Sections:
Classes of Information
The Classes
1. Organisation and Structure
Organisation Structure -
organogram
(16 kb) showing how DFID is organised
2. Policy Framework, Legislation and Key Strategies
2.1 Policy framework and legislation
This consists of three White Papers on International
Development 1997
(310 kb), 2000(644 kb) and
2006, which set out the Government’s
vision and policies for eliminating poverty and meeting the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) ; as well as an introduction to the International Development Act
2002.
The full text of the Act is available from 
OPSI.
Further UK and EU legislation relevant to DFID’s work is available from OPSI and the
EC.
Key Strategies
These provide the framework for action for DFID’s contribution to achieving the MDGs and consist of:
- DFID's current Public Service Agreement (PSA), which defines corporate priorities and targets for the resources DFID receives following the Comprehensive Spending Review; our Service Delivery Agreement (SDA), which explains in more detail the key processes we will support to deliver our PSA targets.
- a collection of ten related Target/Goal Strategy Papers which spell out the key actions required to meet the MDGs, and the role DFID and the international community should play.
- our Country Assistance Plans, which describe how DFID will contribute to the MDGs and our PSA/SDA targets in the country in question.
- Institutional Strategy Papers, which set our partnership objectives with a range of Multilateral Development Institutions including the World Bank, United Nations agencies and the European Community.
3. Business Planning and Organisational Management
3.1 Business Planning
This is a set of core, corporate planning tools which explain how DFID will work to deliver its objectives, prioritise and make most effective and responsible use of its financial resources, achieve value-for-money and respond to Government-wide initiatives (eg e-government)
- Medium
Term Framework
(25kb)
- Aid Framework 2001
(51kb)
- Investment Strategy
- Information Management and DFID - Strategic Framework(212kb)
- E-business Strategy(266kb)
- Knowledge Sharing Strategy
- DFID Information Communications Technology Strategy
(199
kb)
3.2 The Work of DFID’s Top Committees
Copies of the papers produced for and by DFID's Management Board and its three sub-committees (for Development | Audit | Human Resources).
Please note that certain exemptions may apply. Papers will be withheld or edited where sensitive or confidential matters are discussed.
4. Accountability and Performance Reporting
4.1 Accountability Mechanisms
DFID’s answers to parliamentary questions by members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as the records of debates on international development in these chambers, and the papers and proceedings of the
International Development Select
Committee, are available from the UK Parliament and the International
Development Select Committee respectively.
Current and forthcoming public consultation documents.
4.3 Performance Reporting
DFID’s annual reports to Parliament, the public and our development partners giving an account of our activities over the past year.
4.4 Statistics
Statistics published by DFID annually on global development progress in general, and the use of official UK development assistance in particular.
4.5 Evaluation
Evaluation reports and summaries on the impact of past programmes and projects.
Reviews of DFID’s performance by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and reports by the UK National Audit Office, are available from each organisation respectively. In future this class may also contain one-off external development effectiveness studies in specific areas of DFID’s work.
This class provides an insight into DFID’s operational activities through a combination of:
- DFID publications on key development issues and themes;
- searchable on-line resources about our bilateral activities; and
- access to the aid management procedures and technical good practice followed by DFID staff.
5.1 Programme and Project Issues and Themes
A range of publications is available from our Website publications archive on the following development issues/themes:
- Conflict and Disaster Management
- Economics
- Education and Training
- Employment
- Environment, Natural Resources, Land Tenure
- Finance
- Governance
- Health and Medicine
- Human Settlements
- Information and Communication Technology
- International Affairs
- Law
- Management
- Rural Economy
- Science and Technology
- Social Development
- Society and Culture
- Trade and Industry
5.2 Bilateral Activities
A searchable online database about DFID’s portfolio of bilateral activities (ie, those funded by DFID directly but not via core contributions to multilateral agencies). This provides details of planned and operational activities in summary form and, where available, copies of the "logical framework" tool used by DFID to design and monitor programmes and projects.
5.4 Aid Management Procedures
Blue Book (3
mb) and Tools for Development(502
kb) - a manual providing a comprehensive guide to DFID’s aid management, procurement and financial control procedures; supported by Tools for Development, a handbook providing good practice advice and technical tools for DFID staff and other development practitioners.
The Nordic Plus Group of donors (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, UK and Iceland) recently agreed a Joint Financing Arrangement (or MOU) for all types of joint funding (e.g. basket funding, joint Direct Budget Support and SWaps) as part of the Harmonisation in Practice initiative.
6. Working with Civil Society
The publications and documents in this class collectively set out DFID’s approach to working with Civil Society, both to promote awareness and understanding of international development issues and to provide funding and support for certain activities and to certain groups.
6.1 Development Policy Forums
Final reports of DFID Development Policy Forums, which aim to share thinking and ideas on development issues with individuals and representatives of groups from across society, and also to raise awareness and understanding.
6.2
Development Awareness Strategy(104kb)
Strategy documents for our work with four main target groups: formal education; the media; business and trade unions and churches and faiths.
6.3 Development Awareness Fund
Guidelines, procedures and a list of approved projects relating to the Development Awareness Fund, DFID’s principal means of funding development awareness and education in the UK.
6.4 Development Awareness Public Consultation
Public opinion research and surveys undertaken as part of monitoring and evaluation of development awareness work.
6.5 Partnership Programme Arrangements
Partnership arrangements between DFID and influential civil society organisations in the UK which set out how we will work as partners to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
6.6 Civil Society Challenge Fund
Guidelines and supporting information for applications to this DFID fund to support projects undertaken by Civil Society Organisations in the developing world and certain transitional countries in eastern Europe and central Asia.
7.1 DFID Science and Innovation Strategy
Currently being developed, to be published spring 2007.
7.2 Research Programme Descriptions and Funding Guidelines
Strategy papers outlining DFID’s approach to central research funding by discipline (eg engineering), together with a single guide for those wishing to apply to DFID for such funding. Details of the European Community Research Framework, to which DFID contributes, are available from the EC. Please note DFID’s research funding arrangements are currently under review and the contents of this sub-class are liable to change within the life of the scheme.
7.3 Commission on Intellectual Property Rights
Summary documents describing the role of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. This DFID funded, UK Government initiative looked at how national and international intellectual property rules and practices might be improved in line with the needs and interests of poor people and developing countries.
8. Procurement, Consultancy and Specialist Funding
The documents in this class set out DFID’s policy and strategies for procuring goods and services, provide details of available funding schemes, contracts tendered and awarded, and includes our Consultancy General Conditions.
8.1 Aid Untying
A background briefing paper on the untying of aid(358
kb), which ensures that procurement from UK development assistance is open to suppliers irrespective of where they are based.
8.2 Procurement Strategy papers
DFID’s policy to root out corruption in aid procurement and our strategy for obtaining value-for-money in contracts funded under our administrative (running cost) budget.
8.3 Contracts
List of current contract notices. In line with EU Procurement Directives, DFID also advertises all contract notices above a certain threshold in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC).
A list of contracts awarded by DFID in the current financial year.
8.4 Funding Schemes
A consolidated guide to DFID funding programmes and schemes, providing details of eligible organisations, funding criteria, funding available and contacts for further information.
8.5 Emergency Aid and Disaster Relief
Guidelines for agencies seeking support from DFID’s emergency aid and disaster relief funds.
9.1 Recruitment and Retention
This website provides a complete list of external vacancies for which DFID is currently recruiting.
9.2 PeopleSight
A web based system that provides DFID staff with information on HR policies, processes and systems. Such as pay, conditions and pensions, Diversity, DFID's performance management system and Secondments & Interchange.
10.1 DFID Environmental Guide
(2,420 kb)
This manual contains a policy statement on the range of environmental action that DFID supports, guidance on environmental screening and improving our environmental performance as a UK Government department. More detailed information on our environmental strategies for sustainable development are at 5.1 and 5.2.
10.2 Green Housekeeping
Good practice guidance for DFID staff on green housekeeping issues
11.1 Speeches
DFID’s website provides copies of major policy speeches by DFID ministers since 1999
11.2 Press Releases
DFID’s website provides copies of all DFID press releases since December 2000
11.3 Background Briefings
DFID Background Briefings on key international development issues and Processes
11.4 Publications Archive
DFID’s website publications section provides further details of a range of DFID publications
12.1 Staff Guidance on Open Government
Guidance for DFID staff on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and handling requests under the Code and associated staff guidance on the Data Protection Act.
12.2 FOI Replies
Details of our replies to Freedom of Information requests, when considered to be of wider public interest.
13. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
A non-Departmental Public Body established by parliament, which supports a range of awards and scholarships throughout the Commonwealth. DFID funds those awards that relate to developing Commonwealth countries.