International Divisions

Europe and Donor Relations Division

Director: Anthony Smith
Tel: 020 7023 1260

The Europe and Donor Relations Division (EDRD) is at the heart of DFID's agendas on "beyond aid" and "multilateralism with edge". Our vision is for a small, outward-looking division that improves EU effectiveness, pursues DFID objectives through bilateral and international channels and, more widely, sets the direction for the future beyond aid by helping to mainstream poverty reduction in Whitehall, Europe and other donor countries. We also have responsibility for the international work on statistics that underpins DFID efforts on both aid effectiveness and beyond aid agendas, and, as a new initiative in the second half of 2008, for DFID programmes and engagement in the Balkans and European near-neighbourhood.

EDRD consists of three departments: the Donor Relations Department (DRD), the European Union Department (EUD) and the Global Statistics Partnerships Department (GSPD). Details of how the Balkans and European near-neighbourhood programmes will be integrated into the division will be announced later. All departments are based in Palace Street.

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Donor Relations Department

Kevin Sparkhall
Tel: 020 7023 0241

DRD is responsible for developing deeper and more effective partnerships with other donors and works closely with other Government Departments. It has four main sections:

  • The MDG Call to Action Team, which seeks to enhance international commitment to and action on achievement of the MDGs;
  • The G8 Team, managing development aspects of the G8 process to ensure high profile for and clear progress on UK development priorities;
  • The Bilateral Relations Team, responsible for managing relations with bilateral donors and foundations, and for developing engagement strategies for those of the highest priority; and
  • A Policy and Management Team that manages other issues for which DRD is responsible, including global aid volumes and finance for development, overall relations with the DAC, and policy coherence for development.

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European Union Department

Tamsyn Barton
Tel: 020 7023 0579

EUD works with the rest of DFID, other Government Departments and European partners for further reform of European development assistance and institutions, and implementation of the European Consensus on Development.

Our focus is primarily institutional. We work with the policy leads in other parts of DFID and Whitehall to ensure that our policy is integrated into business in Europe.

EUD has three teams: Policy, headed by Louise Thomas; Budget, headed by Dave Smith; and Country Programmes, headed by Helen O’ Connor. Simon Williams covers all corporate business.

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Global Statistics Partnership Department

Heidi Grainger
Tel: 020 7023 0396

GSPD is designed to help to improve the effectiveness of the international statistical system. The Marrakech Action Plan (MAPS), devised by partners and donor countries in 2004, is the cornerstone of DFID’s international statistical work. DFID statisticians work at the international level through advocacy, lobbying and funding.

Specifically we are working on the following areas:

  • Increasing the impact of the international statistical system;
  • Providing support to specific international statistical initiatives;
  • Providing support to institutions in the international statistical system;
  • Keeping abreast of international statistical developments; and
  • Overseeing MDG policy and framework issues.

The Head of GSPD, Heidi Grainger, is also DFID’s Chief Statistician and Head of Profession for the Statistics cadre.

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