Future of UK aid and development assistance

International Development Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 15 Sep 2025 Parliament page
A new inquiry into the future of the UK’s international aid and development assistance programmes has been launched by the International Development Committee. It will examine how the UK can continue to deliver high impact international aid and development assistance in the face of a 40% budget cut as the … Read more
13 Recommendations
14 Conclusions
2 Reports
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
28 Apr
2026
Report published
22 Apr
2026
Report published
24 Mar
2026
Oral evidence
24 Mar
2026
Correspondence
24 Mar
2026
Correspondence
24 Mar
2026
Correspondence
24 Mar
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
5 Feb
2026
Report published
27 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
27 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Science Gallery London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9GU
20 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
20 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
24 Mar 2026
View on parliament.uk
The development work of the FCDO
Melinda Bohannon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Nick Dyer · Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27 Jan 2026
View on parliament.uk
Future of UK aid and development assistance
Bel Trew · The Independent Chido Govera · Future of Hope Foundation (Zimbabwe) Finian Ali · Scaling Up Nutrition Network (Nigeria) Jennifer Hudson · Development Engagement Lab Luke Tryl · More in Common Sapphire Alexander · Caribbean Feminist (Trinidad and Tobago)
20 Jan 2026
View on parliament.uk
Future of UK aid and development assistance
Melinda Bohannon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
25 Nov 2025
View on parliament.uk
Future of UK Aid and Development Assistance
Freddie Carver · ODI Global Gideon Rabinowitz · Bond Lois Austin · Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union Martin John · Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union Ms Anna Schuesterl · ODI Global Professor Emma Mawdsley · University of Cambridge
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Government has not safeguarded internal resources to maintain multilateral ODA influence and expertise.
To be effective, the Government’s aspiration to spend ODA more efficiently through a reformed multilateral system requires two things: influence and expertise. Both require money that is well targeted and accountable. The Government has not provided adequate reassurance that the … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is committed to ensuring it has the development capability and technical expertise needed, and is implementing a new Capability Framework and developing a Workforce Strategy.
View details
7 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Assess staffing requirements for multilateral partner reform and retain capacity under FCDO 2030.
We urge the Government to fully assess requirements for the staffing required to oversee and support reform of the UK’s multilateral partners by an upfront skills audit focussed on what is needed to support a future aid landscape. Steps should … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is committed to ensuring it has the development capability and technical expertise needed, and is implementing a new Capability Framework and developing a Workforce Strategy.
View details
8 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
In-country missions require greater autonomy for ODA spending within the FCDO policy framework.
The FCDO has an impressive and nuanced understanding of situations on- the-ground through its overseas network and local staff. As part of the next round of spending decisions, in-country missions must have the autonomy needed to spend ODA within the … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO says it is taking a partnership-led approach, giving the country network flexibility to deliver development partners want, and changing how Ministers approve bilateral programming; multiyear allocations include specific allocations for geographic areas and countries; and CMPs have undergone review to improve value for money and impact.
View details
10 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Encourage collaboration among missions to efficiently utilise funds and expertise on shared opportunities.
Where missions across a region, or a thematic area, have identified shared opportunities and solutions, collaboration should be encouraged. Supporting such initiatives will be an efficient use of limited funds as well as a good utilisation of expertise, whether in … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO says it is taking a partnership-led approach, giving the country network flexibility to deliver development partners want, and changing how Ministers approve bilateral programming; multiyear allocations include specific allocations for geographic areas and countries; and CMPs have undergone review to improve value for money and impact.
View details
11 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Badly designed development and humanitarian assistance poses risks to beneficiaries and UK reputation.
Badly designed and delivered development and humanitarian assistance is bad for the UK. It carries risks to those it is designed to serve and reputational risks to the UK Government. (Conclusion, Paragraph 27)
Government Response
The FCDO says it is taking a partnership-led approach, giving the country network flexibility to deliver development partners want, and changing how Ministers approve bilateral programming; multiyear allocations include specific allocations for geographic areas and countries; and CMPs have undergone review to improve value for money and impact.
View details
12 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Ensure missions have access to in-house thematic, geographic expertise, and vital local staff.
Missions must, therefore, have access to in-house expertise both on the ground and in the UK. This expertise needs to cover both thematic issues relating to poverty alleviation, as well as the geographic knowledge of specific contexts. Local staff are … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO states that it is taking a partnership-led approach, that the country network will have flexibility to deliver development, and that Posts will be able to draw on central Communities of Expertise.
View details
14 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Committee reiterates concerns regarding FCDO 2030 programme sequencing and implementation speed.
We reiterate our previous concerns around the sequencing and speed of the FCDO 2030 programme. (Conclusion, Paragraph 32)
Government Response
The FCDO is implementing a new Capability Framework, developing a Workforce Strategy for the Spending Review period and working through a detailed design process to ensure that the future FCDO workforce is sufficiently skilled to deliver Ministerial priorities within the agreed Spending Review settlement, but it is not being paused.
View details
16 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Alarm over Development Minister's apparent misunderstanding of ICAI's distinct role.
The existence and adequate resourcing of the Independent Commission on Aid Impact sends a powerful message to all stakeholders that the UK takes transparency and value for money seriously. We are alarmed by apparent misunderstanding of the ICAI’s distinct role … Read more
Government Response
The Government states they are clear about ICAI’s role and take ICAI reports seriously, and that they remain committed to supporting ICAI for at least the next 3 years; with a average programme allocation of £1.68m per year and £685,000 for operating costs.
View details
17 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Maintain full funding for ICAI until a comprehensive assessment of future arrangements.
Whilst we agree that the value for money of every aspect of Government spending must be assessed, we caution against any rapid decision- making with regards to the ICAI’s future. Full funding should remain in 16 place until a final … Read more
Government Response
The Government states they are clear about ICAI’s role and take ICAI reports seriously, and that they remain committed to supporting ICAI for at least the next 3 years; with a average programme allocation of £1.68m per year and £685,000 for operating costs.
View details
18 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Keep Committee fully appraised of Government's work and decisions regarding ICAI's future.
As its Parliamentary oversight body, this Committee must be kept fully appraised of the Government’s work and decision-making around ICAI’s future. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37)
Government Response
The government agrees that they take transparency and value for money seriously, that they are clear about ICAI’s role, and that they remain committed to supporting ICAI for at least the next 3 years.
View details
19 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
ODA resourcing decisions must prioritise greatest need in fragile and climate-vulnerable states.
In the coming years, the greatest need will be in fragile and conflict- affected states, and states most vulnerable to climate change. Working in partnership to address these needs mutually benefits the affected countries and the UK. The empowerment and … Read more
Government Response
The government says it is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit and prioritizing ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute. It notes the importance of local civil society and the UK's International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls.
View details
20 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Upholding rights and potential of marginalised groups and women should be UK ODA priorities.
Upholding the rights of marginalised groups, as well as realising the potential of women and girls in both achieving societal resilience and poverty reduction, should be strategic priorities for UK ODA. This must be reflected in the spending allocations. (Conclusion, … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit and will prioritize geographic ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute, focusing on locally led approaches and reaffirming commitment to women and girls.
View details
22 Conclusion Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Government must maintain flexibility within ODA priorities to respond to interconnected development challenges.
The Government’s focusses on global health, and climate and nature are welcome. However, the Government must maintain the flexibility within these priorities to accommodate the interconnectedness of development challenges. It also needs the flexibility to be able to respond to … Read more
Government Response
The government says it is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit and prioritizing ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute. It notes the importance of local civil society and the UK's International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls.
View details
23 Recommendation Acknowledged
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Consider interconnected challenges in fragile states when deploying ODA financial and human resources holistically.
We urge the Government to consider the nature of interconnected challenges such as nutrition, food systems, education, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, and governance challenges—particularly in relation to fragile and conflict-affected states—as it plans how it will deploy its financial and … Read more
Government Response
The FCDO is transitioning to differentiated development partnerships based on mutual benefit, will prioritize geographic ODA where humanitarian needs are most acute, and are focusing on locally led approaches. The UK’s International Strategic Framework on Women and Girls reaffirms commitment to advancing the rights, safety and opportunities of women and girls worldwide.
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 13 classified
Accepted 1
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 14
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 4
Total 13 recs + 14 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
24 Mar 2026 Correspondence to the Minister of State for International Development & Africa relating to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and ODA allocations, 5 March 2026
Parliament page
24 Mar 2026 Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development & Africa relating to the Publication of FCDO’s Multi Year ODA Allocations (2026/27–2028/29), 19 March 2026
Parliament page
24 Mar 2026 Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development & Africa relating to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and ODA allocations, 23 March 2026
Parliament page