News
16 Jul 2024
Global health research and innovation funded by DHSC is largely relevant and effective, ICAI finds. However, the department should focus more on enhancing and tracking the impact of research projects. The principle of equitable partnership between high- and low- and middle-income countries should be central to all aspects of the work. DHSC needs to untie […]
Read more on UK aid contributes positively to global health with results such as the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, but more focus on achieving impact is needed
11 Jul 2024
Afghanistan remains UK’s second-largest bilateral aid programme, funding vital support such as nutrition clinics for mothers and children. Delivery of aid remains difficult, partly due to restrictions on women working for the UN and other humanitarian organisations. UK officials need to visit Afghanistan regularly to manage such a large aid programme. Reports of ‘donor fatigue’ […]
Read more on Aid watchdog visits Afghanistan to examine UK’s aid programmes
21 May 2024
Diplomatic efforts have so far been ineffective in securing access to get enough aid into Gaza to address the mounting humanitarian catastrophe, worsening as Israel’s invasion of Rafah progresses, the aid watchdog reports today (Tuesday 21 May). The UK has contributed to a significant international humanitarian response to the crisis, committing more than £70 million […]
Read more on UK aid is still largely blocked from entering Gaza despite efforts to improve access
16 May 2024
The government has made adequate progress implementing well over half of the aid watchdog’s recommendations over the past year, a new report finds today (Thursday 16 May). This is a marked improvement from last year. The annual follow-up review from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) looks back at recommendations from the nine reviews […]
Read more on Positive progress on well over half of ICAI recommendations from 2022-23
30 Apr 2024
ICAI finds the UK mounted an effective and flexible civilian aid response to the crisis in Ukraine, including bilateral aid of £228m and a 5-year commitment of £4 billion in loan guarantees. Strong efforts to ensure aid reaches vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women and those with disabilities. More humanitarian aid should be channelled […]
Read more on UK aid to Ukraine has been fast, flexible and responsive but post-war reconstruction will need careful management
18 Apr 2024
Aid watchdog finds FCDO has started work to ensure aid to India goes where it is most needed, and on mobilising climate finance following last year’s review. But ICAI raises questions over some investments made by the UK’s development finance institution BII, including in social media sites and a cosmetics company. Report comes after BII […]
Read more on UK aid to India taking steps to improve poverty focus, but some investments pose major reputational risks
10 Apr 2024
Aid spending on asylum seekers and refugees in the UK rose to £4.3bn in 2023, constituting 28% of the aid budget, as ICAI continues to raise concerns around value for money. Negative impact on FCDO’s development spending less than in previous years, in part due to gross national income being higher than forecast and increased […]
Read more on Use of the aid budget to host refugees in the UK rises to £4.3bn
26 Mar 2024
Despite having strong programme management processes in place, FCDO discovered just £2.2 million in fraud loss in 2020-21 in UK aid compared to its £9.9 billion spend, ICAI finds. Under-investment in central anti-fraud team leaves staff overseas lacking support. New finance system introduced after departmental merger without proper training caused payment delays and staff having […]
Read more on Aid budget reductions, pandemic and FCDO merger created a more favourable environment for fraud risk
21 Mar 2024
UK aid to China has fallen by up to 90% since 2019, but the aid watchdog continues to raise concerns about the transparency of the remaining spend in a report today (Thursday 21 March). The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) finds that aid engagement with China across all of government dropped from £80 million […]
Read more on UK aid to China falls by up to 90% since 2019 but still lacks transparency
29 Feb 2024
ICAI review finds £11.6 billion target will be challenging to meet, with 55% to be spent in the last two years of the pledge. The government “moved the goalposts” by changing the way meeting the target is calculated, and reviewing existing spend to include all eligible ICF. Altogether this amounted to an additional £1.724 billion, of […]
Read more on UK’s £11.6bn climate finance commitment at risk as aid resources stretched
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