In Development: Call for potential topics of inquiry: World Vision UK
World Vision UK recommends that the IDC commission a child-sensitive review of the effectiveness of the UK’s development approach. This inquiry should assess how prominently children are considered and the resulting impact on the FCDO’s ability to achieve its goals. This can be done by examining how far current ODA levels prioritise children's rights and well-being, the visibility of children within the FCDO’s current strategies, and the extent to which children are consulted, listened to, and their recommendations incorporated into the FCDO’s policymaking process.
When world leaders, including the UK, committed to the SDGs in 2015, they recognised that “investing in children and youth is critical to achieving inclusive, equitable and sustainable development” (UNGA Resolution 69/313, 2015). We are woefully behind target to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and without a shift in approach that centres children, we will not catch up. Children are increasingly at risk of being left behind by current systems and structures, endangering our mutual futures. With a new UK international development strategy currently taking shape this is a pivotal moment.
This area would benefit from parliamentary scrutiny because evidence indicates that children are systematically overlooked in development efforts and aid allocation. Despite the UK’s commitment to being at the forefront of delivering the SDG’s, the FCDO’s development approach remains ‘child blind,’ with no comprehensive strategy to promote children's rights and well-being. Our research also found that, using data from 2016-2021, the UK ranks only 11th amongst ODA donors in terms of ODA which directly or indirectly targets children with an average of 19.5% of ODA meeting this criteria. This is despite evidence showing every £1 spent on child-related programs yields £10 in wider benefits. Children's voices are also largely absent in the FCDO, and while the FCDO Youth Education Council is a positive step, no formal mechanisms ensure children’s voices are consistently embedded across the department.
A key outcome of the inquiry would be to enhance visibility and understanding of how UK aid currently invests in children. This could include determining whether the investment is direct (for example, specifically targeting children’s welfare through improved access to child-focused services) or indirect (such as broader improvements in infrastructure, health, education, and social services benefiting children and others in the community). The inquiry could then assess the effectiveness of these investments in improving children’s lives and evaluate whether UK aid reaches the most marginalised children.
The review would also shed light on current FCDO practices and their child-sensitivity, as well as their effectiveness. This could involve examining the FCDO's cross-sectoral approach to children and development, the visibility of, and priority given, to children within the FCDO’s strategies and white papers, and the extent to which children are consulted, listened to, and their recommendations incorporated into the FCDO’s policymaking process. To ensure the centrality of children, the committee might consider leading by example by consulting young people during the design and implementation of this inquiry. World Vision would be delighted to collaborate with you to make this possible.
Additional questions
Have you ever engaged with Parliament before (e.g. made a submission to a select committee)?
Do you have personal or field experience related to international development issues?
If you are invited to pitch your idea to the Committee, would you be able to travel to London and back within the same day?