The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development
The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development
Description
When Boris Johnson announced the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in June 2020, he signalled the dissolution of the UKs Department for International Development (DFID) after nearly 25 years. DFID had a stellar international reputation, a respected body of expertise, and an impressive record improving lives. The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development traces DFIDs trajectory from its origins to its unravelling, distilling timely lessons for government aid institutions in the UK and beyond. DFIDs lifespan coincided with a period of remarkable progress in human well-being. Rise and Fall describes DFIDs role in securing these gains through an unwavering focus on its mandate to reduce poverty, under Conservative and Labour governments alike. It explains how the capture of the Conservative Party by its right-wing factions led to DFIDs closure, a move now widely viewed as a mistake, and offers proposals for the next government as it defines the UKs position in a complex international landscape.