Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that programmes implemented are cost-effective.

Each DFID project is rigorously appraised before approval to establish value for money. During implementation, projects are measured against a robust monitoring framework through mandatory annual reviews to ensure they remain cost effective. The results of these annual reviews are scored by the managing team and are then monitored through regular management information reports to management and Ministers. DFID is also committed to generating high quality evidence through independent evaluations which address relevant questions for policy and programming, including the cost- effectiveness of programmes.

We take decisions to exit underperforming programmes and redirect resources into those that deliver poverty reduction and value for money for taxpayers.