UK Prime Minister Boris John announced on 16 June the proposed merger of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID).
He told Britain’s House of Commons that “aid and foreign policy are one and the same thing”.
Work will begin immediately on the merger and the new department – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – will be established in early September and will be led by the Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab.
Click here to view the statement on Global Britain from Parliament Live at the House of Commons or click on the video below to view the statement and response:
The UK government statement can also be found here.
Related articles:
DFID reform was long overdue – Telegraph
Former ministers condemn DFID merger with Foreign Office – Financial Times
‘Political vandalism’: DfID and Foreign Office merger met with anger by UK charities – Guardian
What’s behind the PM’s aid department decision? – BBC
What happens when an aid department is folded? Experiences in other countries – Devex news
Getting the Most From UK Aid Needs Political Leadership – Chatham House
In place of vision: Boris Johnson tinkers with Whitehall while Britain is adrift – Prospect Magazine
DfID merger with Foreign Office signals shift from using aid to reduce poverty to promoting British national self interest – The Conversation
The search for the silver bullet: a personal perspective on 50 years of the international development effort – Round Table Journal, February 2020
