Tune in TODAY at 2:30 pm for our session on the DFID-FCO merger and on the UK’s global response to #COVID19.
We’ll be questioning DFID’s SoS @annietrev and senior officials.

Watch here: https://parliamentlive.tv/Committees 
Read more about the session here: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/98/international-development-committee/news/147174/secretary-of-state-examined-on-response-to-coronavirus-and-the-merger-of-the-fco-and-dfid/

The session with DFID SOS @annietrev and senior DFID officials is starting soon. We’ll be asking questions about the UK’s global response to #COVID-19 and the DFID-FCO merger.

Watch live at: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/cc905f27-e844-4f2c-ba99-f0401b9a3c42
And follow our thread

DFID SOS @annietrev starts the session by stating that COVID-19 is a humanitarian & health crisis, the impact of which “we are going to see for years to come”.

Prof Charlotte Watts adds that the top countries with the fastest spread are ODA recipients, an “extremely concerning situation” with an impact on delivering healthcare and education programmes.

@annietrev states that DFID and the successor department will continue to support high-quality, 12 years of girls’ education as a means of ensuring that as few as possible “fall out of the education net”.

“These things are really challenging”, @annietrev states regarding sexual exploitation and abuse. Prevention and victim support will continue to be a top priority of DFID.

@annietrev states that a lot of in-country DFID programmes have been going on alongside the fight against #COVIDー19 . This “extraordinary work going on at speed” and the “commitment to [other] programmes is unabated”, highlighting health, food security, economics & education.

This concludes the first part of our session.

Stay tuned for part 2 with DFID’s SoS @annietrev and Permanent Secretary @NickDyerDFID on the DFID-FCO merger.

Watch here: https://parliamentlive.tv/Committees 

On ODA/0.7%, @annietrev states that 0.7 will be smaller in 2020 & 2021, with HMG looking at where to make significant cuts or pause. They are in discussion with the Treasury about that. Nick Dyer acknowledges that a “whole range” of suppliers may be affected by that.

@annietrev: humanitarian response programmes will be prioritised alongside girls’ education, climate change and the need to “build back better”. One of the reduced areas for spending this year is the CDC, with a focus on delays and pauses rather than cuts.

On the DFID-FCO merger, @annietrev says it takes a while to embed and move into a new culture. New diplomats should increase their expertise in development before progressing to ambassadorial roles.

There isn’t an organisation plan to share with the IDC yet as they are in the “throes of the business”, @annietrev states. Knocking down silos and working in an integrated way was the top priority and the goal is to have a “blended, new organisation” in line with the PM's vision

SoS @annietrev tells us that the new department will be a blended model with a single accounting officer.