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
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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
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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
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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
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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
4 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Rejected
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Government lacks clear strategy for aligning multilateral ODA spending with its principles.
The Government plans to spend a greater proportion of its shrinking ODA pot through multilateral institutions. There is logic to this, but the Government is yet to set out how it will ensure that its multilateral programme spending is used … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with the conclusion, stating that they are strategically targeting multilateral investments, publishing ODA programme allocations, and adhering to OECD DAC rules while prioritizing poverty reduction.
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2 Conclusion Rejected
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Multilateral development review urgently needed for understanding ODA commitments and performance.
A multilateral development review is urgently needed to underpin the change in proportion of ODA spent through this channel. The Government needs a clear understanding of its current commitments and the performance of multilateral organisations it supports. (Conclusion, Paragraph 12) Read more
Government Response
The Government disagrees that a multilateral development review is required to evaluate the performance of multilateral organisations.
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3 Recommendation Rejected
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Commission a multilateral development review to report on supported organisations' performance by 2026.
The Government should commission a multilateral development review to consider and report on the performance of the organisations it supports, before the end of 2026. (Recommendation, Paragraph 13)
Government Response
The government disagrees, stating that existing mechanisms like the Programme Operating Framework and external assessments already sufficiently evaluate the performance of multilateral organizations.
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4 Conclusion Rejected
9th Report - Future of UK aid and …
Government must maintain accountability and leverage UK soft power in ODA spending.
It is the responsibility of the Government to remain accountable to the public, principally through Parliament, on how ODA is spent. However, it is also morally obliged to be accountable to those receiving UK ODA and their governments. We agree … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees, stating they are putting modern development partnerships at the heart of their new approach, responding to partners' needs, and using the UK's global soft power assets to promote UK values.
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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