David Lammy was speaking in the House of Lords
International and UK NGOs have said any plans for an international conference on aid must include voices from the global south.
Last week, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke to the Lords International Relations Committee about UK aid and development and the UK aid cuts.
During the session, he proposed that the UK hosts “a conference that brings together the Western community on development and aid and how we spend that aid”.
The Guardian reported that UK Foreign Office officials said the conference was likely to be in the early autumn.
Mr Lammy told that newspaper: “I want to have a conference that brings together the western community on development and aid, and how we spend that aid, because the time is now right for leadership, and the time is right to be smarter and sharper about how we spend our money across the board. We do need to recognise, a conversation about reform is long overdue.”
“It is true if you look across Europe – the Netherlands, France, Germany – we are seeing a reduction in spend, but it is also true there has been a need for a deeper and more meaningful conversation about western development for many, many years.”
Those working in the NGO sector said a conversation about the future of aid was welcome.
Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development and humanitarian assistance, said any conversation about development funding must though involve voices from the global south.
Gideon Rabinowitz, director of policy and advocacy at Bond, said: “It is welcome that the Foreign Secretary wants to engage in conversations on the future of Official Development Assistance and reforming the global system. However, any potential discussions must involve the voices of lower-middle income countries, including local civil society actors who understand the specific needs and requirements of their communities. All decisions must be shaped and led by those closest to the issues.
“At July’s Financing for Development conference in Spain, the UK has the opportunity to rebuild its reputation by supporting the global financial reform proposals put forward by lower-middle income countries and global civil society. That means supporting changes to the global financial system, enabling lower-middle income countries to mobilise public finance domestically and internationally, including debt relief, reform of the global tax system, tackling illicit financial flows and ensuring for better representation of these countries within global financial architecture.
“If the Labour government is serious about its commitment to taking ‘a new, modern approach to development based on genuine respect, trust and partnership with the Global South’, it must follow through with meaningful and transparent engagement.”
