OECD Development Co-operation Peer Reviews: United Kingdom 2020
The OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) conducts reviews of the individual development co‑operation efforts of DAC members once every five to six years. DAC peer reviews critically examine the overall performance of a given member, not just that of its development co‑operation agency, covering its policy, programmes and systems. They take an integrated, system‑wide perspective on the development co‑operation activities of the member under review and its approach to fragility, crisis and humanitarian assistance. The United Kingdom uses its global standing and convening power to promote an evidence-based approach to stability, inclusion and prosperity and continues to provide 0.7% of its national income as Official Development Assistance (ODA). The depth and breadth of its expertise, combined with flexible funding instruments and strong country presence, allow the United Kingdom to focus these ODA resources on developing country needs, while protecting its own longer-term national interests. Articulating a clear and comprehensive whole-of-government vision for its support to international development would allow the United Kingdom to reinforce its policy priorities and engage the public. Further measures to build effective partnerships and institutional capacity in developing countries would allow the United Kingdom to build ownership of development processes and contribute to lasting change.
The United Kingdom’s approach to results, evaluation and learning
This chapter considers the extent to which the United Kingdom assesses the results of its development co-operation; uses the findings of evaluations to feed into decision making, accountability and learning; and assists its partner countries to do the same. The chapter begins with a look at the United Kingdom’s system for managing development results, i.e. whether the objectives of its development co-operation policies and programmes can be measured and assessed from output to impact. It then reviews whether the United Kingdom’s evaluation system is aligned with the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) evaluation principles. This includes whether an evaluation policy is in place, whether roles and responsibilities are clear and whether the process is impartial and independent. Finally, it asks if there is systematic and transparent dissemination of results, evaluation findings and lessons; looks at whether the United Kingdom learns from both failure and success; and communicates what it has achieved and learned.