• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News
    • FCDO

    Exclusive: FCDO to become 'reserved' department, will not be hiring foreign nationals

    Citing national security concerns, the U.K. government says foreigners will not be able to work at FCDO.

    By William Worley // 18 November 2020
    Photo by: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office / CC BY

    LONDON — The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is to become a “reserved” government department that does not recruit foreign nationals, according to a spokesperson.

    In what was branded a “disturbing” development by a former official, FCDO will now hire only U.K. nationals for jobs in the department, though those non-U.K. nationals currently employed are permitted to keep their jobs.

    FCDO was recently formed from a merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. While FCO was a department “reserved” for U.K. nationals due to the sensitivity of some of its work, DFID was an “unreserved” department and employed scores of foreign nationals, including many Europeans, to carry out aid and development work.

    “It merely has the look of an organization that cannot be bothered to nuance its systems to get the best folk for the job.”

    — A former DFID official

    There are 154 non-U.K. nationals, who previously worked at DFID, who will remain in their jobs in FCDO. They, along with other former FCO staff on insecure contracts, are said to have been in a “precarious” position since the merger.

    “The FCDO has a vital role in promoting the U.K.’s interests around the world, including safeguarding our national security,” a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

    “In line with the Civil Service Nationality Rules, it has been agreed the FCDO will be a reserved department, meaning all roles in the department (both overseas and in the U.K.) are open to U.K. nationals only,” continued the statement. “All non-U.K. national staff employed by FCDO will keep their existing roles and will be able to apply for others so that they can progress in their careers.”

    Exclusive: Staff cuts loom at FCDO, union claims

    A briefing paper from the Public and Commercial Services Union, seen by Devex, says hundreds of staff members at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office are in a "precarious position."

    According to the Civil Service Nationality Rules, “reserved” roles are those that require “special allegiance to the Crown” and relate mainly to jobs involving intelligence, national security, and immigration. Diplomatic posts are reserved “unless the responsible Minister decides otherwise in relation to a specified post or posts.” The issue does not impact local staff hired by FCDO in-country.

    “This is a disturbing development,” said a former DFID official, speaking on condition of anonymity to preserve professional ties. “It is one thing for a foreign ministry to confine staffing to nationals when the ministry only deals with foreign affairs, narrowly defined. But when the ministry takes on broader tasks beyond the usual foreign affairs remit, like foreign aid, such a policy looks misconceived, as if applying a blanket approach despite the range of activities being undertaken and where a range of levels of security would seem more appropriate.”

    The source continued: “There would be many roles that could be performed without compromising 'security.' It merely has the look of an organization that cannot be bothered to nuance its systems to get the best folk for the job in hand.”

    Update, Nov. 19: This story was amended to include additional information.

    • Institutional Development
    • Trade & Policy
    • FCDO
    • United Kingdom
    Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

    About the author

    • William Worley

      William Worley@willrworley

      Will Worley is the Climate Correspondent for Devex, covering the intersection of development and climate change. He previously worked as UK Correspondent, reporting on the FCDO and British aid policy during a time of seismic reforms. Will’s extensive reporting on the UK aid cuts saw him shortlisted for ‘Specialist Journalist of the Year’ in 2021 by the British Journalism Awards. He can be reached at william.worley@devex.com.

    Search for articles

    Related Stories

    UK Aid5 years after UK aid merger, 60% of development adviser jobs are empty

    5 years after UK aid merger, 60% of development adviser jobs are empty

    Job Board InsightsWho’s still hiring in Europe?

    Who’s still hiring in Europe?

    The Trump effectScoop: FCDO says USAID merger would have 'seismic impact'

    Scoop: FCDO says USAID merger would have 'seismic impact'

    The Trump EffectOpinion: 7 questions US legislators should ask about the demise of USAID

    Opinion: 7 questions US legislators should ask about the demise of USAID

    Most Read

    • 1
      How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
    • 2
      Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
    • 3
      Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
    • 4
      How AI-powered citizen science can be a catalyst for the SDGs
    • 5
      Strengthening health systems by measuring what really matters
    • News
    • Jobs
    • Funding
    • Talent
    • Events

    Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

    A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

    • About us
    • Membership
    • Newsletters
    • Advertising partnerships
    • Devex Talent Solutions
    • Post a job
    • Careers at Devex
    • Contact us
    © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement