Review of using aid funds in the UK to promote awareness of global poverty

19 January 2011

As part of the process of developing a new communications strategy, and in line with the reviews of DFID’s bilateral, multilateral and humanitarian programmes, DFID is reviewing its funding of its work to build greater awareness in the UK of development challenges in poorer countries.

The review will take a fresh look at the impact and effectiveness of existing development awareness work and will provide evidence based advice on whether, and if so how, DFID should continue to use aid funds in the UK to promote awareness of global poverty and public involvement in efforts to address this. Specifically, the review will inform DFID of:

1. The effectiveness of programmes designed to raise awareness of development in the UK based on existing evidence.
2. The evidence and arguments around the value of using aid funds to raise awareness in the UK of global poverty and public involvement in addressing this, and recommend a way forward.
3. A framework for assessing the effectiveness of development awareness work.
4. Which instruments and methods (including new and innovative approaches) available to DFID are likely to be most effective in raising awareness / promoting involvement, and to suggest impact measures for these.  In doing this, the review should compare the relative merits of using aid funds to promote awareness of development issues and involvement with using DFID’s own press and communications activity on the impact of the government’s own aid programme. 
5. To look specifically at the reach and effectiveness of the projects supported under the Development Awareness Fund. 
6. For all of the above, to ensure that value for money and effectiveness are being achieved.

The review, which we expect will be completed in March 2011, will make recommendations on these areas. This will be used to help shape the forthcoming communications strategy and inform funding decisions.

The review will draw on secondary source material from earlier reviews/analysis and will consult stakeholders.