Management Board | Development Committee | Audit Committee | Human Resources Committee


DFID Management Board

Membership | Terms of Reference | Minutes of Meetings

Meeting on 24 May 2007

In working towards the delivery of the Public Service Agreement the Management Board will aim to:

  • A. communicate the vision, role, direction and priorities of DFID to staff and other stakeholders;
  • B. ensure DFID's financial resources and staff are allocated and managed effectively;
  • C. monitor and improve DFID's performance;
  • D. protect and enhance DFID’s reputation as a highly effective international development organisation.

9.30-12.00 Location: PS 3W12 (Open Session 10- 11.30. Closed Session 1130-12.00 )

Time

Topic

Attending

Purpose

MB Obj

10.00

Human Rights

Edward Adams (Head of Human Rights Division)

Presentation from Ministry of Justice on DFID’s duties on Human Rights

A & C

10.30

Programme Based Approaches

Minouche Shafik

Sam Sharpe

Paper from Africa Divisions on progress against PBA

D

11.00

Strategy Unit update

Sam Sharpe

Anna Wechsberg

Jeremy Clarke

Kate Tench

To review the Strategy Unit’s first horizon scanning report

B

11.30

Pay Deal

Liz Davis

Richard Montgomery

Richard Plumb

Update of progress on the Pay Deal

C

Back to topBack to top

Presentation from Ministry of Justice on DFID’s Duties on Human Rights.

  1. Edward Adams presented this item. He summarised the conclusions of the Human Rights Act (HRA) Review; outlined the benefits of using a Human Rights framework; highlighted specific issues for DFID and depicted what success might look like. He said that DFID’s Human Rights Action plan is currently one of the best across Whitehall.
  2. The Board agreed that:
  •  DFID should continue to work closely with the FCO’s Human Rights and Democracy Group; territoriality and conditionality are two areas where the HRA may need further consideration for DFID;
  • DFID is in a positive place with its Action Plan. The team needs to maintain momentum. Effective communications around the plan will be important.

Programme Based Approaches (PBAs) paper

3. Minouche Shafik presented this item, focussing on

  • the target figure for PBAS in Africa in 2007/08 and
  • the definition and target for PBAS 2008-11.

The board noted that GDED's Paper for the development committee on 25 April proposed a different target for 2008-11.

4. The board agreed that:

  • Although the PSA target on PBAs ended in March 2008, FCPD should work with Africa Divison and GDED to establish targets through to 2010/11, which could be monitored through the Quarterly Report;
  • the suggested target of 49% for 2007/8 is not stretching enough. This should be revised to something nearer 55% based on an analysis of what could be feasibly achieved during the year;
  • the target for 2008/09 - 2010/11 should be more stretching;
  • there should be a single target, but this should be based on an analysis of the different scope for PBAS between better performers and fragile states and high and low risk environments;
  • DFID should use the DAC definition of PBAS;
  • the target should be for PBAS as a proportion of overall bilateral spend and not include humanitarian spend.

Horizon scanning paper – Strategy Unit

5. Anna Wechsberg presented this item. She summarised the main findings in the papers.

6. The Board:

  • congratulated the team on a very good set of papers;
  • asked the team to check for inconsistencies in tone and direction between the papers, ensure data is up to date, and relate implications to MDGs;
  • suggested that the papers could be used at SCS Away Day or DFID seminar and possibly be included as summer reading for Ministers.
  • agreed that the Corporate Plan and preparation for the DDP should take account of the main findings of the scan;
  • commissioned further Strategy Unit led analysis on facilitating technology transfer to developing countries and recommended that this be done in coordination with other departments, eg DTI and DEFRA;
  • agreed that a joint FCO/DFID/MOD Board event to look at shared analysis would be useful but suggested consideration be given to including other Departments too;
  • asked that the Strategy Unit do more work on the Risk Register and recommend how DFID can make more effective use of it.