Alison Evans of the Overseas Development Institute gives a broad welcome to Andrew Mitchell's approach at DfID

Alison Evans is Director of the Overseas Development Institute.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell’s impassioned ‘one year on’ speech last week was clear about the importance of a robust narrative on results.  He tackled head on some of the criticisms levelled at him from various quarters in recent weeks.  The response of the Conservative leadership to leaked letters and renewed frustrations over a ring-fenced aid budget has been to carry on regardless. David Cameron’s recent G8 speech reinforced the Coalition’s commitment to the world’s poorest and suggested that critics in the Conservative camp will receive short shrift in future. 

If the political determination to meet our 0.7% aid commitment is to be matched by results, the debate has to move on from a polarised ‘aid works’ vs ‘aid is a waste of money’ dichotomy. ODI today releases a report that evaluates progress in development in 24 countries. It goes beyond saying ‘look what a good job we have done’ to make broader points about the role of leadership, policies, institutions and partnerships in delivering progress.

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