DFID must use influence to help change international humanitarian system

20 April 2016

The Public Accounts Committee report concludes that the Government does not fully understand how taxpayers' money is spent when it intervenes in crises overseas.

Report findings

In its report the Committee says the Department for International Development is "doing a good job" of intervening across an increasing number and range of crises.

However, it finds the Department "does not have a full and clear understanding of what constitutes success" across these interventions—nor does it properly understand the impact of moving staff and resources from planned activities to support a major response.

The Committee says the value for money for taxpayers of the Department's funding of UN agencies is "undermined" by issues arising from the structure and practice of those agencies.

No full understanding of crisis spending

It also concludes: "For many of its crisis interventions, the Department does not have a full understanding of how much of the taxpayer's pound is spent by which bodies and on what."

In its recommendations to government the Committee focuses on areas "where the Department can build on its current approach so that it is well placed to secure value for money from all its crisis interventions".

The Department has identified three priorities for UN agencies and sees the World Humanitarian Summit next month as a chance for it to influence the humanitarian system, of which UN agencies are a major part.

Identify all bodies involved to manage risk

The Committee calls on the Department to report back by the end of August on its impact at the Summit "in bringing about improvements" against these priorities.

On interventions more generally, the Committee says the Department 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."

Chair's comments

Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the PAC, said:

"It is important to recognise the Department for International Development has had a positive impact in responding to some desperate situations around the world.
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.
The Department operates in difficult environments and the challenges it faces can change quickly. It is vital it looks constantly at the way it spends public money and ensures it is being used to best advantage.
To achieve this will require work both inside the Department and beyond. In particular, the Department is an influential player globally and it must make full use of this influence to help secure change in the humanitarian system."

Report summary

Responding to humanitarian crises is one of the main responsibilities of the Department for International Development. Its spending in this area has trebled in the 4 years to 2014–15, and now exceeds £1 billion.

Many aspects of its approach to responding to crises are working well, leading to positive results. The Department is a major player in the international humanitarian system and is well regarded by its partners.

It is seen as innovative, agile and influential. The Department's staff and those of its partners show considerable commitment and bravery when working in volatile and dangerous environments.

Department can improve value for money

Nonetheless, 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 must also make full use of its influence if it is to secure much needed change to the international humanitarian system led by the United Nations (UN). The World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016 provides a timely opportunity for the Department to bring its influence to bear.

Further information

Image: Sgt Neil Bryden/RAF