Committee publication · Correspondence · 24 March 2026
Correspondence from the Minister of State for International Development & Africa relating to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and ODA allocations - 23 March 2026
Summary
The Minister for International Development and Africa writes to inform the Committee that the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) will continue independent evaluation of ODA spending, but its budget has been reduced proportionally to match overall ODA reductions. ICAI's average annual programme budget is set at £1.68m per year across the 3-year Spending Review period.
Key findings
- ICAI will maintain its independent role evaluating UK ODA spend despite budget constraints
- ICAI's budget reduced in line with wider ODA budget reductions, applying equal treatment across allocations
- ICAI's average annual programme budget confirmed at £1.68m per year for the 3-year Spending Review period
- Minister advises ICAI independently to determine how to deploy remaining budget to evaluate UK's new development approach
- Government maintains stated commitment to transparency and oversight of ODA spend
Tone
ProceduralTopics
aid-and-developmentpublic-financeoversight-and-accountability
Key actors
Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Sarah Champion MP, Independent Commission for Aid Impact, ICAI Chief Commissioner
Notable line
“… with less ODA to scrutinise it was right that we treated ICAI's budget reductions equally”
Key Quotes
“… we have now confirmed that ICAI will continue the important role of independently evaluating our ODA spend”
“… with less ODA to scrutinise it was right that we treated ICAI's budget reductions equally”
“ICAI's average annual programme budget will be £1.68m per year”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗