The United Kingdom’s controversial merger of its aid and foreign affairs departments has delivered “benefits” for development work in key countries in East Africa, a study based on almost 200 interviews argues.
The 2020 creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — widely criticized as chaotic for aid delivery — “shows early promise” toward its aim of integrating policy objectives, the Royal United Service Institute think tank found.
RUSI’s research identified better “ambassadorial oversight of humanitarian and development work” in Sudan, and both “increased diplomatic engagement in health-related work” and “better links between trade and development initiatives” in Kenya, for example.