selection being made on merit, a fair and open process, anonymised applications, diverse interview panels, and efforts to expand recruitment markets.
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32 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
It is the responsibility of those in the sector who hold the most power to...
It is the responsibility of those in the sector who hold the most power to increase diversity, inclusion and transparency, and be accountable for the steps their organisations are taking to dismantle structural racism. Responsibility for engendering culture change and … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states that a Director General level Board Sponsor for Race was appointed in September 2020, and that the Executive Committee agreed to a series of actions to ensure progress on race, including a zero-tolerance environment for bullying and discrimination.
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33 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Aid organisations and private sector contractors with a large enough leadership team should appoint senior...
Aid organisations and private sector contractors with a large enough leadership team should appoint senior leaders with the remit to tackle racism and increase diversity, equity and inclusion in their organisations, with the full support of the senior leadership team. Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states that a Director General level Board Sponsor for Race was appointed in September 2020, and that the Executive Committee agreed to a series of actions to ensure progress on race, including a zero-tolerance environment for bullying and discrimination.
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35 Recommendation Accepted
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
We urge the FCDO to recognise their important role in determining levels of pay across...
We urge the FCDO to recognise their important role in determining levels of pay across the sector and commit to undertaking a full audit of its pay structures to assess the impact of them on staff hired in-country. The department … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO assesses wages in categories and job families, considering the value of local and contextual knowledge in the evaluation process.
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Government Response AI assessment · 37 of 19 classified
Accepted 19
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 14
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 1
Total 19 recs + 18 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
13 Jan 2022 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs regarding The Philosophy and culture of aid inquiry - 11 January 2022
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