The philosophy and culture of aid
International Development Committee
Closed
Inquiry
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 …
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19
Recommendations
18
Conclusions
1
Report
7
Oral sessions
1
Letter
7
Events
Activity timeline 17 events
23 Jan
2023
2023
23 Jun
2022
2022
Report published
13 Jan
2022
2022
30 Nov
2021
2021
Oral evidence
30 Nov
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
9 Nov
2021
2021
Oral evidence
9 Nov
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
7 Sep
2021
2021
7 Sep
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
15 Jun
2021
2021
15 Jun
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
25 May
2021
2021
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
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Report - Racism in the aid sector | HC 150 | 23 Jun 2022 | 37 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The use of European languages, particularly English, in the development sector can lock out national...
The use of European languages, particularly English, in the development sector can lock out national actors who operate in local languages.
Government Response
The government describes its language training programme for FCDO staff and its use of multilingual country-based staff.
4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
It is important that progress made by DFID to shift funding decisions from Whitehall towards...
It is important that progress made by DFID to shift funding decisions from Whitehall towards country offices is not lost under the merged department.
Government Response
The FCDO will continue to look to shift funding decisions towards country posts, guided by the IDS's patient approach and commitment to local stakeholders.
5
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Further, the FCDO should increase the amount of UK aid funding that goes directly to...
Further, the FCDO should increase the amount of UK aid funding that goes directly to locally led civil society organisations. It should reconsider how it conceptualises and calculates risk and work with local civil society organisations to undertake the due …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of a more locally-led approach and mentions its commitments as a signatory to various agreements, but does not commit to any specific new actions beyond existing pooled funding mechanisms.
7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The manner in which the cuts to UK aid took place, with little or no...
The manner in which the cuts to UK aid took place, with little or no consultation of downstream partners, or the communities where they are implemented has sent a harmful message that the UK does not care about the people …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the difficult decisions regarding aid spending and states that these decisions were not born from a lack of respect for partners or affected communities.
8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The structure of the sector transfers much of the risk to frontline implementing partners who...
The structure of the sector transfers much of the risk to frontline implementing partners who have the least capacity to mitigate those risks.
Government Response
The government acknowledges the risk transfer to frontline partners and reiterates its commitment to working with diverse CSOs and increasing engagement speed through grants and MOUs, while ensuring value for money and safeguarding. They also state 'Exit Plans' are written with delivery partners to mitigate risk.
12
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The terminology used in the aid sector has its roots in colonialism; it ‘others’ the...
The terminology used in the aid sector has its roots in colonialism; it ‘others’ the communities where programmes are delivered and reinforces ideas that ‘the West’ is the ideal that others should aspire to. It is not easy to strip …
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Government Response
The FCDO recognises the active debate about terminology and is exploring taking part in these conversations.
13
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The aid sector should have a conversation that includes the communities it works with to...
The aid sector should have a conversation that includes the communities it works with to develop positive and inclusive working terminology, the FCDO should consider how it can lead this work.
Government Response
The FCDO recognises the active debate about terminology and is exploring taking part in these conversations.
19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Collecting and publishing data on diversity in staffing is a key element of holding aid...
Collecting and publishing data on diversity in staffing is a key element of holding aid organisations to account. Only by being transparent can organisations share and learn from each-other. For the smallest organisations it might not be appropriate to publish …
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Government Response
The FCDO publishes diversity information and gender pay gap reports, but requiring organizations they fund to publish data may not always be appropriate or possible.
24
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
DFID previously set out its ambition to publish more inclusive data, in order to improve...
DFID previously set out its ambition to publish more inclusive data, in order to improve its programming in 2022.
Government Response
The government states the FCDO is a signatory of the inclusive data charter and remains committed to its vision and principles.
30
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Some aid organisations are beginning to introduce measures to open up and encourage conversations about...
Some aid organisations are beginning to introduce measures to open up and encourage conversations about racism in their workplaces but much more needs to Racism in the aid sector 33 be done to welcome diverse ideas and values. These processes …
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Government Response
The FCDO is committed to tackling racism in the sector, will continue to discuss the issues raised internally and with partners, and has developed a Race Toolkit to inform and educate on race issues.
31
Recommendation
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
Aid organisations, including private sector contractors, should publicly acknowledge that racism exists in the sector...
Aid organisations, including private sector contractors, should publicly acknowledge that racism exists in the sector and prioritise anti-racism work that tackles the underlying culture of their workplaces and not just the racial diversity of their staff. This will include making …
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Government Response
The FCDO is committed to tackling racism and will continue to discuss the issues internally and with partners and stakeholders, and has developed a Race Toolkit.
34
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The way that FCDO contracts are structured creates disincentives for implementing partners to hire local...
The way that FCDO contracts are structured creates disincentives for implementing partners to hire local staff, particularly in project lead roles. While FCDO fee rates for locally hired staff may be linked to local pay-scales in humanitarian and development settings, …
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Government Response
The government describes how it assesses wages in categories (international, national or regional) and considers the importance and value of local knowledge.
36
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
The FCDO has significant convening power across the aid sector.
The FCDO has significant convening power across the aid sector.
Government Response
The FCDO recognizes its convening power and mentions establishing a small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) Advisory Forum to shape initiatives and policies impacting SMEs, as well as continuing to engage externally on race and racism in the aid sector.
37
Conclusion
Acknowledged
First Report - Racism in the aid s…
It should use its position to facilitate sector-wide conversations about how aid actors can improve...
It should use its position to facilitate sector-wide conversations about how aid actors can improve diversity, equity and inclusion and being anti-racist. The FCDO still has work to do internally and will not have all the answers, but it can …
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Government Response
The FCDO recognises the importance of being part of the conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion, continues to engage externally, and will use the SMEs Advisory Forum to understand and break down barriers to entry.
Government Response AI assessment · 37 of 19 classified
Accepted
19
Acknowledged
14
Deferred
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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