FCDO and Civil Societies inquiry launched

• International Development Committee

Civil society in aid-recipient countries

The FCDO has stated that civil society in aid-recipient countries is a “vital policy and programme partner for the UK”, “central” to achieving the shared global Sustainable Develop Goals.

Its November 2023 international development White Paper describes the UK’s own civil society sector as “one of the world’s most established and vibrant”, where a "culture of pluralism and openness creates space for such civic action”. It sets out the FCDO’s intent to build on the UK example by “working to improving the enabling environment for civil society abroad so that citizens in low and middle-income countries can engage in public benefit causes that make their lives, and the lives of others in their communities, better.”

The White Paper is also clear that personal rights and freedoms - including women's sexual and reproductive rights, LGBT rights, and freedom of religion or belief - are under threat around the world.

The FCDO has begun to target funding at civil society groups as part of its development agenda, recently announcing a £40 million fund for LGBT rights that is meant to tackle violence and discrimination; improve access to services; enable legislative reform and provide support for LGBT+ grassroots organisations globally.

The Committee invites submissions addressing any of the following areas:

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the FCDO's approach to strengthening civil society in aid-recipient countries as part its wider development strategy?
• What is the role of UK diplomats and staff in supporting civil society and civil society organisations?
• Are the current processes for acquiring and reporting on funding enabling or preventing smaller civil society organisations as they seek to secure support?
• Do commitments made in the recent international development White Paper provide a sufficient foundation for the FCDO’s work on promoting civil society across aid-recipient countries?
• To what extent has FCDO support for improving the enabling environment for civil society, and direct support for civil society organisations, aided progress towards reaching Sustainable Development Goal 16 - "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions"?
• What role can the FCDO’s work on improving civil society play in broader UK international policy?
• What wider benefits can be harnessed from strengthened civil society?

Submitting written evidence

The committee welcomes evidence to inform its inquiry from a wide range of people. These may include experts, stakeholders, government leaders and officials - but we welcome contributions from anyone with insights. In this instance, we will be gathering written information until a deadline of Monday 29 April 2024. Submit written evidence via our call for evidence page.

For information on how to submit written information to us, and how we then use that information, please see here. As well as taking written evidence the committee will hold question and answer sessions. These sessions will take place in public and will be announced in advance on our website.

Reasonable adjustments

If you need an adjustment to help you send your evidence, please get in touch with committee staff by email or call 020 7219 1223. They’ll be able to talk about what we can do to help you send your evidence, so far as reasonably practical. That might include sending it to us in a different format or giving you more time to prepare your evidence. We’ll be happy to help you.

Further information

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