House of Commons Select Committee on International Development

The UK House of Commons Select Committee on International Development visted the Center for Global Development today. The Select Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for International Development and its associated public bodies. The Committee also takes an interest in the policies and procedures of the multilateral agencies and non-government organisations to which DFID contributes.The round-table discussion covered a range of topics, including prospects for delivery of the G8 Commitments made at the Gleneagles Summit in July, the evolution of future US aid policy, the link between development and security, ways to increase the role of women in development, the effectiveness of aid to Iraq, the International Finance Facility and International Finance Facility for Immunization, and Advance Market Commitments for vaccines.Two particular suggestions from the visiting Members of Parliament stuck in my mind.First, that CGD might establish a network of partner organizations across the G8 countries to develop a common, independent mechanism to monitor delivery of the Gleneagles commitments, to buttress and support the official monitoring that will be housed in the DAC.Second, that CGD might link more with parliamentarians in the UK and elsewhere.This is an impressive group of MPs, with a good knowledge of and interest in development issues, and of the UK Government's development policy.