The Department for International Development has closed. It’s been replaced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). DFID was a ministerial department from May 1997 to September 2020. It merged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to create FCDO.

DFID was responsible for:

1. Honouring the UK’s international commitments and taking action to achieve the United Nations’ Global Goals
2. Making British aid more effective by improving transparency, openness and value for money
3. Targeting British international development policy on economic growth and wealth creation
4. Improving the coherence and performance of British international development policy in fragile and conflict-affected countries
5. Improving the lives of girls and women through better education and a greater choice on family planning
6. Preventing violence against girls and women in the developing world
7. Helping to prevent climate change and encouraging adaptation and low-carbon growth in developing countries

Priorities

1. Strengthening global peace, security and governance
2. Strengthening resilience and response to crisis
3. Promoting global prosperity
4. Tackling extreme poverty and helping the world’s most vulnerable
5. Delivering value for money

The Department for International Development (DFID) was set up in 1997. DFID employs around 2,700 staff who work in the offices in London, East Kilbride and globally.

DFID works in countries across Africa, Asian and the Middle East, many of which are fragile or at risk from fragile neighbours. DFID also has regional programmes in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, and development relationships with aid-dependent Overseas Territories. In addition to working directly in countries, DFID also gives UK Aid through multi-country global programmes and core contributions to multilaterals.

DFID will also have 3 regional programmes in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, and development relationships with 3 aid dependent Overseas Territories – St Helena, the Pitcairn Islands and Montserrat. DFID will continue to work flexibly as and where necessary, including with the international community, to provide humanitarian assistance where it is needed.