Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the implications for the work of the Prosperity Fund of the concerns raised by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact’s February 2017 review of that fund in respect of its transparency, quality and limited focus on poverty reduction for the purposes of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015.
The ICAI Rapid Review of the Prosperity Fund acknowledged the significant progress made to date and the recommendations on areas for improvement were constructive. Work has continued since early 2017 to respond to the ICAI recommendations and to build a strategic portfolio that matches UK government priorities.
The Prosperity Fund published an Annual Report and financial data for 2016/17, and will continue to publish information, working to meet the government commitment of ‘good’ on the Aid Transparency Index by 2020.
All Prosperity Fund Official Development Assistance spend will comply with the International Development Act, and with the Gender Equality (2014) and the Official Development Assistance Target (2015).