Transparency data

Gulf Strategy Fund Programme summary

Updated 24 June 2021

1. Overview

The FCDO Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) replaced the Integrated Activity Fund from April 2020 and operates as part of the FCDO’s International Programme. It is an entirely non-ODA workstream. Key improvements in governance in 2020 included the formation of Country Programme Boards in our Embassies in each of the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States. These enabled a more strategic use of the Fund with respective Heads of Mission acting as the Senior Responsible Owner for their country programmes. Six country programmes were funded alongside a further five thematic programmes that operated across the region.

Saudi Arabia

Bolsters the strategic partnership and delivers mutual prosperity and security by supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms across priority sectors in line with UK values, including Women’s Rights.

Projects include:

• vision 2030 Education Partnership
• communications: COP 26 Campaign and Digital Funding
• consular Communications: Prevention and Awareness
• security and Justice
• government-to-government (G2G) Project Models
• vision 2030 Policy Programme – Economic & Society Pillars
• strategic Partnership Council Secretariat

UAE

Secures increased commitment from the UAE to work with us to jointly understand, identify and respond to threats of mutual concern such as illicit finance (and cybercrime, terrorism) and deliver enhanced UK and UAE capabilities to tackle them. Prosperity work will increase opportunities for inward investment to the UK in support of Build Back Better, including supporting UK ambitions for Expo2020.

Projects include:

• improved UK and UAE capacity to tackle illicit finance
• deployment of a Crown Prosecution Service Liaison Prosecutor in the UAE
• supporting Hedayah, the Countering Violent Extremism Centre of Excellence
• future Skills Research
• joint HMRC/UK Border Force training to enhance border protection
• Expo20

Bahrain

Supports Bahrain-led and owned reform and capacity building programme to deliver long-term security and stability in Bahrain.

Projects areas include:

• community engagement
• raising student achievement, improve teaching methods and teacher leadership
• capacity building of Bahrain’s Oversight Bodies
• alternative Sentencing
• hostage Crisis Negotiator training
• supporting the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue Young Leaders Programme
• analysis to develop Bahrain’s Counter Terrorism capabilities
• strategic communications
• police reform

Kuwait

Supports work to enable sustainable action on climate change, corruption, and prosperity targets in the security field.

Projects include:

• development of a code of Ethics in the Kuwaiti Parliament
• promotion of green growth post Covid-19
• development of a G2G procurement framework

Oman

Supporting Oman’s economic reforms; growth of a digital hub to deliver more cyber jobs and skilled Omanis to fill them; and, finalisation of Omani national risk register.

Projects include:

• economic Technical Assistance
• crisis Management
• e-Government Digital Needs Analysis and Consultancy
• strategic Communications
• development of Omanis to Deliver Public Order Public Safety Training
• digital Hub Programme (Omantel Innovation Hub, Rapid Innovation Project, OFT Accelerator Support, Cyber Ready, Women in Cyber PGI Initiative, Capture the Flag)

Qatar

Provides staffing support to undertake preparations for World Cup 2022, and help progress G2G cooperation in specific areas. Separate communications project to conduct in-country audience insights.

Alumni network

Establishment and maintenance of a Gulf-wide alumni network to strengthen links with future leaders in the Gulf, strengthen commercial ties, leverage the UK education offer and increase confidence and empowerment among young women to play a positive role in society.

Cyber ambassador

Engagement with our Gulf partners to defend themselves against cyber security attacks, benefiting UK national security and providing opportunities for UK companies to export cyber security products and services.

Science and Innovation Partnership Programme

Designed to cement the UK’s position as the Gulf States’ pivotal partner on science, education, research and innovation.

Projects include:

• UK R&D Virtual Tour
• Bahrain Renewable Energy & Sustainability Event
• Bahrain Smart Cities
• carbon Capture and Utilisation in Saudi Arabia
• UK/Saudi Arabia Leadership Workshop in Research-led Innovation and Enterprise Creation
• UK/Kuwait Bilateral Education & Research Forum on Cyber Security
• UK/Oman Innovation Partnership
• UK/Qatar Food Security Partnership
• sustainable Cooling – Bringing Innovative Cooling Technologies to Qatar
• UK/UAE Food Security Engagement
• building Capacity for Effective Cybersecurity Responses in the GCC

Tax reform

Supports tax reform in Oman, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region, to facilitate economic diversification and to increase sustainable non-natural resource-based tax revenue streams that enhance macroeconomic stability and resilience to economic shocks in the region. Includes work to reduce inefficient tax compliance burdens to help open markets for future UK investment in the region.

UK-Gulf marine environment partnership

Support development of diverse, resilient and sustainable economies across the GCC. Demonstrate UK scientific leadership through improved management capacity, strengthened regulatory frameworks and enhanced knowledge for evidence-based environmental management.

2. Gulf Strategy Fund programme allocation for financial year 2020 to 2021

Project delivery started in October 2020 with a reduced budget allocation of £8.4 million down from £20 million at the start of the financial year.