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

Read the inception report

Read the terms of reference

Our approach

Our review examines what difference learning makes to DFID’s work in reducing poverty. The focus was on DFID’s staff and their experience and practice. At the same time, we looked at the corporate enabling environment for individuals’ learning.

We focused our analysis on four key activities that DFID undertakes. These are:

  • making programme choices;
  • creating theories of change;
  • choosing delivery mechanisms; and
  • adapting and improving implementation of its activities.

We investigated how DFID is using learning to carry out these activities. We drew on our reviews, assessed data from DFID’s own surveys and carried out interviews inside and outside the department.

Timeline

Review publication

Published 4 April 2014

Government response

Published 30 April 2014

ICAI follow-up

Published 18 June 2015