OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: United Kingdom 2020

Annex A. Progress since the 2014 DAC peer review recommendations

Towards a comprehensive United Kingdom development effort

 

Recommendations 2014	Progress
1.1 Building on its case-by-case approach, the United Kingdom should set a medium-term vision to improve policy coherence for development, laying out additional policy areas of strategic priority to be addressed.	Partially implemented
1.2 The United Kingdom should use better its analytical and research capacities to generate evidence on potential development trade-offs and synergies between policy objectives.	Partially implemented

Vision and policies for development co-operation

 

Recommendations 2014	Progress
2.1 DFID should use the preparation of the 2015 multilateral aid review as an opportunity to set out its rationale more clearly, with reference to the respective characteristics of the bilateral and multilateral channels.	Implemented

Aid volume and allocation

 

Recommendations 2014	Progress
3.1 In order to reinforce its high international credibility and serve as encouragement to other countries, the United Kingdom should maintain its commendable level of development support at 0.7% of its GNI in the coming years.	Implemented
3.2 To ensure value for money, the United Kingdom should minimise spending targets and manage them in ways that support flexible, context-based programming.	Partially implemented
3.3 DFID should continue to engage closely with donors to promote multilateral effectiveness, and develop streamlined procedures for managing non-core contributions to multilateral organisations.	Partially implemented [joint approaches to multilateral effectiveness implemented; procedures for non-core contributions not implemented]

Organisation and management

 

Recommendations 2014	Progress
4.1 The United Kingdom should continue to find ways to bring to bear the capabilities of the United Kingdom government as a whole on the development programme, removing institutional and technical barriers in order to make the best use of its expertise at headquarters and in partner countries.	Implemented
4.2 DFID should recognise staff who take calculated risks with potential high returns for development.	Implemented

Development co-operation delivery and partnerships

 

Recommendations 2014		Progress
5.1 The United Kingdom should streamline oversight requirements and management processes, to protect its decentralised approach and make it easier for DFID to work with partners efficiently and effectively.	Partially implemented
5.2 In instructions to staff, DFID should make explicit the priority of supporting the development of effective national capacities and systems, and provide guidance on how to achieve this.	Not implemented
5.3 The United Kingdom should ensure that there are no unintended impediments to foreign suppliers winning contracts.	Partially implemented

Results and accountability

 

Recommendations 2014		Progress
6.1 DFID should continue developing a learning and evaluation culture, and share its experience.	Implemented
6.2 The United Kingdom should take a more prioritised approach to results measurement, evaluation and research, and ensure evidence is used to improve programmes and development outcomes.	Partially implemented [new evaluation strategy forthcoming; work on results ongoing; research portfolio expanded]
6.3 The United Kingdom should ensure that ICAI reviews complement other accountability instruments, focusing on contributing to understanding and improving development outcomes and impact.	Implemented
6.4 The United Kingdom could work more with partners to evaluate overall development progress at country level.	Not implemented

Humanitarian assistance

 

Recommendations 2014	Progress
7.1 DFID should ensure that its funding and accountability procedures are designed to make the humanitarian response more effective.	Implemented

Figure A.1. The United Kingdom’s implementation of the 2014 peer review recommendations

Source: Review team assessment based on information received throughout the review.