ICAI Chief Commissioner discusses recent highlights and challenges in Parliament
6 Nov 2025
Jillian Popkins gave evidence to the International Development Committee in Parliament on 4 November, in a session looking at the work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI).
The Chief Commissioner updated the committee on how work has progressed since her pre-appointment hearing nearly a year ago, and how ICAI plans to hold the government to account on value for money as it implements aid budget reductions from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027.
Jillian highlighted recent ICAI work including the Fourth Commission’s first report, How UK aid is spent, which aimed to increase transparency and provide a baseline of current UK aid spending and the global context. She also pointed to the recent review of UK aid to Sudan, which assessed the response to a major crisis and called attention to important lessons for the government to apply to this and other humanitarian efforts. In addition, she highlighted ICAI’s review of UK aid for energy transition, and how scrutiny of climate issues will remain one of the core strategic themes to be revisited throughout the Commission.
The MPs asked about ICAI’s resourcing, operational independence, and the possible implications of current restructuring in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for independent scrutiny. The session also covered a planned expansion to ICAI’s mandate by FCDO to include not just development spending but the UK’s influence, partnerships and expertise, in alignment with the government’s new approach to international development.