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Blog Post
November 16, 2023
Well done Andrew Mitchell. On Monday he will unveil the UK’s first White Paper on development for 14 years, and the first credible statement of policy and intent on the subject of any kind for more than a decade. (Yes, there have been previous documents claiming to be strategies, including Liz Truss...
Blog Post
September 27, 2023
The UK is, hopefully, coming out of its nadir in international development. This is marked by planned rises in development spend, an ambitious new international development white paper, a supportive Minister, and a new parliament in 2024. But before considering any proposal, future governments with ...
Blog Post
June 19, 2023
When Boris Johnson announced the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in September 2020, he signaled the dissolution of the Department for International Development (DFID) after nearly 25 years. In a new series, to be published over the next 18 months, we will look at the wa...
Blog Post
September 22, 2022
The UK is being asked for £1.8 billion, making this one of the biggest decisions facing James Cleverly, the new Secretary of State, within his first two weeks of the job. We will review what is known about the FCDO’s likely commitment, and recommend four key questions that the new Secretary of State...
Blog Post
November 22, 2021
One of my overwhelming preoccupations over the last 10 years as a chief executive of international aid organisations, first as permanent secretary of the UK’s Department for International Development and then as head of the UN’s humanitarian affairs, has been that there was never enough money, even ...
Blog Post
October 25, 2021
As Afghanistan enters its harsh winter season, a massive humanitarian disaster appears increasingly likely. Facing food shortages, rising prices, and a breakdown in public services, millions of ordinary Afghans need immediate assistance as their country veers toward economic collapse.
Blog Post
September 06, 2021
The need for effective evidence-informed priority-setting in global development is more urgent than ever, with widespread global challenges and reduced funding due to both COVID-19 related public spending and economic slowdowns. This blog explores three key barriers to using value for money evi...