Transparency data

Frontline Diplomatic Enabling Activity in Support of FCO Priority Outcomes: objectives 2018 to 2019

Published 20 September 2018

1. Overview

In addition to the Frontline Diplomatic Activity (staff and network costs) which is ODA eligible, and is captured separately, the FCO uses a small proportion of its Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to enable wider departmental policy outcomes through rapid, flexible, small scale, one off or exploratory activities. These activities are largely below the project level in support of FCO priority outcomes in country or across regions.

2. FCO objectives on frontline diplomatic enabling activity

This responsive and agile funding supports the UK’s National Security Strategy and the FCO’s Strategic Objectives highlighted in its Single Departmental Plan. It helps the FCO to tackle complex global challenges, contributing to reducing global poverty and obstacles to sustainable development in line with the UK’s Aid Strategy and helping to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It allows Diplomatic Missions to respond rapidly to opportunities to support the government’s goals to:

• protect our people to help reduce security threats internationally or prevent or mitigate the effect of crises in vulnerable countries. This will help build more resilient countries worldwide
• project our global influence by working to ensure more stable, prosperous, sustainable and fair societies. This includes support to reducing conflict and building stability (including through the Rules Based International System - RBIS) and championing our values to promote human and environmental security
• promote our prosperity through assistance and collaboration which helps to build more prosperous societies. This includes supporting economic development and security, clean and sustainable growth and better business environments

3. Official Development Assistance (ODA) and frontline diplomatic enabling activity

As set out in the UK Aid Strategy, conflict and instability are among the greatest threats to the elimination of poverty. Crime and corruption hit the world’s poorest people hardest, siphon funds from those who need them most, and provide resources for organised crime and terrorists. Disasters and unexpected crises threaten people across the world and changes in global climate are likely to make weather-related crises more common, which can exacerbate instability overseas. Global prosperity and economic development is vital for poverty reduction. A holistic approach is required

This programme will enable the FCO to respond quickly and tactically when short-term opportunities open up to tackle challenges, including via e.g. requests for training or technical assistance. This programme strand is a blend of ODA and non-ODA. ODA scoring within this programme is limited to ODA-eligible activities in DAC-listed countries.

4. Project objectives for frontline diplomatic enabling activity

Projects and sub-project activities supported by this programme contribute to the FCO’s policy priorities and/or support broader strategies including:

• strengthening global peace, security and governance by helping to build stability and tackling the root causes of conflict. This could include efforts to: reduce extremism and hate speech; reduce serious and organised crime; tackle illegal migration; constrain weapons proliferation; defend international cyberspace; strengthen the RBIS; broaden participation in politics and society; promote human and environmental security, champion democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and address global challenges. This includes working with governments to strengthen reform and promotes stable and secure countries
• strengthening resilience of poor and fragile countries to disasters, shocks and climate change. This could include support to countries to increase disaster preparedness as well as other support to crises in overseas countries
• promoting global prosperity to help tackle poverty. This could include promoting economic development and security; supporting sustainable growth and development, as well as efforts to support climate change adaptation; building better business environments; supporting efforts to reduce corruption; and deepening relationships between states and people to help build more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fairer societies

The programme for financial year 2018 to 2019 will support limited funding for residual activities in any of the following areas: combatting corruption, combatting serious and organised crime, strengthening environmental security, strengthening maritime security, supporting governance, education and culture, and tackling illegal migration.

Most activities undertaken in support of this programme will occur at the sub-project level and compliment the government’s wider efforts including through the cross-government funds. Activities under the FCO programme could include:

• supporting inward or outward visits, and other tailored events and activities in eligible countries
• assistance to groups in eligible countries to participate in national, regional, and international events
• support for technical assistance, provision of specialist expertise, training etc including through provision of expert seminars, workshops or facilitated dialogues
• scoping visits to identify whether a full-scale project is feasible

5. Frontline diplomatic enabling activity programme during 2017 to 2018

Project activity during 2017 to 2018 was small scale. Successes for financial year included:

• supporting the visit of a Moldovan delegation to the UK to build capacity and to enable a more integrated approach on tackling online child sexual exploitation and abuse in country
• supporting the production of an in-depth report on the functioning of Aden port in the Yemen in order to assess its suitability for increased deliveries of humanitarian aid, which helped inform planning for some of DFID’s significant support for Yemen
• supporting World Vision International to host a one day workshop on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative in Uganda, which addressed the issue of stigma and developed an action plan for government and NGO stakeholders
• supporting work to change attitudes and increasing the number of prosecutions for crimes of sexual violence in Burma including publishing a toolkit to provide guidance on support for survivors of sexual violence and information on pursuing the formal legal process