Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the distribution of Official Development Assistance funds within Sierra Leone.

The UK is a champion for international development and one of the most generous global aid donors. In Sierra Leone, as around the world, we work closely with the Government to support its own national development plans. Decisions on how to distribute funds are taken in Sierra Leone against the High Commission's business plan and guided by FCDO priorities, the Integrated Review, International Development Strategy and Africa Strategy. Most recently, UK Aid in Sierra Leone has supported inclusive education, maternal and new-born health, girls' and women's rights and energy access. Our funding goes to a range of implementing partners who are subject to rigorous procurement and due diligence. We adhere closely to best practice outlined in the FCDO's Programme Operating Framework, including results monitoring.