First Report - Racism in the aid sector
Select Committee
International Development Committee
HC 150
23 June 2022
Government Response (AI assessment · 37 of 37 classified)
Accepted
19
Acknowledged
14
Deferred
1
Rejected
1
Recommendations
4 results
5
Acknowledged
Para 20
Further, the FCDO should increase the amount of UK aid funding that goes directly to...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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.
12
Acknowledged
Para 34
The terminology used in the aid sector has its roots in colonialism; it ‘others’ the...
Recommendation
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 Summary
The FCDO recognises the active debate about terminology and is exploring taking part in these conversations.
13
Acknowledged
Para 34
The aid sector should have a conversation that includes the communities it works with to...
Recommendation
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 Summary
The FCDO recognises the active debate about terminology and is exploring taking part in these conversations.
31
Acknowledged
Para 80
Aid organisations, including private sector contractors, should publicly acknowledge that racism exists in the sector...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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.
Conclusions (10) Observations and findings — click to expand
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 19
The use of European languages, particularly English, in the development sector can lock out national actors who operate in local languages.
Government Response Summary
The government describes its language training programme for FCDO staff and its use of multilingual country-based staff.
4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 20
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 Summary
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.
7
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 26
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 affected, many of which are Black, Indigenous and People of …
Government Response Summary
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
Para 27
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 Summary
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.
19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 53
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 diversity data if it could compromise employees’ rights to confidentiality …
Government Response Summary
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
Para 63
DFID previously set out its ambition to publish more inclusive data, in order to improve its programming in 2022.
Government Response Summary
The government states the FCDO is a signatory of the inclusive data charter and remains committed to its vision and principles.
30
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 80
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 are likely to be painful and difficult and will take …
Government Response Summary
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.
34
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 89
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, they can lead to large inequalities when compared to internationally …
Government Response Summary
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
Para 97
The FCDO has significant convening power across the aid sector.
Government Response Summary
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
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 create the forum for these conversations and provide the funding …
Government Response Summary
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.