Lord Chidgey

In 2019, 27% of UK ODA was spent outside of the Department for International Development. This includes spend by other government departments and funds as well as non-departmental spend such as debt relief and the proportion of gift aid used on ODA eligible activities.

Given the likely decrease in the size of the economy this year, and therefore a decrease in the value of the 0.7% commitment, a package of £2.9bn of reductions in the Government’s planned ODA spend has been agreed. This package includes underspends, delaying activity and stopping some spend. The package will see some reductions made now, with arrangements in place to tailor spending further during the remaining months as we start to gain a clearer economic picture. As normal, there will continue to be adjustments in-year to individual departmental ODA spend to meet the 0.7% commitment.

Across East Africa and the Horn of Africa, 25.8 million people are severely food insecure and 1.3 million have been affected by floods since March. The UK has responded to localised flood impacts through the START Network, including provision of relief items and recovery programming.

We are deeply concerned about the food security situation. Heavy rains in the region have provided conditions conducive to the unprecedented locust outbreaks, which will affect the food security situation even further. The UK is supporting the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) emergency appeal to help to control the increase of locusts across East Africa, as well as reduce the risk of swarms spreading into the Sahel.

The humanitarian situation will be exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. We are urgently redirecting UK aid programmes right across Africa to respond to these compound risks.

The Government is committed to ensuring that every pound spent on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) achieves maximum value for money for taxpayers based on the same high standards of accountability and effectiveness as all areas of public expenditure. Individual departments are responsible under public spending rules for monitoring all public money including their UK aid programming and ensuring that they deliver value for money. Robust parliamentary and independent scrutiny of the aid budget will continue – the form that Parliamentary scrutiny takes is for Parliament to decide. UK ODA continues to be spent in accordance with international rules on what constitutes aid as set by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Many bilateral and multilateral aid programmes across Africa have been redirected, prioritising health, humanitarian, growth and trade as well as education and nutrition, recognising that these components are vital both for the immediate response to COVID-19, and for longer-term recovery. The UK has successfully pivoted huge amounts of programming to support nimble and innovative responses in African countries.

For example, in South Sudan, the UK is making a significant contribution to government-led efforts to prevent and respond to cases of COVID-19, including through support for infection prevention and control as well as water, sanitation and hygiene activities. The UK’s flagship Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme (WISH) has been adapted in 24 countries across Africa to ensure the continuation of lifesaving services to marginalised women and girls despite COVID-19. Multilaterally, £20m has been provided towards the African Union’s new COVID-19 response plan which funds and deploys health workers, clinical equipment, and capacity building training to all 55 AU Member States. In 2020, DFID has so far provided USD 254million to support the World Food Programme’s operations – this includes a USD 19million contribution to The World Food Programme’s Global Services in response to COVID-19.

The UK is a leader in accelerating malaria control through our contribution to the Global Fund, direct support to countries to develop and implement malaria policies, and our extensive research programme for new drugs, diagnostic and insecticides. Since it started work, the Global Fund has spent over £13.6bn in Commonwealth countries.

In addition, DFID supports a number of Commonwealth countries, for instance Ghana, to tackle health threats by strengthening their health systems – one of the most important methods to prevent, detect and respond to emerging and existing health threats.

We were disappointed to learn about Médecins Sans Frontières' rejection of EU funding in Sudan. Sudan is a major source, host and transit country for migration. As such we remain committed to tackling the full range of migration issues in Sudan, including addressing the conflicts and the human rights situation, and supporting regional co-operation and efforts to stop people trafficking and smuggling through the ‘Khartoum Process’. Through DFID, we will deliver support that addresses the root causes of migration, and strengthen the basis for inclusive economic development and increased employment opportunities to encourage Sudanese people to better see their future in Sudan.

The investment case projects that a successful replenishment will enable the Global Fund to save 8 million lives and avert up to 300 million new infections over the replenishment period 2017-2019.

The UK wishes to see a successful replenishment; the final decision on a UK contribution is yet to be made and will depend on a multitude of factors, including the outcome of DFID’s Multilateral Aid Review to be published later in the summer and discussions between the Chancellor and Secretary of State.

The UK Government has enjoyed a successful partnership with the Global Fund to date. As the third largest donor for the replenishment period 2014-16, the UK’s investment will improve the lives of millions of people – helping to save approximately 580,000 lives through the prevention of 8.4m malaria, HIV and TB infections.

Earlier this year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I committed that the UK would spend £500 million a year battling malaria. The UK’s contribution to the replenishment of the Global Fund will play an important role in meeting the commitment.

The UK wishes to see a successful replenishment; the final decision on a UK contribution is yet to be made and will depend on a multitude of factors, including the outcome of DFID’s Multilateral Aid Review to be published later in the summer, and I look forward to discussing it with the Chancellor.

The Conservative Manifesto committed to help at least 60 million people to get access to clean water and sanitation by 2020, to stop terrible diseases. Exact allocations are to be determined following the Government-wide Spending Review and subsequent internal DFID processes.

The UK Government recognises the importance of promoting safe and reliable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in health centres and schools in developing countries to reduce environmental health risks. In health clinics adequate WASH is particularly important for the health of mothers, newborn babies and children, and this is recognised in DFID’s health service programmes.

The availability of water and sanitation in schools contributed to cleaner, safer, and more conducive learning environments. This is particularly important for girls who must have privacy as well as safe, convenient, hygienic conditions during menstruation. Where DFID has supported WASH in schools, there is anecdotal evidence that girls school attendance and performance is enhanced. International figures for WASH access in schools are much worse than health facilities and DFID has responded in its programming globally. In Sierra Leone, for example, this has prompted DFID to fund the construction of WASH facilities in 200 schools and 120 community health centres, as part of the Post-Ebola response.

DFID has a statutory duty to ensure gender equality is a consideration across all of its work. This follows the International Development Gender Equality Act passed in May 2015.

In many countries the UK Government works with other donor governments to deliver sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services. In Mozambique, for example, we have supported a Government of Mozambique led fund which is also financed by Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland. We are a member of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership where we work with other governments to help set sector priorities. In other countries (Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) we work with partners such as UNICEF and non-governmental organisations who coordinate with other governments as appropriate. In all cases we coordinate with other donor governments in the developing countries where we work.

The UK supports the inclusion of water and sanitation in the post-2015 agenda. We are pleased that the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the Open Working Group includes a goal to ‘ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’ which contains specific targets for drinking water and sanitation. We will continue to build on the work done so far on water, sanitation and hygiene as part of our efforts to finish the job on the current Millennium Development Goals and ensure that no-one is left behind.

In the last five years we have supported 62.9 million people, of whom 22.2 million were women, to access clean water, better sanitation or improved hygiene conditions through DFID’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes (exceeding DFID’s commitment of 60 million).

UK development assistance contributes to delivering the Building Stability Overseas Strategy by tackling the short and long-term drivers of instability, supporting stronger and more legitimate institutions and societies, helping to meet basic needs and create opportunities for social and economic development for all, including women and girls. In 2013, 43% of UK Official Development Assistance was spent in Fragile and Conflict Affected States (FCAS), where the need to build stability is most pressing. Examples of DFID programmes:

· In Nigeria, the Stability and Reconciliation Programme (£38m, 2011-2016), aims to reduce incidence and impact of violent conflict.

· DFID’s support to the multi-donor Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) (£256.8m 2014-17) helps the Afghan government to provide basic services, and thus improve confidence in its ability to meet Afghan people’s expectations.

Statistics on ODA are published by calendar year, this is in line with international best practice. Information on country of spend is available from the National Statistics publication ‘Statistics on International Development’ https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-2014 . Information on spend by specific project is available from the Development Tracker http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/ .

The UK remains very concerned about the situation in the Mali. Despite continued progress in political stabilisation, the security situation remains volatile.

Recognising the lessons of the previous peace agreements, which did not achieve a durable peace in Mali, the UK and other members of the Security Council have been working closely with all parties to encourage full and faithful implementation of a future comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement. Through the UK’s political, financial and personnel contributions to the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) as well as regional EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions, the UK aims to promote political stability, good governance and regional cooperation as well as encouraging stability across the wider region.

Although DFID does not have a bilateral development programme in Mali, we are working with other donors to ensure that development aid effectively addresses the needs of all of the citizens of Mali, is conflict sensitive and contributes to political accountability, legitimacy and inclusiveness. DFID has seconded a conflict adviser into the EU delegation in Mali to that end. DFID always consider the longer term development impact when developing our programmes across the Sahel, including Mali. Further details can be found on the Department’s Development Tracker online.

The Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development in South Sudan issued a circular on 12 September prohibiting and regulating the service and employment of aliens in certain positions in the private sector. The Minister subsequently issued a clarification on 17 September noting that this excludes all United Nations agencies, diplomatic missions and organisations that have signed bilateral/mutual agreements with the Republic of South Sudan; and also excludes many technical and professional positions in both private sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The UK is supportive of South Sudan nationals filling positions where the relevant skills and experience exist within the labour force and we work to build capacity of the local workforce. The UK and other partners raised the issue of the Circulars at the Government Partners Forum on 18 September and stressed that much needed foreign investment could be seriously deterred by messaging that foreign workers are not welcome in South Sudan. We will continue to monitor the situation. The ability of humanitarian and development organisations to assist the most vulnerable must not be affected.

There are currently 1448 Members of the Civilian Stabilisation Group; of these 1132 are deployable civilian experts and 201 are members of the Civil Service Stabilisation Cadre. The remaining 115 are serving police officers.

32 Members of the Civil Service Stabilisation Cadre, 64 Serving Police Officers and 363 deployable civilian experts were deployed on stabilisation missions during Financial Year 2013/14.

The Stabilisation Unit currently employs 73 members of core staff and there are 30 Crown Agent staff employed in support of the Stabilisation Unit.

The annual cost of the Stabilisation Unit (the DFID, MoD and FCO-funded Conflict Pool) over the last three financial years is as follows:

The Libyan General Election was held on 25 June, despite challenging security conditions. The UK provided significant support to help ensure that the Election took place, including providing over £500,000 for a joint UN-Libyan Electoral Assistance Programme. Around 630,000 Libyans cast their vote out of a total 1.5m registered voters. The full results are due to be announced shortly.

Whilst the elections themselves passed off relatively peacefully, the recent escalation in violence risks undermining the process. Violence and the threat of violence are unacceptable and endanger the stability of the state, and the Libyan people’s aspirations for a secure and prosperous future.

The UK is providing assistance, including technical expertise, to help Libya tackle its political, security and economic challenges. The UK recently committed £62.5 million for a comprehensive Security, Justice and Defence programme which will support stabilisation in Libya over the next three years.

The UK continues to support the implementation of the EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the East Africa Community (EAC). As and when EAC partners find a way to agree to sign the EPA, the UK will seek to replicate this agreement.

As the UK leaves the EU, we want to avoid disruption to trade with EAC partners as far as possible. The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. This will grant duty-free quota-free access to UK markets for Least Developed Countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan, while providing generous tariff reductions for other developing countries including Kenya.

As the UK leaves the EU, we seek to replicate the effects of seven EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, including with Ghana. We are working with partners to conclude and implement agreements from 29 March 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter in the event of a “no deal” exit.

The Department for International trade has not engaged any trade specialists, including for trade agreements with South Africa, via private sector outsourcing.

While the UK is still a member of the EU, all rights and obligations will apply. There will be no initial change in the way we trade with developing countries. The new Department for International Trade will work with the Department for International Development on the structure and access to the UK’s markets to be offered to developing countries. This will reflect the UK’s longstanding support for Least Developed Countries and other developing country trading partners including through preferential trade agreements. This recognises that trade can be an effective way of growing economies and reducing poverty internationally.

A new Department for Exiting the European Union has been established by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, to oversee arrangements for the UK’s exit from the EU after we have triggered Article 50. Until then the UK remains a full member of the EU.