According to the UK’s public spending watchdog, the merging of international development into the Foreign Office has reduced Britain’s proficiency and knowledge in foreign aid.
According to the National Audit Office, responsible for reporting to parliament about government expenditures, the move of the department to the Foreign Office, under the leadership of Boris Johnson, resulted in a decrease in specialized senior positions in development.
It was stated that this had diminished the trust and responsibility of the UK’s ability to aid in development, in addition to the government’s reduction of the aid budget following the decision to no longer meet the goal of allocating 0.7% of national income.
According to charities, the report’s conclusions were correct, stating that there was insufficient planning and consultation regarding the combining of the Foreign Office and Department for International Development in 2020.
The NAO reported that the newly formed department has made significant advancements in the merger, but further efforts are necessary to specify its requirements, address remaining human resources and technology concerns, and proceed with implementing cultural changes. Additionally, the NAO mentioned that the merger incurred a minimum cost of £24m, but the potential advantages and cost savings have not been monitored.
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FCDO’s effectiveness in development has decreased due to the merger. Additionally, changes to leadership and roles have been made within FCDO to combine development and diplomacy efforts.
According to the report, in certain international locations, the elimination of experienced development positions has resulted in a decrease in capability and a weakening of FCDO’s reputation and responsibility for providing official development aid.
“In the span of three years, the number of expert development adviser positions within FCDO has decreased by 14%, going from 867 in 2019 to 747 in 2022 due to internal accreditation and external hiring. FCDO is cognizant of the potential consequence of losing its international development knowledge and abilities, which it currently considers to be at a high level of severity, and is taking steps to alleviate this risk.”
The auditor general, Gareth Davies, commended the Foreign Office for their prudent actions in getting the merger back on course despite facing difficulties such as the pandemic and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine.
He stated: “After over three years since the merger, there is still progress to be made in addressing outstanding matters, meeting essential requirements, and reaching the ultimate advantages of a completely unified department.”
The government should have an understanding of the costs associated with significant changes, such as the impact they will have on management and the resources required. These costs should be carefully considered in comparison to the expected benefits.
The government’s decision to proceed with the merger has faced criticism from aid organizations and political rivals. They argue that it would harm the impact of Britain’s aid expenditures.
“The consolidation of the FCDO was done without proper communication and preparation, causing a harmful decrease in the government’s knowledge and ability in development work,” stated Gideon Rabinowitz, the director of policy at Bond, a UK network for organizations involved in global development. “After three years, it is concerning to see that the department has identified a ‘severe’ risk of not maintaining its skills and expertise in international development.”
These significant weaknesses must be promptly tackled to ensure that the FCDO can effectively support development objectives within the department and across the government and also address urgent development needs.
Oxfam expressed grave concern over the loss of international development knowledge due to the unwise merger.
According to a representative from the organization, there were numerous alerts that the most affected individuals due to the consolidation would be individuals facing poverty globally. However, the authorities opted not to heed these warnings.
The choice to allocate a significant portion of the aid budget within the UK has had negative consequences. As conflicts, climate change, and inequity continue to harm underprivileged communities worldwide, it is crucial to have a well-funded and autonomous international development department that is dedicated to forming partnerships with the global south and making a tangible impact in eradicating poverty.
A spokesperson from the FCDO stated: “The consolidation has provided us with the cohesive ability required to expand and advance our foreign policy, national security, and international development goals in a more efficient and coordinated manner.”
According to the report, we have made significant strides in achieving our goals by utilizing our knowledge to address challenges and advance UK interests.
“We are aware that there are still tasks to be accomplished and we are dedicated to fulfilling the objective of the FCDO. Our recent efforts, such as appointing a second permanent undersecretary with a focus on development, have allowed us to effectively coordinate diplomacy, consular support, and development in order to achieve greater success for the UK.”
Source: theguardian.com
