About DFID

Last updated: June 2004

History of DFID | DFID and the UK Government | DFID Mission Statement | Millennium Development Goals

Biographies: Secretary of State, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Permanent Secretary

Organisational Chart | DFID Directory of Divisions and Departments

Introduction

The Department for International Development (DFID) was established in 1997, as the successor to the Overseas Development Administration, previously part of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). For a fuller history of DFID and its predecessor bodies, go here. For a fuller explanation of DFID's relationship with the UK Government, go here.

DFID's overall aim is to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable development, in particular through achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For DFID's mission statement, go here, and for more information about the MDGs, go here.

DFID leadership

DFID is represented in Cabinet by the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn MP), and in the House of Commons by a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Gareth R Thomas MP).

The senior civil servant in DFID is the Permanent Secretary (Suma Chakrabarti), assisted on DFID's Management Board by three Directors-General and two Non-Executive Directors.

Organisational Charts

DFID's structure, including a list of divisions, departments and overseas offices, is available here.

DFID Directory

An abbreviated Directory of DFID divisions and departments, including an explanation of their principal areas of responsibility and contact details for heads of divisions and departments, can be found here.

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