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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| A letter to Priti Patel, the new international development secretary | A letter to Priti Patel, the new international development secretary |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Dear Priti Patel, | Dear Priti Patel, |
| Welcome to one of the most important jobs in government. | Welcome to one of the most important jobs in government. |
| While some in the media focused on three Brexiters given key foreign affairs roles in Theresa May’s new government (Boris Johnson at the Foreign Office, Liam Fox at trade and David Davis at the department for Brexit), you, another advocate of Brexit, have been placed in a job that could be just as important in reshaping the UK’s global relationships in its post-EU era. | While some in the media focused on three Brexiters given key foreign affairs roles in Theresa May’s new government (Boris Johnson at the Foreign Office, Liam Fox at trade and David Davis at the department for Brexit), you, another advocate of Brexit, have been placed in a job that could be just as important in reshaping the UK’s global relationships in its post-EU era. |
| With an annual budget of £12bn, roughly the same amount as the UK now hopes to claw back from Brussels, the Department for International Development (DfID) has more clout than ever. | With an annual budget of £12bn, roughly the same amount as the UK now hopes to claw back from Brussels, the Department for International Development (DfID) has more clout than ever. |
| As someone who has followed DfID pretty closely in its near-20-year history, as well as the changing context in which it operates, here is some advice as you embark on a challenge you were probably not anticipating. | As someone who has followed DfID pretty closely in its near-20-year history, as well as the changing context in which it operates, here is some advice as you embark on a challenge you were probably not anticipating. |
| The most important thing to remember is that international aid and development is about balance. | The most important thing to remember is that international aid and development is about balance. |
| It has been claimed that you called for DfID to be scrapped, but actually what you said was far more sensible – that our approach to aid, trade and diplomacy should be more integrated and coherent. | It has been claimed that you called for DfID to be scrapped, but actually what you said was far more sensible – that our approach to aid, trade and diplomacy should be more integrated and coherent. |
| Trade and economic development are far more important than aid for many of the world’s poor communities. As we build post-Brexit trade deals with countries and blocs around the world, your department needs to be fully involved, making the case for the poorest people as terms are thrashed out. | Trade and economic development are far more important than aid for many of the world’s poor communities. As we build post-Brexit trade deals with countries and blocs around the world, your department needs to be fully involved, making the case for the poorest people as terms are thrashed out. |
| The UK needs to get the balance right between great generosity as one of the world’s richest countries, with a continuing responsibility to alleviating poverty and helping development, and concern for its own prosperity and security. | The UK needs to get the balance right between great generosity as one of the world’s richest countries, with a continuing responsibility to alleviating poverty and helping development, and concern for its own prosperity and security. |
| There is a difference between spending that helps our economy by building up trading partners, and spending that directly supports British companies. There’s an equally important difference between spending that increases our global safety by reducing poverty and desperation, and spending that supports our military and security interventions. | There is a difference between spending that helps our economy by building up trading partners, and spending that directly supports British companies. There’s an equally important difference between spending that increases our global safety by reducing poverty and desperation, and spending that supports our military and security interventions. |
| In both cases, aid works when it is untied from short-term considerations, and it fails when it seeks to buy short-term economic or diplomatic gains. | In both cases, aid works when it is untied from short-term considerations, and it fails when it seeks to buy short-term economic or diplomatic gains. |
| As well as needing to demonstrate that aid is in the national interest, you will be under great political and media pressure to demonstrate results for the taxpayers’ money spent. So you may find yourself trying to centralise decision-making. | As well as needing to demonstrate that aid is in the national interest, you will be under great political and media pressure to demonstrate results for the taxpayers’ money spent. So you may find yourself trying to centralise decision-making. |
| Be wary of such temptations: aid works best when it is owned by the recipient. The more DfiD seeks to direct aid from the centre, the harder it will be to achieve results on the ground, where what matters most is wise decision-making in complex contexts. Build relationships of trust; don’t rely on the auditor. | Be wary of such temptations: aid works best when it is owned by the recipient. The more DfiD seeks to direct aid from the centre, the harder it will be to achieve results on the ground, where what matters most is wise decision-making in complex contexts. Build relationships of trust; don’t rely on the auditor. |
| Invest in long-term change, building systems and improving governance, rather than just looking for quick wins and happy photos. It is harder, but the result will be countries moving on from aid dependence – a hand up not a handout. | Invest in long-term change, building systems and improving governance, rather than just looking for quick wins and happy photos. It is harder, but the result will be countries moving on from aid dependence – a hand up not a handout. |
| Talk of “charity” from northern benefactors is seen as outdated. Countries, large and small, seek to act with autonomy and dignity. Many will still need large amounts of financial assistance and beneficial trade deals, but they see it as a quid pro quo among equals, a living up to responsibility, not aid. | Talk of “charity” from northern benefactors is seen as outdated. Countries, large and small, seek to act with autonomy and dignity. Many will still need large amounts of financial assistance and beneficial trade deals, but they see it as a quid pro quo among equals, a living up to responsibility, not aid. |
| The proponents of south-south cooperation have led the way with the language of “mutual benefit”. It is a more honest and practical way to talk about international public finance. | The proponents of south-south cooperation have led the way with the language of “mutual benefit”. It is a more honest and practical way to talk about international public finance. |
| It may be time to move on from the word “aid” altogether. Andy Sumner and I have proposed talking about “investment”, which better implies spending that is meant to have a lasting impact, to build international public goods from which all countries benefit, including the UK. Think also about how the UK might invigorate relationships with Latin America and other parts of the world where our aid relationships have declined. | It may be time to move on from the word “aid” altogether. Andy Sumner and I have proposed talking about “investment”, which better implies spending that is meant to have a lasting impact, to build international public goods from which all countries benefit, including the UK. Think also about how the UK might invigorate relationships with Latin America and other parts of the world where our aid relationships have declined. |
| But as we modernise the way we talk about aid and carry out development, there is one thing we should remember – the generosity of British people. There are many communities going through tough times, and the economy needs a boost, but I have seen the public demonstrate generosity even in austere times. | But as we modernise the way we talk about aid and carry out development, there is one thing we should remember – the generosity of British people. There are many communities going through tough times, and the economy needs a boost, but I have seen the public demonstrate generosity even in austere times. |
| The public knows that UK poverty is nothing compared with the problems and suffering faced by so many in the world, with billions still living in deep poverty. It expects the UK to fight for its interests, but not at the expense of the poorest. | The public knows that UK poverty is nothing compared with the problems and suffering faced by so many in the world, with billions still living in deep poverty. It expects the UK to fight for its interests, but not at the expense of the poorest. |
| Attempts to undermine our commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on aid will be met with dismay by many, as will trade negotiations that seek to privilege UK interests over those of poor countries and communities. | Attempts to undermine our commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on aid will be met with dismay by many, as will trade negotiations that seek to privilege UK interests over those of poor countries and communities. |
| Aid is hard to get right. Many have tried and failed. What I would urge is that you take the evidence seriously. There is a lot of rubbish talked about aid and development, and it is something of a political football. | Aid is hard to get right. Many have tried and failed. What I would urge is that you take the evidence seriously. There is a lot of rubbish talked about aid and development, and it is something of a political football. |
| You won’t be the first person to have entered this brief sceptical about its value. I have a sneaking suspicion you will emerge from it as much a champion for it as any of your predecessors. | You won’t be the first person to have entered this brief sceptical about its value. I have a sneaking suspicion you will emerge from it as much a champion for it as any of your predecessors. |
| • Who is in the new DfID ministerial team? | • Who is in the new DfID ministerial team? |