DFID should better strategise UK aid spending, MPs say

The International Development Committee (IDC) has published a report supporting DFID spending on UK aid but highlighting a lack of emphasis on strategy in the spending.

The committee has underlined its support for the UK’s commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on overseas development assistance, but advised that more strategising should be in place as ‘the allocation of aid spreads across government departments’.

The MPs also advised that the department must be proactive in publicising the good work that results from the UK’s funding and should reconsider its decision to end core support to civil society organisations.

Stephen Twigg MP, chair of the IDC, explained: “The great need for development assistance globally and the life changing opportunities it provides, including in a number of ongoing abject humanitarian crises, has not changed. We reiterate that tackling poverty reduction must be the primary purpose of any aid spending.

“The 2015 UK aid strategy sought to demonstrate how overseas development assistance is in the UK's national interest. Through our inquiries in this Parliament, the Committee has seen first-hand that this is true. UK aid spending has allowed refugees fleeing the war in Syria to settle closer to home, and has provided support to help create jobs and livelihoods for those refugees, so that they did not have to make dangerous journeys across Europe.

“However, the department needs to publicise its good work to a wider audience. DFID decisions on the allocation of resources should be based on evidence.

“We are particularly concerned that a lack of strategic direction is holding UK aid back. This is more important than ever, with increasing amounts of aid being spent by government departments other than DFID. The basis on which aid spending decisions across the government are made needs to be clear.

“It is absolutely right that government demonstrates that every penny is spent as effectively as possible. Supported by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and the National Audit Office, the Committee’s primary function is to scrutinise spending to ensure it achieves maximum benefit for beneficiaries and the UK taxpayer. Our robust scrutiny of aid and development expenditure will continue.”