Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2020 to Question 41953 on Overseas Aid: Females, whether the (a) Strategic Vision and (b) implementation plan have been amended as a result of that NAO report to enable (i) overall progress and (ii) value for money to be better assessed.

As acknowledged by the NAO, DFID’s Strategic Vision for Gender Equality is ambitious, wide-ranging and well-researched. The review also set out that our partners would value a long-term, high-level plan that includes the key milestones for DFID’s actions on gender equality between now and 2030.

We are continually challenging ourselves on how we can increase our impact and deliver even better value for money for the UK taxpayer. We will therefore take forward this recommendation on this important agenda by consulting on and publishing a high-level plan in early 2021. It is critical that we understand the emerging challenges that COVID-19 poses for women and girls globally, across all areas of our Strategic Vision, and address this in the design of the plan.

The plan will set out measurable milestones that can be tracked. We will also ensure that it is flexible enough to accommodate new priorities, challenges and opportunities at the global and country level.