Written question asked by Sarah Champion (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 May 2024. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Development Aid: East Africa

Question: To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that overseas development aid to (a) Sudan, (b) Ethiopia and (c) other East African countries reaches (i) local and (ii) national non-governmental (A) youth, (B) women-led and (C) faith-based organisations.

Answer: Local and national organisations - including youth, women-led and faith-based organisations - play a vital role in delivering UK-funded development work across East Africa, where the UK plans to invest almost £750 million in ODA in 2024/25. In Sudan, we are providing technical assistance to the UN to develop a strategy for partnering with local organisations and using our seat on the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) advisory board to encourage a greater portion of assistance to be channelled to local, community-led organisations. The recent International Development White Paper is also clear on this priority and commits the UK to publish a strategy on partnering with national relief actors.

Secondary information