The UK’s approach to tackling modern slavery through the aid programme

The UK’s work to tackle modern slavery in developing countries has had limited long-term impact, did not build on existing international efforts and experience, and failed to adequately involve survivors – though the government played a prominent role in raising the profile of the issue globally.

Score: Amber/Red
  1. Status: Completed
  2. Published: 14 October 2020
  3. Type: Full review
  4. Subject: Cross-government aid spend, Democracy, governance and human rights
  5. Assessment: Amber/Red
  6. Location: Bangladesh, Nigeria
  7. Lead commissioner: Sir Hugh Bayley
  8. SDGs covered:No poverty, Reduced inequalities, Climate action, Peace, justice and strong institutions, Gender equality, Decent work and economic growth

Government response

The government publishes a response to all ICAI reviews, indicating whether they ‘accept’, ‘partially accept’ or ‘reject’ each of ICAI’s recommendations and setting out the management actions that they propose to take in response.

The government’s response to our modern slavery review is available to read online.

Read the government response

Timeline

Approach

Published 26 Feb 2020

Evidence gathering

Complete

Review publication

Published 14 Oct 2020

Government response

Published 24 Nov 2020

Parliamentary scrutiny

IDC hearing 14 April 2021

ICAI follow-up

Published 30 June 2022

Further follow-up

Published 18 July 2023

Third follow-up

Published 16 May 2024