Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen global civil society throughout the world.

In financial year 2016-17, DFID spent £1.3 billion funding the work of civil society. DFID provides assistance to strengthen civil society in the UK and overseas through capacity building support and funding opportunities. This assistance is delivered through our centrally-managed programmes and our country programmes.

Since 2016 we have provided funding through our centrally-managed programmes to more than 200 civil society organisations (CSOs) of diverse sizes and policy areas, delivering projects across at least 35 countries. DFID is acting to increase support to CSOs based in developing countries, including through broadening out some of our centrally-managed programmes to accept bids from Southern-based CSOs.

Through UK Aid Connect we are funding programmes specifically targeted at enhancing civil society effectiveness in the UK and overseas.