Committee publication · Correspondence · 9 June 2026
Correspondence from the Minister for Development and Africa relating to the Integrated Security Fund, 1 June 2026
Summary
Minister for International Development Baroness Chapman responds to the International Development Committee's questions about governance of the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) following a machinery of government reorganisation. The ISF remains Cabinet Office-led, with FCDO retaining a substantial funding share and playing a key role through overseas delivery platforms. The Minister clarifies oversight arrangements, ODA compliance, and ministerial involvement in programming decisions.
Key findings
- Cabinet Office retains overall ISF responsibility; Security Minister and Chief Secretary to PM set strategic direction, with Deputy National Security Adviser as Senior Responsible Owner
- FCDO receives substantial ISF allocation and delivers programmes through overseas platform; FCDO Minister for International Security actively engaged on ISF direction with cross-government representation on ISF Board
- Baroness Chapman chairs new cross-Government ODA Delivery and Impact Board and oversees policy coherence; FCDO ministers consulted on allocations and scrutinise delivery periodically
- FCDO Programme Operating Framework requires ministerial approval for programmes above £5m; programmes can 'blend' ODA and non-ODA funding to deliver ISF objectives in multiple contexts
- ISF Oversight Unit (ISFOU) in Cabinet Office comprises six staff: four loaned from FCDO's former ISF Unit (two permanent FCDO, two from Home Office/MHCLG), two posts vacant pending cross-government recruitment
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Sarah Champion MP, Stephen Doughty MP, Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office (FCDO), Cabinet Office, National Security Council, Security Minister
Notable line
“The ISF benefits from the fact it contains both ODA and non-ODA funding. In many instances, programmes explicitly 'blend' ODA and non-ODA to deliver ISF objectives.”
Key Quotes
“Overall responsibility for the ISF continues to sit with the Cabinet Office. Strategic direction is provided by the Security Minister and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, with the Deputy National Security Adviser (International Affairs) as Senior Responsible Owner for the ISF.”
“As Minister for Development, I chair the new cross-Government ODA Delivery and Impact Board. As part of this, I am responsible for ensuring cross-Government policy coherence and effective delivery of ODA spending in line with our modern approach to development and the four shifts I …”
“The ISF benefits from the fact it contains both ODA and non-ODA funding. In many instances, programmes explicitly 'blend' ODA and non-ODA to deliver ISF objectives.”
“… programmes above £5m require Ministerial approval. The PrOF therefore ensures that FCDO ministers play a central role regarding the use of ODA across the ISF programming cycle, particularly during programme design but also at regular junctures during delivery.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗