Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote civic links between organisations in the UK and those in countries where UKaid funds programmes.

Civil society is critical for development, humanitarian and foreign policy outcomes. Encouraging international civic links is key to supporting civil society and more open, freer societies around the globe. The FCDO promotes these links in a range of ways, including through Ministerial visits, diplomatic activity and programme funding. For example, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy promotes new ways of engaging internationally, working with parliaments, political parties and civil society. Many of our UK civil society grant holders under UK Aid Direct and UK Aid Match also work in close partnership with civil society organisations overseas.