ICAI notes progress on aid-funded global health research
16 Sep 2026
The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) welcomes the government’s progress responding to recommendations from 2024’s review of the UK’s aid-funded global health research and innovation.
ICAI’s review found that UK-funded global health research was delivering valuable results, but recommended further action to strengthen impact, support fairer research partnerships and improve collaboration with developing countries. All five recommendations were accepted by the government in its initial response shortly after the review was published.
Returning to follow up on the recommendations this year, ICAI reviewed a progress update and supporting evidence provided by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which leads aid spending in this area. The scrutiny body concluded that DHSC has made credible progress against all five recommendations. This included strengthening how it measures the impact of its research programmes, taking steps to support more equitable partnerships with researchers in low- and middle-income countries, and improving collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
ICAI also found evidence that DHSC has continued to invest in research capacity in partner countries and has taken steps to ensure that research is more closely aligned with local priorities.
Jillian Popkins, ICAI Chief Commissioner, said:
“It is encouraging to see DHSC acting on the recommendations from ICAI’s review and making progress across all five areas. The department has put important foundations in place to improve how it measures impact, works with partners and delivers value from its global health research programmes. As aid budgets become more constrained, it will be important to maintain this momentum and ensure research responds to the needs and priorities of developing countries.”