Committee publication · Special Report · 8 July 2026 · HC 499
2nd Special Report - UK Aid and Development Assistance in a Fracturing World: Strengthening Resilience and Cooperation: Government Response
Summary
This is the UK Government's response to the International Development Committee's eleventh report on UK aid and development assistance. The government partially accepts most recommendations and outlines its 'modern development approach' centered on four shifts: from donor to investor, service delivery to system support, grants to expertise, and international interventions to local leadership. The response details commitments to spend £1.4bn annually on humanitarian needs, £6bn on climate finance over three years, and emphasizes partnership, multilateral reform, and locally-led development.
Key findings
- Government partially accepts all four parts of Recommendation 1, committing to measure the 'four essential shifts' through improved Country Business Planning and outcome metrics, though acknowledges measuring impact will be complex.
- Multilateral allocation choices were grounded in assessment of delivery, impact, value for money, and strategic importance; FCDO has identified priority reforms in Health, Humanitarian, Global Financial System, and Climate areas.
- FCDO undertook cross-network risk and impact exercises in summer 2025 assessing expected impacts of ODA allocation reductions on delivery, partners, and beneficiaries.
- Government will spend approximately £1.4bn annually on humanitarian needs, £6bn on international climate finance over three years, and commits that 90% of bilateral ODA programmes will contribute to gender equality by 2030.
- In-donor refugee costs fell from £4.27bn (2023) to £2.4bn (2025); FCDO rejects establishing new country-level investment boards, instead strengthening coordination through existing mechanisms at country and central levels.
Government position
Partially accepts. Government accepts the broad policy direction but rejects or qualifies specific implementation recommendations. On Recommendation 1.a, government partially accepts, committing to measure the four shifts while acknowledging measurement complexity. On 1.b, partially accepts multilateral engagement approach grounded in evidence of delivery and reform priorities. On 1.c, partially accepts risk assessments have been undertaken. On 1.d, partially accepts but rejects the framing that civil society should 'complement' government priorities, instead emphasizing independent civil society roles. On Recommendation 2, government indicates agreement with most policy paper themes but rejects establishing a Multilateral Aid Review, citing recent multi-year allocations, and declines to create country-level investment boards.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sarah Champion (Committee Chair), Foreign Secretary, Minister for Development, FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), British International Investment (BII), Tom Fletcher (UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs), Bond (civil society network), International Development Committee
Notable line
“We need a systematic and coherent approach to build trust and credibility and to shift toward genuine, equitable partnership.”
Key Quotes
“The FCDO has designed the "four essential shifts" to respond to a changing global context, characterised by a volatile global economy and a more fragmented and politically contested development landscape.”
“The evidence emphasises that development results are strongest where programmes are aligned with country priorities, strengthen national systems, and support the development of effective, accountable institutions over time.”
“It is therefore not a policy objective to "ensure the energy and resources of diaspora groups and UK-based NGOs complement [the Government's] own priorities"; rather, we seek to work in partnership where objectives align, incentivising positive transformation while respecting the importance of independent perspectives.”
“Stakeholders increasingly expect more equal partnership with the UK. We need a systematic and coherent approach to build trust and credibility and to shift toward genuine, equitable partnership.”
“With less money, we must make choices and focus on greater impact: every pound must deliver for the UK taxpayer and the people we support.”
“The UK plans to spend approximately £1.4bn each year in the places with the highest humanitarian need over the next three years, in addition to our planned commitment to the UN and Red Cross for humanitarian work.”
“This is a transition from problem solving to enabling others to solve problems. Done well it supports exponential improvements in services, growth and accountability to communities …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗