This chapter looks at the United Kingdom’s global leadership on issues important to developing countries. It explores the United Kingdom’s efforts to ensure that its domestic policies are coherent and in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as its work to raise awareness of global development issues at home.The chapter first reviews the United Kingdom’s efforts to support global sustainable development, assessing its engagement and leadership on global public goods and challenges such as gender equality, poverty, inclusion, global health, violence against women, transparency, corruption and trade for development. It then evaluates whether the United Kingdom’s own policies are coherent with sustainable development in developing countries. The chapter concludes by looking at the United Kingdom’s promotion of global awareness of development and citizenship at home.

This chapter assesses the extent to which clear political directives, policies and strategies shape the United Kingdom’s development co-operation and reflect its international commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.It starts by looking at the policy framework guiding development co‑operation, assessing whether the United Kingdom has a clear policy vision that aligns with the 2030 Agenda and reflects its own strengths. It then investigates whether the United Kingdom’s policy guidance sets out a clear and comprehensive approach, including to poverty and fragility. The final section focuses on the basis for decision-making, i.e. whether policy provides sufficient guidance for deciding where and how to allocate official development assistance.

This chapter looks at the United Kingdom’s official development assistance (ODA) figures, including the overall level and components of aid, the level of bilateral and multilateral aid, and geographic and sector allocations of bilateral aid. In line with commitments in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the emerging concept of total official support for sustainable development, it also examines the United Kingdom’s efforts to mobilise finance for sustainable development other than ODA.The chapter begins with a review of the United Kingdom’s ODA volumes and its efforts to meet domestic and international ODA targets. It then discusses the extent to which the United Kingdom allocates bilateral aid according to its statement of intent and international commitments, and examines the effectiveness of its use of multilateral aid channels. The chapter concludes with a review of financing for sustainable development, looking at how the United Kingdom promotes and catalyses development finance other than ODA.

This chapter considers whether the United Kingdom’s institutional arrangements support its development co‑operation objectives. It focuses on the system as a whole and assesses whether the United Kingdom has the necessary capabilities in place to deliver its development co-operation effectively and to contribute to sustainable development.The chapter looks at authority, mandate and co‑ordination to assess whether responsibility for development co-operation is clearly defined. It further explores whether the system is well co-ordinated and led with clear, complementary mandates, as part of a whole‑of‑government approach – at headquarters and in partner countries. Focusing on systems, the chapter further assesses whether the United Kingdom has clear and relevant processes and mechanisms in place. Finally, it looks at capacity across the United Kingdom’s development co-operation system, in particular whether the United Kingdom has the necessary skills and knowledge where needed to manage and deliver its development co-operation and assesses the effectiveness of its human resources management system.

This chapter looks at the principles that guide the United Kingdom’s partnership approach across its development portfolio, and how it uses its financial, diplomatic and technical resources in its global engagement and in partner countries. It assesses whether the approach and principles are consistent with the United Kingdom’s development co-operation policy and international commitments on development effectiveness: i.e. ownership of development priorities by developing countries; a focus on results; inclusive development partnerships; and transparency and mutual accountability.The chapter first considers the United Kingdom’s development co-operation partnerships with a range of actors, assessing whether they embody the development effectiveness principles. It then explores whether the United Kingdom’s work in partner countries is in keeping with effective development co-operation principles.

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.

This chapter first reviews the United Kingdom’s efforts to engage in fragile, and conflict and crisis-affected contexts. It assesses the United Kingdom’s political directives and strategies for working in these contexts; the extent to which programmes are designed coherently to address key drivers of fragility, conflict and disaster risk, the needs of women and the most vulnerable; and whether systems, processes and people work together effectively in responding to crises. The second part of the chapter considers the United Kingdom’s efforts to fulfil the principles and best practices of humanitarian donorship. It looks at the political directives and strategies for humanitarian assistance, the effectiveness of the United Kingdom’s humanitarian programming, whether it targets the highest risk to life and livelihoods, and whether approaches and partnerships ensure high-quality assistance.