Written evidence submitted by British
Expertise
British Expertise is the leading trade association
in the UK for consultancy companies and those in related professional
services who want to develop their work internationally. Most
of our members work for DFID, and we organise regular meetings
with procurement (value for money) and sector and geographic teams.
We were only made aware of your enquiry yesterday,
and in the short time possible we are unable to give a detailed
written submission. However in summary to the points highlighted
in your invitation to submit written evidence we would make the
following comments:
- We believe DFID could reduce their adminstration
costs by far greater degree of outsourcing programme managent
to the private sector. We would quote as an example the contract
we have (with Birmingham Chamber of Commerce) to run the Aid-Funded
Business Service (AFBS) for UK Trade & Investment. AFBS advises
UK companies on how to win business from the developement aid
organisations around the world, and 1.2 people run a service previously
run in-house by five civil servants, with a much greater programme
of events and publications than before.
- We are concerned with the growth of budgetary
support programmes in DFID. We feel there are in many cases insufficient
audit trails in place, and that they help cause, rather than prevent,
fraud and corruption. There is no substitute for properly planned
projects using quality based procurement of consultants and other
providers of technical assistance. The UK is a world leader in
the field of development related consultancy, and British Expertise
members can play a far wider role in the british aid programme,
which ultimately ensure better value for money for the UK taxpayer.
I am the Director for the UKTI AFBS and also the
Private Sector Liaison Officer for the UK for both the World Bank
Group and the Inter-American Development Bank.
7 September 2010
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