Afghanistan
International Development Committee
Closed
Inquiry
Report published We have now published our Report and found that the UK Government failed to work effectively or quickly enough to provide support for aid workers and the Afghan people, says a new report from the International Development Committee - Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan …
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16
Recommendations
8
Conclusions
1
Report
1
Oral session
1
Event
Activity timeline 4 events
19 May
2022
2022
4 Mar
2022
2022
7 Dec
2021
2021
Oral evidence
7 Dec
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
7 Dec 2021
View on parliament.uk
Afghanistan
Alain Délétroz · Geneva Call
Elizabeth Winter · British & Irish Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG)
James Cowan · The HALO Trust
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the A… | HC 919 | 4 Mar 2022 | 24 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
24 results
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We understand that the FCDO has reasons for clearly defining and limiting its liability in...
We understand that the FCDO has reasons for clearly defining and limiting its liability in respect of its contractual relationships with its external partners. However, we believe that events in Afghanistan have clearly illustrated that the Government’s policies should encompass …
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Government Response
The government stands by its duty of care obligations to those whom it employs directly, and the FCDO publishes travel advice to reflect the security situation in each country.
2
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We believe that the FCDO should consider what moral obligations it has to aid sector...
We believe that the FCDO should consider what moral obligations it has to aid sector workers who deliver UK aid and FCDO aims and objectives. We urge the FCDO to take a broader, more holistic view of its duty of …
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Government Response
The Government stands by its duty of care obligations to those whom it employs directly and publishes travel advice to reflect the security situation in each country.
3
Recommendation
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We recommend that the FCDO take steps to better identify and assess the particular risks...
We recommend that the FCDO take steps to better identify and assess the particular risks facing aid workers so that it can respond more effectively to those aid workers when they are in need of support in countries or regions …
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Government Response
The government already publishes travel advice reflecting the security situation, available to all including external partners, and committed to consistent safety and security advice.
4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We were disappointed about the exclusion from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme...
We were disappointed about the exclusion from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme of Afghan aid workers to whom the UK Government had clear lines of moral responsibility, either because they were sub- contracted by the UK Government …
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Government Response
The Home Office retains responsibility for immigration and visa policy. The government states that the capacity of the UK to resettle people is not unlimited, and difficult decisions about who should be prioritised for resettlement are therefore unavoidable.
5
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We call on the Government to accelerate without further delay all pathways of the Afghan...
We call on the Government to accelerate without further delay all pathways of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and ensure that aid sector staff are explicitly recognised and prioritised for protection under the ACRS.
Government Response
The government has already begun resettling families under the ‘first pathway’ of the ACRS, with plans to launch the ‘third pathway’ as soon as possible, under which the government will consider eligible at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni for resettlement.
6
Recommendation
Rejected
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
The Government should not consider people evacuated under Operation Pitting under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement...
The Government should not consider people evacuated under Operation Pitting under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), instead it should consider those people under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme (ARAP) or other pre-existing pathways. The ACRS should be …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation and believes it is right that those evacuated under Operation Pitting were offered immediate sanctuary and support in the UK, including some being resettled under the ACRS.
7
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
The Government should ensure transparency of reporting on the number of people resettled under the...
The Government should ensure transparency of reporting on the number of people resettled under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) by publishing a quarterly report on the number of people resettled under that scheme, publishing that first report by the …
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Government Response
The response is empty.
8
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We welcome the establishment of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit but note the lack of...
We welcome the establishment of the Joint Afghanistan Casework Unit but note the lack of clarity around the cost, staffing and current workload of that Unit. We are also concerned that more than three months after it was set up …
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Government Response
The government states that the initial target of resettling 5000 people during Year 1 of the ACRS will be exceeded, and that the scheme is expected to resettle up to 20000 people in total, but does not address any of the specific recommendations.
9
Recommendation
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We are very concerned about the time the Government has taken to disburse the UK...
We are very concerned about the time the Government has taken to disburse the UK aid it has pledged to Afghanistan, given the considerable and escalating humanitarian need in the country. The Government should have worked faster to disburse the …
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Government Response
The FCDO phases aid against developing needs, partners' capability to implement, and responds to aid agencies' appeals, ensuring funds are spent responsibly, engaging with partners and providing funding.
10
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We welcome the Government’s publication of 15 December 2021 showing details of the allocation and...
We welcome the Government’s publication of 15 December 2021 showing details of the allocation and disbursal of the aid it has pledged to Afghanistan. We urge the Government to publish monthly updates on the allocation and disbursal of its aid …
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Government Response
The government will publish a second WMS providing details of disbursement for FY 2021/22 and publish financial disbursements on Development Tracker, but without full partner details for security reasons.
11
Recommendation
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We urge the FCDO to release more information on its Development Tracker web pages to...
We urge the FCDO to release more information on its Development Tracker web pages to better ensure the transparency of reporting on the ODA funding it has allocated to projects in Afghanistan (if necessary, redacting parts of that information to …
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Government Response
Information and documents relating to the majority of funding in 2021/22 has been redacted and re-uploaded to Development Tracker, and new or recently amended programmes are currently being redacted for publication as soon as possible.
12
Recommendation
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We urge the FCDO to update information on all ODA allocations (for all countries) on...
We urge the FCDO to update information on all ODA allocations (for all countries) on Development Tracker within a three-month period of those allocations having been made. (Paragraph 63) Other factors affecting the humanitarian situation and the disbursal of aid
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Government Response
The government states that all financial contributions to partners will be published on the Development Tracker within three months, and in most cases much more quickly, with any potentially sensitive information redacted, as the Tracker is directly linked with FCDO's financial systems.
13
Conclusion
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
The Government has been far too slow to work with its international counterparts to find...
The Government has been far too slow to work with its international counterparts to find ways to help unblock the banking system in Afghanistan. This has put at grave risk the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. …
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Government Response
The government has been discussing the banking crisis with international partners and the UN since September 2021, secured UNSCR 2615, passed this into domestic legislation, updated UK guidance, and worked to provide assurance to financial institutions, and established mechanisms including co-leading a working group with the World Bank.
14
Recommendation
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
The UK Government should be taking more urgent steps to collaborate with its international counterparts,...
The UK Government should be taking more urgent steps to collaborate with its international counterparts, economists, representatives of the banking sector and aid organisations to find ways to help address more rapidly the banking crisis in Afghanistan to ease the …
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Government Response
The government has been discussing the banking crisis with international partners and the UN since September 2021, secured UNSCR 2615, passed this into domestic legislation, updated UK guidance, and worked to provide assurance to financial institutions, and established mechanisms including co-leading a working group with the World Bank.
15
Conclusion
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We recognise the necessity of having to work with the Taliban.
We recognise the necessity of having to work with the Taliban. We endorse the Government’s policy of developing a pragmatic working relationship with the Taliban to enable humanitarian aid to reach the people of Afghanistan.
Government Response
FCDO officials continue to engage in pragmatic dialogue with the Taliban. The UK has opened a temporary UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha to lead diplomatic engagement.
16
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We urge the Government to maintain its policy of working with the Taliban to enable...
We urge the Government to maintain its policy of working with the Taliban to enable humanitarian aid to reach the people of Afghanistan.
Government Response
The government states that it regularly makes clear to the Taliban that humanitarian aid requires, among other things, no interference with humanitarian operations, unconditional access for aid workers, and the full access for women and girls to services.
17
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We stand with the UK Government on seeking to ensure that the rights of women...
We stand with the UK Government on seeking to ensure that the rights of women and girls are respected by the Taliban.
Government Response
The government regularly presses the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls, condemns the decision not to reopen girls’ secondary schools, and supports Afghan women's demands for girls' education.
18
Recommendation
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We call on the Government to ensure that it maintains its focus on working to...
We call on the Government to ensure that it maintains its focus on working to try and ensure that the Taliban adopts a moderate position whereby it commits to behaving pragmatically towards the inclusion of women, girls and other minority …
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Government Response
The Government states that it regularly consults with Afghan women to inform its policy and programming response, aims for at least 50% of aid recipients to be women and girls, funds child protection and gender-based violence services, and will continue to meet with Afghan women.
19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We welcome the adoption of resolution 2615 at the UN Security Council on 22 December...
We welcome the adoption of resolution 2615 at the UN Security Council on 22 December 2021, notwithstanding its limitations, and the UK Government’s adoption of that resolution into UK law.
Government Response
The government continues to consult with aid organisations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on the issue of guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan, to address the challenges of delivering aid in high-risk contexts.
20
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We urge the UK Government to further step up its efforts on working with the...
We urge the UK Government to further step up its efforts on working with the UN to ensure that aid organisations can effectively operate under the exemptions that UN resolution 2615 (and consequent UK law) permits. It should also urge …
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Government Response
The government continues to consult with aid organisations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan, and welcomes the engagement of banks and NGOs with regard to the guidance on sanctions.
21
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
The UK Government should consult with representatives of aid organisations to ensure that it has...
The UK Government should consult with representatives of aid organisations to ensure that it has issued adequate guidance on how to operate further to the adoption of UN resolution 2615 into UK law.
Government Response
The government continues to consult with aid organizations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan.
22
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We welcome the UK’s participation in the Norwegian Government’s talks with the Taliban at the...
We welcome the UK’s participation in the Norwegian Government’s talks with the Taliban at the end of January 2021. We call on the UK Government to press for UN resolution 2615 to be extended, or further resolutions to be adopted, …
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Government Response
The UK will have the opportunity to propose edits to Resolution 2615 when it is reviewed within a year of being adopted, but any edits will need to be negotiated with other members of the Security Council and adopted without a Permanent Member veto.
23
Conclusion
Accepted
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We welcome the steps the Government has taken to help free up the funds from...
We welcome the steps the Government has taken to help free up the funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. However, the World Bank’s progress on releasing those funds has been agonizingly slow. Political and bureaucratic wrangling is impeding the …
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Government Response
The UK has been a leading voice supporting the repurposing of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. They were instrumental in supporting the announcement of 10 December 2021 transferring out $280 million of available funds to support the World Food Programme and UNICEF.
24
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK sup…
We ask the Government to do more to encourage the World Bank to swiftly release...
We ask the Government to do more to encourage the World Bank to swiftly release the remaining funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund so that aid organisations can use that money to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of …
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Government Response
The UK supports the release of funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund as soon as possible and continues to work with international partners to support the World Bank in unlocking and repurposing existing funding.
Government Response AI assessment · 24 of 16 classified
Accepted
10
Acknowledged
10
Rejected
1
Total
16 recs + 8 conclusions