The network for international development

Past consultations

See all Bond submissions to past consultations, including working group submissions and CONCORD submissions.

 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Bond strategy 2011-2016 consultation event 21 April 2010

This opening event for the strategy consultation brought together leaders from across the membership to debate keys issues. The event opened with an introduction from Anna Feuchtwang. Nick Roseveare then explained the strategy, its themes, and the process of consultation and sign off. Attendees got straight into the discussion by sharing key sector wide challenges that will influence the strategy and moved on to working on a vision of success for 2016. The rest of the event focussed on addressing some of the questions from the consultation document. Lots of interesting ideas were generated which will be fed into the consultation process. Some highlights include:

• The need for the sector to work together on developing a ‘new narrative’ for development that describes our vision for human progress and help us all positively defend our work, build our self confidence and increase support and pride in the sector

• The increasing pressure and competition between development actors which means there needs to be greater coordination and collaboration so we make the best of opportunities

• The role of Bond as a hub which amplifies members interests, filters the different voices and links people together

Attendees said: “There was strong consensus around key issues.”

“Very well designed and facilitated event, I felt I really had a chance to contribute and be heard. Very well done!”

“Good information and context to take back to my organisation to form our written response.”

“Reinforced current debates – we are on the right track!”  

Consultation by the International Development Committee on the 0.7 of aid legislation

The International Development Committee (IDC) is currently doing a consultation on the recently proposed new international development bill on aid levels of 0.7/GNI.  The deadline for written submissions has now passed but the consultation will continue with oral evidence sessions.

The UK Aid Network coordinated a joint submission to the IDC and will be closely monitoring the process in Parliament. Contact the UK Aid Network to find out more and to get involved in joint advocacy around the bill.

Read the details of the Inquiry on the IDC website

 

Controlling costs in defamation proceedings

The Ministry of Justice is sought views on a proposal to reduce the maximum 'success fee' which may be charged in defamation proceedings funded under Conditional Fee Agreements from 100% to 10% of base costs. Views were sought from legal professionals and those involved in defamation cases as claimants or defendants. 

This is particularly relevant to campaigning NGOs whose ability to publish reports which 'name and shame' powerful businesses or officials is threatened by their fear of huge legal costs. See our Sector pages for more information on why this issue matters to NGOs.

 

Joint Bangladesh/UK Parliamentary Climate Change Inquiry on "Climate Change Equity: is it a plan, an aspiration or a fashion statement?"

The All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group and the Bangladesh All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change and Environment convened an inquiry into the concept of equity in climate change negotiations. Bangladesh will be one of the first countries to suffer from the impacts of climate change; the UK is one of the countries that has contributed most to the problem.

The inquiry aimed at developing a shared understanding between UK and Bangladeshi parliamentarians of their respective burdens and challenges to propose a model for the developed and developing worlds.

For more information, read the briefing note on this inquiry.

Consultation on a refreshed Compact for government-civil society relations

The Compact is an agreement that sets out guidelines for the relationship between government and civil society organisations. It has often seemed more relevant to domestic organisations than to NGOs working internationally. However, it applies to all UK-based NGOs, and an improved Compact could improve the working relationship between NGOs and DFID.

The deadline for submissions was 12 October 2009.

HM Treasury consultation on vulture funds 

HM Treasury conducted a consultation into the possibility of extending participation in debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative by legislation that would limit the proportion of debts already contracted by a HIPC that a creditor could reclaim under UK laws (also known as "vulture funds").

Jubilee Debt Campaign was actively involved in this consultation and organised a meeting with the Treasury on 10 August. Please get in touch with Sarah Edwards of Jubilee Debt Campaign if you want to find out more information about this consultation. 

International Development Committee (IDC) inquiry on the DFID White Paper DFID and the DFID Annual Report 2009

The International Development Committee launched an inquiry into the new DFID White Paper, Eliminating World Poverty: Building our Common Future, published on 6 July 2009. The inquiry also examined the DFID Annual Report, Better Results for Poor People, published on 16 July 2009.

Read the Bond joint submission to this inquiry made in September 2009, with its strong focus on the DFID White Paper.

 

IDC Inquiry into DFID HIV/AIDS Strategy

The International Development Committee launched an inquiry into the new DFID HIV/AIDS Strategy, Achieving Universal Access, published in  June 2008. This inquiry reviewed progress on the issues raised by the Committee last year. In particular the Committee assessed the following:

  • the process established by DFID for monitoring the performance and evaluating the impact of the Strategy

  • progress on health systems strengthening and on an integrated approach to HIV/AIDS funding

  • integration of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care with other disease programmes, particularly tuberculosis and malaria

  • the effectiveness of DFID's Strategy in ensuring that marginalised and vulnerable groups receive prevention, treatment, care and support services

  • the effectiveness of social protection programmes within the Strategy

  • progress towards the commitment to universal access to anti-retroviral treatment and its impact on the effectiveness of care and treatment, particularly for women.

 The deadline for submissions was 30 September 2009.

All- Party Parliamentary Group launches Inquiry on Aid Effectiveness

June 2009

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Debt, Aid and Trade recently launched an inquiry into  aid effectiveness.
They are asked interested organisations to send them submissions by 4th June, with the Terms of References providing guidance on the parameters of the enquiry and instructions below for submissions.

The UK Aid Network (UKAN) sent a joint submission. 

International Development Committee (IDC) inquiry into Urbanisation and Poverty

April 2009

The International Development Committee launched an inquiry into Urbanisation and Poverty. Key issues for the inquiry will included:

  • how effectively developing country governments and donors, particularly DFID, are addressing the challenges presented by urban poverty;

  • DFID's contribution to meeting the MDG 7 target which seeks to improve the lives of slum dwellers;

  • the provision of basic services and infrastructure in slums, including energy, housing, transport, sanitation, water, health and education;

  • supporting opportunities for employment and livelihoods for the urban poor;

  • the role of property rights in improving the lives of slum dwellers; and

  • the implications of the current global financial downturn for urbanisation in developing countries.

The deadline for submissions was 24 April 2009. 

 

DFID Consultation on Evaluation

DFID has developed a new evaluation policy which will set the course for DFID evaluations in the future. They have also produced a ‘topic list' of potential areas for evaluation over the coming 3 years which they consult on.  

DFID's Draft 'Building the evidence to reduce poverty: The UK's policy on independent evaluation for international development'

DFID's Evaluation Topic List 

Bond submission to DFID's 'Building the evidence to reduce poverty: The UK's policy on independent evaluation for international development', March 2009

DFID Consultation on new strategy with UNICEF

The Department for International Developmnet (DFID) asked for written submissions for its consultation on a new Institutional Strategy Paper with the United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF). The consultation focused on the following questions: 

  • How can the UK Government best work with UNICEF to reduce poverty and deliver a world fit for children?

  • How can the UK Government best support UNICEF's collaboration at country level with other UN and international organisations?

  • How can the UK Government work with UNICEF to improve their organisational effectiveness, leadership of humanitarian response clusters and their gender equality focus?

  • How can we best measure and monitor progress with the Institutional Strategy, the Joint Institional Approach and UNICEF's own strategic plan?

Read the Bond submission to the UNICEF consultation.

 

DFID Institutional Strategy Paper for Europe

June 2008

International Development Minister Gareth Thomas launched the finalised DFID Institutional Strategy Paper for Europe on 23 June 2008. The strategy outlines DFID's vision for working more closely on international development policy with the other EU member states, the European Commission, European Parliamentarians and with civil society.

DFID Institutional Strategy Paper for Europe "Working with the European: Europe for Development" (pdf, 787kb) (June 2008)

Bond submission to DFID Institutional Strategy Paper for Europe "Working with the European Union: Europe for Development"

Consultation on Charities and Terrorism

August 2007

The Home Office consultation, undertaken in partnership with the Treasury, on charities and terrorism ended on 2 August.

Bond submitted a joint response to the Review of Safeguards to Protect the Charitable Sector (England and Wales) from Terrorist Abuse. In total 47 member organisations signed up to the response.

Bond Submission: Charities and terrorism

Following the closure of the consultation period it is expected that once the Home Office and the Treasury have analysed the consultation responses they received they will make recommendations to the Charity Commission about how this work should be taken forward. Bond will continue to lobby and work with the Charity Commission to ensure that any changes made to current policies are both risk based and proportionate. For further information about our ongoing work in this area please contact Bond.

Consultation on how to ensure Effective Consultation

July 2007

The Cabinet Office has issued a consultation entitled Effective Consultation which examines how government currently consults and asks for views on how this process can be improved.

Bond Briefing: Effective Consultation

DFID Governance and Transparency Fund consultation
November 2006

Back in 2006 DFID announced the creation of a new £100 million Governance and Transparency Fund so that media groups, civil society and others can play their part in improving governance, and helping poor people to hold their governments to account. A consultation on the Governance and Transparency Fund Consultation ran till 8 November 2006.

Bond members submitted a joint submission to the consultation.

Bond Joint Submission to Governance and Transparency Fund Consultation

Member Login

Not a member? Apply now


New user?
Forgotten password?