Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals

International Development Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 26 Nov 2021 Closed: 23 May 2023 Parliament page
Report and Government response published The International Development Committee, which scrutinises the development work of the UK government, held an inquiry into Extreme Poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals. This inquiry looked specifically at how the development work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) impacts on United Nations’ … Read more
14 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
4 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
6 Mar
2023
Report published
13 Dec
2022
Report published
21 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
21 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
26 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
26 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
29 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
29 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
1 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
1 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
21 Jun 2022
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Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals
Andrea Solomon · Concern Worldwide Clare O'Brien · World Food Programme Mansour Ndiaye · United Nations Development Programme Prof. Olivier De Schutter · UN Human Rights Council
26 Apr 2022
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Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals
Bessie Ndovi · Civil Society Organisation Nutrition Alliance (CSONA, Malawi) Dr Githinji Gitahi · Amref Health Africa
29 Mar 2022
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Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals
Caroline Read · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Diana Layfield · British International Investment Mita Samani · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Nick O’Donohoe · CDC Group
1 Mar 2022
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Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals
Dr Sabina Alkire · Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford Rachel Glennerster · University of Chicago Romilly Greenhill · Bond Shameran Abed · BRAC International
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development G… HC 149 13 Dec 2022 23 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
The effects of COVID-19, climate change and conflict are undermining decades of progress on eliminating...
The effects of COVID-19, climate change and conflict are undermining decades of progress on eliminating extreme poverty. Extreme poverty drives conflict, displacement and migration. Eliminating extreme poverty is fundamental to everyone’s security and prosperity. (Paragraph 23) Effective interventions Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that COVID-19, climate change and conflict undermine progress towards eliminating extreme poverty and acknowledges that this goal is vital for security and prosperity.
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2 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
We welcome the FCDO’s position papers on health systems strengthening for global health security and...
We welcome the FCDO’s position papers on health systems strengthening for global health security and universal health coverage, and ending preventable deaths of mothers, babies and children by 2030. We recommend the Government builds on these, and the disability inclusion … Read more
Government Response
The government states that officials are working across government on global health via a HMG Strategic Framework. Ministers are considering options for communicating their shared cross-government strategic framework building on existing papers. They will continue to use multilateral and bilateral levers to achieve global health aims.
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8 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
In summary, by weaving a tapestry of the most critical interventions, including cash, capacity-building and...
In summary, by weaving a tapestry of the most critical interventions, including cash, capacity-building and financial inclusion, graduation programmes have a transformative and long-term impact on the poorest households, which reap sustained economic and social benefits that far outweigh the … Read more
Government Response
The government is committed to the SDGs and the Leave No One Behind agenda through the International Development Strategy with a focus on women and girls and humanitarian prevention and response and mentions the FCDO's three-pronged approach.
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11 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
In the current global climate, the need to ‘put the last first’ is perhaps even...
In the current global climate, the need to ‘put the last first’ is perhaps even greater than it was at the gavelling of the Sustainable Development Goals. The UK Government can help catalyse global action, reinstate UK leadership, and ensure … Read more
Government Response
The government stated its commitment to the SDGs and the Leave No One Behind agenda through the International Development Strategy, focusing on women and girls and humanitarian prevention and response. It outlined a three-pronged approach: understanding who is left behind through data, empowering the marginalized, and ensuring programmes are inclusive.
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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
We welcome the Government’s decision to appoint a Minister for Development who will attend Cabinet.
We welcome the Government’s decision to appoint a Minister for Development who will attend Cabinet. We also welcome the response to our letter that the Government is still committed to the ‘Leave no one behind’ pledge, but we were disappointed … Read more
Government Response
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the 'Leave no one behind' pledge. It outlined how the UK will deliver on the SDGs, including SDG 1, through the International Development Strategy and its alignment to Agenda 2030’s ‘Five Ps’.
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
We recognise that the FCDO may not have automatically carried over DFID’s targets.
We recognise that the FCDO may not have automatically carried over DFID’s targets. As the proportion of extremely poor people living in fragile and conflict- affected states and regions continues to rise, however, this link must be recognised in targeting … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS) are central in the IDS. They outlined how they will draw on combined diplomatic, defence and development capabilities to prevent and reduce conflict. ODA allocations will be directed towards the strategic priorities of the International Development Strategy.
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15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
Cutting funding mid-programme and awarding short-term contracts may help the Government to stay within its...
Cutting funding mid-programme and awarding short-term contracts may help the Government to stay within its 0.5% GNI target, but it risks undermining previous investments and undoing hard-won progress. The most effective programmes should be scaled up and allocated long-term funding. … Read more
Government Response
The government stated that there are no quick fixes to development challenges. They invest in research and evidence, including through a 'best buys' approach and monitors the performance of its programmes. FCDO programmes tend to be multi-year in nature and funding.
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17 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
The UK Government must trust and fund what works.
The UK Government must trust and fund what works. Policy and spend must be dedicated to interventions that deliver, at scale, to and with those most in need. Investing in long-term partnerships provides the key to long-term change. Should ODA … Read more
Government Response
The Government is committed to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA as soon as the fiscal situation allows and is strengthening the governance of cross-government ODA.
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18 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
Trade and investment are proven means of reducing poverty, but the Government cannot rely on...
Trade and investment are proven means of reducing poverty, but the Government cannot rely on “trickle-down development”. Policies based on trade and investment must include the world’s poorest people. As the Government increases ODA spending through development finance, it is … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is developing a Monitoring & Evaluation framework for the International Development Strategy and working to deliver its disability inclusion and rights strategy 2022–2030.
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20 Recommendation Acknowledged
Fifth Report - Extreme poverty and…
Throughout this inquiry, we heard how budget reductions had affected programmes tackling poverty.
Throughout this inquiry, we heard how budget reductions had affected programmes tackling poverty. The Government has stated that it knows what works in addressing extreme poverty, but it has not consistently demonstrated that insight in its funding decisions. We recommend: … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterated its commitment to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA when the fiscal situation allows and highlighted the International Development Strategy's focus on trade, humanitarian aid, girls' education, and health as part of poverty reduction efforts. They stated they use a range of information sources to inform ODA funding decisions.
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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 14 classified
Accepted 12
Acknowledged 10
Deferred 1
Total 14 recs + 9 conclusions