A conversation with Department for International Development on July 9, 2012
Participants
- Nick York, Chief Professional Officer for Evaluation, Department for International Development
- Sarah Bloom, Team Leader, Health and Education, Private Sector Department, Department for International Development
- Nicki Goh, Private Sector Adviser, Innovation, Department for International Development
- Jonathan Wong, Head of Innovation Hub, Department for International Development
- John Gibb, Team Leader, Health Services Team, Department for International Development
- Julia Watson, Senior Health Economist, Department for International Development
- Gillian Mann, Health Adviser, Department for International Development
- Cari Tuna, Co-Founder, Good Ventures
- Elie Hassenfeld, Co-Executive Director, GiveWell
- Eliza Scheffler, Research Analyst, GiveWell
GiveWell and Good Ventures were particularly interested in Department for International Development (DFID) because there is overlap between some programs that DFID funds and areas that GiveWell and Good Ventures find promising (e.g. SCI, Gates Foundation/DFID malaria resistance project in Myanmar).
The UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s fight against global poverty. In 2010/11, the DFID aid programme was £7.7 billion. DFID’s main offices are in London and East Kilbride (Scotland), and it has country offices in Africa and Asia that have professional staff on the ground. Funding decisions take into account both geographical and policy priorities.
Discussion of DFID's areas of interest
DFID directs its support to 28 focus countries. It has a focus on generating results and getting value for money for all development programs. DFID supports a wide range of health programmes (see www.dfid.gov.uk).
DFID mentioned the following areas for greater potential future investment:
- Neglected tropical diseases
- Global partnerships, particularly in TB and malaria
- Family planning
- Water, sanitation and hygiene
- Non-communicable diseases
- Information and communication technologies and health
- Non-state health services (through the HANSHEP group)
- Filling gaps in knowledge and evidence (e.g. through funding evaluations, Cochrane Collaboration)