DFID’s approach to managing fiduciary risk in conflict-affected environments

Summary

The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed to spending at least half of its budget in fragile states and regions. These include extremely challenging operating environments, such as Syria, Somalia and Yemen, where DFID’s access is constrained and the risk of fraud or misuse of funds may be heightened. Effective management of fiduciary risk is key to achieving value for money and ensuring that UK aid makes maximum impact.

In this performance review, we assess fiduciary risk management at corporate, country portfolio and programme levels. We explore the different aspects of fiduciary risk management (identification and assessment of fiduciary risk, mitigation and monitoring), how DFID sets its fiduciary risk appetite and makes risk-based decisions, and how well it learns about fiduciary risk management.

We awarded a green-amber score and made four recommendations.