The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) were merged in 2020 to form the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The merger united development and diplomacy in one department, with the joint aim of improving outcomes on both while safeguarding the UK’s overseas interests and values.
A National Audit Office (NAO) report found that, while the FCDO has made substantial progress with integration and aligning HR and finance policies since the merger, there is still work to do to resolve remaining issues and deliver the basics on ensuring people work together effectively. It also found there is no overview of the full costs of the merger, and no systematic tracking of benefits including cost savings, organisational improvements, and efficiencies.
The Committee last scrutinised the merger and its wider international political context in its inquiry on the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23. Based on the 2024 NAO report, the Committee will take evidence from senior FCDO officials, with likely topics including how the FCDO will achieve and maximise anticipated benefits from the merger, and the role of central government in supporting departments in such changes.
If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 23:59 on Monday 10 June 2024.
Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere.