Sixth Report - UK aid to Pakistan
Select Committee
International Development Committee
HC 102
29 April 2022
Government Response (AI assessment · 39 of 39 classified)
Accepted
21
Acknowledged
13
Deferred
2
Rejected
1
Recommendations
11 results
6
Accepted
Para 12
UK aid should strive to adopt a joined-up strategy in Pakistan through collaboration with other...
Recommendation
UK aid should strive to adopt a joined-up strategy in Pakistan through collaboration with other donors, to ensure that aid programmes complement and amplify each other.
Government Response Summary
The government claims the British High Commission in Islamabad already works with other donors to ensure a joined-up approach by aligning strategic and sectoral work in all areas of UK aid spending.
10
Accepted
Consequently, we recommend that, wherever possible, the FCDO should consider the benefits of delivering UK...
Recommendation
Consequently, we recommend that, wherever possible, the FCDO should consider the benefits of delivering UK aid programmes through local NGOs in Pakistan. Where this is not possible, the FCDO should involve local organisations and communities in the planning and implementation …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that local organisations and communities are already embedded in UK aid programme delivery and that they hold early market engagement fairs at programme design stage to create opportunities for local NGOs to partner with INGOs.
12
Accepted
Para 21
The FCDO should work with the Pakistani Government and use diplomatic means to ensure that...
Recommendation
The FCDO should work with the Pakistani Government and use diplomatic means to ensure that INGOs and NGOs, especially the UK’s aid partners, are able to undertake development work in the country without barriers. The FCDO should write to the …
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Government Response Summary
The UK will continue to engage with the Government of Pakistan to encourage space for NGOs and INGOs to undertake development work and the FCDO will write to the Committee within nine months to update on progress.
16
Accepted
The FCDO should continue to carry out aid programmes aimed at helping covid-19 recovery, particularly...
Recommendation
The FCDO should continue to carry out aid programmes aimed at helping covid-19 recovery, particularly addressing the impact among marginalised communities, especially children. (Paragraph 34) Development challenges in Pakistan
Government Response Summary
The government states that they already spent £88.2 million responding to Pakistan's COVID-19 response in 2020, with specific allocations to humanitarian programs, economic growth, education, governance, and support for helplines for vulnerable people.
18
Accepted
Para 38
Consequently, the FCDO should continue to fund programmes which tackle nutrition challenges, such as stunting...
Recommendation
Consequently, the FCDO should continue to fund programmes which tackle nutrition challenges, such as stunting within Pakistan, especially amongst girls.
Government Response Summary
The UK is convenors of the Health, Population, and Nutrition Development Partners Group in Pakistan, but has exited bilateral ODA finance of nutrition and prioritised our interventions in other areas. They continue to fund UN agencies that provide specific nutrition policy and services.
21
Accepted
Para 47
Building upon existing work, the FCDO should continue to fund and develop UK aid programmes...
Recommendation
Building upon existing work, the FCDO should continue to fund and develop UK aid programmes in education and economic empowerment for women and girls.
Government Response Summary
The government states they are already supporting women's economic empowerment through programmes like Enterprise and Assets Growth (EAGR) and bringing together wider UK capabilities to help Pakistan mobilise foreign savings and drive economic growth and job creation, including for women.
22
Accepted
Para 48
It is important that UK aid programmes are fully inclusive and target all communities, including...
Recommendation
It is important that UK aid programmes are fully inclusive and target all communities, including marginalised groups and those considered less employable. This is crucial to ensuring that no one is left behind.
Government Response Summary
The government states they target interventions carefully to reach communities most in need and describes a range of UK aid programs focusing on tackling multi-dimensional exclusion in Pakistan, including support for legislation, community interventions, education, health, and the Benazir Income Support Programme.
23
Accepted
Para 48
The FCDO should proactively target future aid interventions towards getting more of the most marginalised...
Recommendation
The FCDO should proactively target future aid interventions towards getting more of the most marginalised women and girls, including from rural and hard-to-reach communities, into school and actively involved in the economy.
Government Response Summary
The government refers to related responses and states that women and girls are a priority in the International Development Strategy. They have developed a Pakistan Network Gender Strategy (2022–27) to increase our focus on women and girls, including those who experience multiple vulnerabilities.
33
Accepted
Para 73
The FCDO should ensure that programmes that they fund are fully inclusive and make a...
Recommendation
The FCDO should ensure that programmes that they fund are fully inclusive and make a particular effort to reach religious minorities. The FCDO should also undertake a religious diversity audit of UK aid programmes in Pakistan.
Government Response Summary
The government states that they consistently advocate for minority rights and provide direct support through programming, citing examples like the Chevening scholarships and the Aawaz II programme, and routinely assess how to ensure the principles of inclusion across all programmes.
35
Accepted
Para 77
We recommend that the FCDO adopts an explicit focus on the impact of aid programmes...
Recommendation
We recommend that the FCDO adopts an explicit focus on the impact of aid programmes on marginalised and minority communities and develops further specific aid programmes in country targeted at these groups. The FCDO should take into account the particular …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that impact assessment work across their portfolio helps to ensure that the needs of marginalised groups are considered and included, that their diplomatic engagement raises the results of these assessments, and that specific programmes such as the Aawaz II programme target human rights work to support the most marginalised.
39
Accepted
The FCDO should ensure that the Pakistani authorities receive the necessary assistance and resources to...
Recommendation
The FCDO should ensure that the Pakistani authorities receive the necessary assistance and resources to be able to cope with refugees fleeing from the crisis in Afghanistan. (Paragraph 82) UK aid to Pakistan 37
Government Response Summary
Since late 2021, the UK has provided £7 million to WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR and IFRC to support preparedness and response for the arrival of new refugees from Afghanistan to Pakistan, also working within a donor group and supporting Pakistan’s strategy for Afghan refugees.
Conclusions (10) Observations and findings — click to expand
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 10
It is vital that UK aid partners understand the aims and strategy of UK aid in Pakistan in order to carry out their work as effectively as possible.
Government Response Summary
The FCDO will convene a series of discussions with UK aid partners in Pakistan to promote the IDS and how it applies to UK aid in Pakistan, building upon existing engagement with implementing partners.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 12
Aid programmes are most effective when different donors ensure that they complement each other in a joined-up approach. Our evidence suggested that this isn’t always the case in Pakistan.
Government Response Summary
The British High Commission in Islamabad works with other donors locally to ensure a joined-up approach, aligning strategic and sectoral work, informed by what other donors are doing and identifying comparative advantage.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 14
Long-term aid programmes often represent better value for money than short-term projects, especially in areas such as education.
Government Response Summary
The government states that their efforts through programmes, policy interventions and political lobbying, aim to tackle structural and systemic issues to deliver sustainable growth, stability and poverty reduction in Pakistan. Decisions on programme types and duration are based on evidence and UK priorities.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 17
Aid programmes are more effective when they are run by or involve local organisations and people due to their integration into and acceptance by local communities. However, we accept that it may be more appropriate for large INGOs to operate some larger aid programmes, especially in emergencies. Nevertheless, it is …
Government Response Summary
The government stated local organisations and communities are already embedded in UK aid program delivery, citing examples and engagement fairs, and said they remain committed to ensuring beneficiaries are involved in design and delivery while reviewing feedback mechanisms.
15
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 34
Like much of the world, Pakistan has been significantly impacted by covid-19. It is clear in Pakistan that marginalised and vulnerable groups have been disproportionately affected.
Government Response Summary
The government states that COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities and outlines £88.2 million in spending in 2020 responding to COVID-19 in Pakistan including support for testing, education, economic stimulus, and helplines.
19
Conclusion
Accepted
The aid cuts and the subsequent delays threaten to undermine the UK Government’s education goals in Pakistan, particularly to support the rebuilding of Pakistan’s education system to be more inclusive for girls and the most marginalised communities following the impact of covid-19. (Paragraph 43) UK aid to Pakistan 35
Government Response Summary
The government states that Pakistan has resources to address key education reforms and that their continued support will focus on providing technical expertise to support governments to improve access to education and quality of learning with a focus on girls and the most marginalised, as well as supporting catch-up learning post pandemic.
26
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 56
People with disabilities continue to face challenges in Pakistan, including in access to education. We welcome the FCDO’s commitment to disability inclusive development, including through the former DFID’s strategy for Disability Inclusive Development and its new FCDO disability inclusion and rights strategy.
Government Response Summary
The government states they are implementing the FCDO’s inclusion and rights strategy in Pakistan, working with partners to ensure access for people with disabilities and referencing specific examples like scholarships and accessible ramps in schools, as well as support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
34
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 77
It is clear that women and girls and minority groups face particular challenges in Pakistani society and those belonging to multiple groups often face intersecting and compounded discrimination.
Government Response Summary
The government references the Pakistan Network Gender Strategy (2022-27) which makes specific commitments for targeting women and girls who face intersecting vulnerabilities.
37
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 78
As such, the FCDO should continue to designate Pakistan as a human rights priority country.
Government Response Summary
The government states that Pakistan is already a FCDO Human Rights priority country.
38
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 82
Pakistan already hosts the second highest number of refugees in the world. It is important that countries capable of helping carry the financial and practical burden do so.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the UK is working with other donors to support Pakistan and UNHCR to protect and support Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and Pakistan has received World Bank funds for refugee hosting areas.