How DFID learns

Excellent learning is essential for UK aid to achieve maximum impact and value for money. This review seeks to identify the way DFID learns and what inhibits it from doing so consistently.

Score: Amber/Red
  1. Status: Completed
  2. Published: 4 April 2014
  3. Type: Other
  4. Subject: Government processes and systems
  5. Assessment: Amber/Red
  6. Lead commissioner: Diana Good

Summary

Building on learning and applying what works in practice is essential if UK aid is to achieve maximum impact and value for money. DFID has allocated at least £1.2 billion for research, evaluation and personnel development (2011-15). It generates considerable volumes of information, much of which is publicly available.

We take learning to mean the extent to which DFID uses information and experience to influence its decisions. Each ICAI review assesses how well learning takes place, our reports to date indicate a mixed performance. This review seeks to identify the way DFID learns and what inhibits it from doing so consistently. As a result of our findings, we gave a rating of amber-red.

Timeline

Review publication

Published 4 April 2014

Government response

Published 30 April 2014

ICAI follow-up

Published 18 June 2015