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Department for International Development: DEL

Answer

The ability of the Department for International Development (DfID) to relieve poverty in developing countries depends critically on the skills of its staff. Whilst some of these skills are specific to international development, others—such as leadership, project management and people management—apply across the Civil Service. The Skills Strategy for Government, launched in 2008, recognised that departments could achieve more by working together on these common issues. This will involve building stronger professions within government, helping departments to work together to procure and commission training, and influencing universities and colleges to train the present and potential future workforce more closely in line with Government's needs. In line with every other department, DfID has therefore agreed to contribute about £3 for each member of its staff to the costs of delivering the strategy, which is managed by Government Skills (the Sector Skills Council for central government, and part of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills). As well as leading to more effective delivery of programmes such as international development, the skills strategy will drive savings for departments which significantly exceed their contributions to its funding.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

2230; 709 c159WA

Session

2008-09

Related items

Department for International Development: DEL
Monday, 9 March 2009
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Department for International Development Public expenditure Training Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk