How Should the UK Scrutinise Its Aid Spending?

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The future of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI)—the UK’s independent watchdog for foreign aid—is uncertain. Baroness Jenny Chapman, the UK Minister for International Development recently confirmed that she is weighing the options for UK aid scrutiny, including reviewing the funding and function of ICAI and the possibility of its closure.

This raises a fundamental question: is a dedicated, independent watchdog for UK aid still the best way to scrutinize UK aid—and is it a good use of resources at a time of significant budget cuts?

This panel discussion will bring together a variety of perspectives including Sarah Champion, Chair of the International Development Select Committee to debate whether ICAI remains necessary, what alternatives might look like, and how oversight of UK aid could be strengthened or redesigned—topics explored in a recently published CGD blog.