This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/apr/20/dfid-should-make-taxpayer-pound-go-further-on-aid-says-watchdog

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
DfID should make taxpayer pound go further on aid, says watchdog DfID should make taxpayer pound go further on aid, says watchdog
(4 months later)
The UK’s Department for International Development does not fully understand how taxpayers’ money is spent, and the value of its aid is undermined by inadequacies in the UN system, a parliamentary spending watchdog says.The UK’s Department for International Development does not fully understand how taxpayers’ money is spent, and the value of its aid is undermined by inadequacies in the UN system, a parliamentary spending watchdog says.
The public accounts committee said DfID does a “good job” in responding to crises overseas, but urged the department to use its influence at next month’s world humanitarian summit in Istanbul to secure “much needed change” to the UN-led humanitarian system. It said the department also needed to do more to track its spending in long-running crises.The public accounts committee said DfID does a “good job” in responding to crises overseas, but urged the department to use its influence at next month’s world humanitarian summit in Istanbul to secure “much needed change” to the UN-led humanitarian system. It said the department also needed to do more to track its spending in long-running crises.
Related: Big aid donors failing to lift the lid on how they spend their cash
“It is important to recognise DfID has had a positive impact in responding to some desperate situations around the world,” said Meg Hillier, the PAC chair.“It is important to recognise DfID has had a positive impact in responding to some desperate situations around the world,” said Meg Hillier, the PAC chair.
“It is also important that, however public money is spent, the government is held to account for that spending. In responding to crises, achieving value for money means critical support can be provided more effectively to more of the people who need it. The taxpayer pound goes further,” she said.“It is also important that, however public money is spent, the government is held to account for that spending. In responding to crises, achieving value for money means critical support can be provided more effectively to more of the people who need it. The taxpayer pound goes further,” she said.
DfID has often come under fire for how it spends the 0.7% of UK income pledged for foreign aid. It has been criticised for overambitious spending and a naive tendency to repeat unsuccessful initiatives, as well as its use of UK-based consultancy firms.DfID has often come under fire for how it spends the 0.7% of UK income pledged for foreign aid. It has been criticised for overambitious spending and a naive tendency to repeat unsuccessful initiatives, as well as its use of UK-based consultancy firms.
The committee said DfID’s spending on humanitarian crises had trebled in the four years to 2014-15 to exceed £1bn, with the agency recognised as a major player. It praised the commitment and bravery shown by DfID staff in dangerous environments, noting that the agency was responding to 21 crises with a range of causes, including conflict, natural disasters and disease.The committee said DfID’s spending on humanitarian crises had trebled in the four years to 2014-15 to exceed £1bn, with the agency recognised as a major player. It praised the commitment and bravery shown by DfID staff in dangerous environments, noting that the agency was responding to 21 crises with a range of causes, including conflict, natural disasters and disease.
DfID had achieved “tangible results” in several crises, including controlling the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, helping people in the Horn of Africa cope better with food shortages and aiding the government of the Philippines to prepare better for typhoons, it said.DfID had achieved “tangible results” in several crises, including controlling the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, helping people in the Horn of Africa cope better with food shortages and aiding the government of the Philippines to prepare better for typhoons, it said.
Although it said DfID was viewed as “innovative, agile and influential”, the spending watchdog concluded the department did not “have a full and clear understanding of what constitutes success across its crisis interventions”. It noted the lack of a structured approach for protracted interventions, which limits DfID’s ability to learn valuable lessons.Although it said DfID was viewed as “innovative, agile and influential”, the spending watchdog concluded the department did not “have a full and clear understanding of what constitutes success across its crisis interventions”. It noted the lack of a structured approach for protracted interventions, which limits DfID’s ability to learn valuable lessons.
“The department can improve value for money, particularly in its response to those complex, long-running crises, such as Syria and Yemen, in which it is increasingly involved. It needs to strengthen its systems for resourcing and assessing the performance of its interventions, as well as improving its oversight of partners,” it said.“The department can improve value for money, particularly in its response to those complex, long-running crises, such as Syria and Yemen, in which it is increasingly involved. It needs to strengthen its systems for resourcing and assessing the performance of its interventions, as well as improving its oversight of partners,” it said.
DfID should routinely “identify all the bodies involved in providing assistance, the funding each receives and the main costs incurred. It should use this information to help manage risk and identify cost-effective partners and practices,” it said.DfID should routinely “identify all the bodies involved in providing assistance, the funding each receives and the main costs incurred. It should use this information to help manage risk and identify cost-effective partners and practices,” it said.
Related: With aid under attack, let's be honest about how we spend taxpayers' money | Simon O'Connell
Noting that UN agencies received around half of the department’s £1.3bn spending on humanitarian activities in 2014-15, the report warned that value for money was undermined by overlapping remits and inflexibility in the UN system.Noting that UN agencies received around half of the department’s £1.3bn spending on humanitarian activities in 2014-15, the report warned that value for money was undermined by overlapping remits and inflexibility in the UN system.
“The department has found it difficult to influence the UN to adapt its structure and the practices of individual UN bodies to improve their effectiveness,” it said.“The department has found it difficult to influence the UN to adapt its structure and the practices of individual UN bodies to improve their effectiveness,” it said.
The watchdog urged DfID to report back on how well it had managed to push three priorities for UN reform – encouraging its agencies to work together; improve their data and extend the duration of their support for partners – at the world humanitarian summit.The watchdog urged DfID to report back on how well it had managed to push three priorities for UN reform – encouraging its agencies to work together; improve their data and extend the duration of their support for partners – at the world humanitarian summit.
“The department is an influential player globally and it must make full use of this influence to help secure change in the humanitarian system,” Hillier said.“The department is an influential player globally and it must make full use of this influence to help secure change in the humanitarian system,” Hillier said.
Barry Johnston, head of advocacy at ActionAid, said the government should be more transparent in showing how UK aid helps people affected by crises.Barry Johnston, head of advocacy at ActionAid, said the government should be more transparent in showing how UK aid helps people affected by crises.
“Britain continues to honour its proud history of helping people in need, especially women and girls living in poverty or at risk of violence… Next month’s world humanitarian summit provides an opportunity for the UK to champion greater transparency and effectiveness of aid spending,” he said.“Britain continues to honour its proud history of helping people in need, especially women and girls living in poverty or at risk of violence… Next month’s world humanitarian summit provides an opportunity for the UK to champion greater transparency and effectiveness of aid spending,” he said.
DfID said it welcomed the committee’s recognition of its success in tackling a wide range of crises. “The government’s aid strategy places a heavy focus on ensuring value for money, and the UK is playing a lead role in discussions on the future of the international humanitarian system and overseas development, including the role of UN agencies,” a department spokesperson said.DfID said it welcomed the committee’s recognition of its success in tackling a wide range of crises. “The government’s aid strategy places a heavy focus on ensuring value for money, and the UK is playing a lead role in discussions on the future of the international humanitarian system and overseas development, including the role of UN agencies,” a department spokesperson said.