The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducted a peer review of the United Kingdom's development cooperation efforts. The review aimed to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the UK's policies and systems, promoting good development partnerships for poverty reduction and sustainable development in developing countries.
Policy coherence for development: The review highlighted the need for greater coherence between the UK's development policies and other domestic policies, particularly in sectors like trade, investment, and aid. The recommendation was to ensure that these policies align with development goals to maximize impact.
Engaging in partner countries: The UK was encouraged to adopt a more coordinated approach at the country level, integrating various government departments and agencies involved in development initiatives to ensure a unified strategy.
Financing for development: The report suggested improvements in the allocation of resources, advocating for a more strategic approach to funding to better align with development priorities and outcomes.
Vision and policies for development co-operation: The UK was advised to clarify its development policy vision, ensuring it is aligned with global development goals and effectively communicated across government institutions.
Allocating Official Development Assistance (ODA): The review noted the overall volume of ODA and recommended focusing on bilateral allocations and improving multilateral channels to enhance effectiveness and impact.
Managing development co-operation: The UK was encouraged to streamline processes and improve the management of its development portfolio, including enhancing monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and impact.
Results management and accountability: The report emphasized the importance of robust result management systems, suggesting that the UK should strengthen its accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency and effectiveness in development programs.
Humanitarian assistance: The review also covered the UK's humanitarian efforts, recommending improvements in coordination and alignment with development strategies to better serve affected populations.
The peer review offered comprehensive insights into the UK's development co-operation efforts, identifying areas for improvement and providing actionable recommendations to enhance the coherence, effectiveness, and impact of the UK's development policies and practices globally.