Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans are in place for UK participation in the European Development Fund Committee after 31 December 2020.

As stipulated in the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK is eligible to attend the European Development Fund (EDF) Management Committee without voting rights. It is our understanding that the EDF Management Committee will cease to exist as of 31 December 2020.

The EU's new development instrument, the Neighbourhood, Development and International Development Instrument (NDICI) will provide funding to the current EDF countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries) and regions from 2021 as part of the EU's new Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. The UK is not committed to any new EU funding through the NDICI. The Commission has yet to set out how member states will oversee legacy funding from the 2014-2020 MFF and the EDF as part of the new NDICI governance structure.