UK policy
The UK government is one of the major donors of development assistance/aid worldwide. In 2007, it spent almost £5bn as Official Development Assistance (ODA, as defined by the OECD Development Advisory Committee), providing around 12% of global aid. As one of the biggest economies worldwide, the UK government also has a strong influence on the international trade system.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK government that manages Britain's aid and is the main department responsible for the UK's development policies. However, there are several other UK departments engaged in development expenditure and policies, for instance the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Her Majesty's Treasury, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the newly established Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
The UK government is the major target for UK NGOs. Many Bond members are actively engaged in policy dialogue with DFID, the Prime Minister's Office and other relevant departments.
Besides the government, Bond also engages with the UK Parliament on development issues which present an important player in influencing the policy dialogue. The main focus is on the International Development Committee, a departmental select committee in the House of Commons focusing on development and the performance of DFID.
The role of Bond
Bond supports the coordination of joint policy advocacy at a UK level. Bond members are working on varied issues and have varied targets in the UK government. Bond aims to coordinate these different positions, ensuring coherence of message in the sector.
Through joint advocacy and joint pressure on the government, we have a stronger voice in politics.
We also coordinate consultations with the government and the UK Parliament ensuring the voice of British civil society heard in these processes.
The Bond secretariat offers training courses on relevant advocacy targets at a UK level for organisations or individuals interested in strengthening their advocacy skills.
Upcoming advocacy opportunities
