Earlier this month, Conservative MP James Cleverly was appointed the new foreign secretary by prime minister Liz Truss, his predecessor in the role. Cleverly’s return to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) follows his stint there earlier this year as minister for Europe and North America.
Cleverly, the seventh secretary of state for international development in four years, has formidable challenges ahead. Tackling the UK aid transparency crisis must be one of them.
Following £4.6bn cuts to the UK aid budget in 2020 and 2021, the importance of transparency cannot be understated. It’s vital to demonstrate value for money to the British taxpayers – many of whom are struggling with the soaring cost of living – and to ensure we deliver impact where it’s needed most, from the looming famine in East Africa to the recent floods in Pakistan and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
