The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund – Report Summary

This is a Joint Committee report, with recommendations to government. The Government has two months to respond.

Author: Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy

Related inquiry: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Date Published: 20 September 2023

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Summary

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) was established to deliver a cross-Government response to challenges overseas that threaten UK national security, using both ODA and non-ODA funding.

Since 2020, there have been significant changes to the size and composition of the CSSF’s budget, with reductions to the UK’s aid budget resulting in considerable cuts to Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes within the Fund. These changes have shifted the emphasis of the Fund away from peacebuilding and conflict prevention, creating a de facto de-prioritisation of development work within the Fund. We are concerned that the cuts to ODA-funded programmes within the CSSF are likely to impair the ability of the UK Government to anticipate conflict, prevent escalation, and respond effectively to areas of known instability across the world, which may be a false economy. In addition, these cuts may have impaired the Government’s ability to respond effectively to recent crises in the Middle East and Sudan.

The CSSF is in the process of merging with other funds to form the new Integrated Security Fund (ISF), with the objective of creating greater coherence between international and domestic work to tackle national security challenges. The CSSF has developed a distinct identity as an agile and responsive fund under control from the centre, often undertaking projects that other funders would often deem too high-risk. There is a risk that this identity will be diluted amongst other more disparate policy aims in the new Fund, and that domestic political pressures will take priority.

We are also concerned about the lack of clarity surrounding core practical points relating to the transition period, and the impact of this uncertainty upon organisations currently implementing CSSF programmes. It is also unknown to what extent the current commitments to transparency, monitoring and evaluation of activities will continue. We recommend that the Government provides regular updates to the Committee during the transition period, and commits to maintaining existing levels of transparency, monitoring and evaluation.