The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development

About the Book

When Boris Johnson announced the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in June 2020, he signalled the dissolution of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) after nearly 25 years. DFID had a stellar international reputation, a respected body of expertise, and an impressive record improving lives. The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development traces DFID’s trajectory from its origins to its unravelling, distilling timely lessons for government aid institutions in the UK and beyond.

DFID’s lifespan coincided with a period of remarkable progress in human well-being. Rise and Fall describes DFID’s role in securing these gains through an unwavering focus on its mandate to reduce poverty, under Conservative and Labour governments alike. It explains how the capture of the Conservative Party by its right-wing factions led to DFID’s closure, a move now widely viewed as a mistake, and offers proposals for the next government as it defines the UK’s position in a complex international landscape.

Informed by the authors’ own experiences at DFID as well as interviews with more than a hundred former DFID ministers and staff, The Rise and Fall of the Department for International Development offers an insider’s view into the successes, struggles, and lessons of a unique government department. As leaders worldwide consider the future of international development, the book provides critical insights into the institutional structures that work best to deliver results.

Advance Praise

"For 20 years, DFID transformed Britain's position in the world and changed for the better the lives of millions of the world's poorest people. Reaching for a time the global goal of 0.7 percent of GDP on aid, Britain led the world on global health, education, and climate change. The story not just of this unique period but of the continuing relevance of the path-breaking thinking that lay behind it is told with precision, eloquence and passion by leaders in this journey, Mark Lowcock and Ranil Dissanayake.” — Gordon Brown

“DFID was widely admired globally, and its demise much lamented. The story of its life and its distinctive contribution to improving the lives of many of the world's poorest people—which Mark Lowcock and Ranil Dissanayake have set out in a dispassionate, insightful and convincing way—provides important inspiration to the new British government as they consider their role now in dealing with the world's urgent problems.”— Helen Clark

“DFID was an important partner to the Gates Foundation. It is also a vital part of the UK’s great history as a global leader in international development, not just being generous with aid but also making sure it goes where it will have the most impact. This book serves as an important reminder that the world has made incredible progress improving lives of the poorest people—and can do so again.”— Bill Gates

“DFID was one of New Labour's proudest achievements.  Its destruction was an act of wanton vandalism.  If we want to hold our heads high in the world again, it (or something very similar) will need to be rebuilt.”— Chris Mullin

“We talk quite a lot about Britain’s soft power and should recognise that one of the best examples of this over the years has been the Overseas Development Programme. It was very good news when this programme became the responsibility of an independent ministry – DFID – and was able to combine its highly professional development goals with a growing budget.  When this budget was cut and the ministry was closed and rolled into the existing Foreign Office, Britain lost a huge international asset. All those who read this book will, I am sure, be convinced that it would be an excellent idea for the new Labour government to re-establish the independent Department which was so admired around the world.”— Chris Patten

“Over two decades of working closely with DFID colleagues, I watched in admiration as the Department grew into a major component of British soft power, a globally respected thought leader on development policy and a driving force for poverty reduction.  DFID also pioneered partnerships with Britain’s armed forces and diplomats in tackling the conflicts and poor governance which were often at the root of poverty. This is a powerful and deeply researched account of a noble and sustained effort to treat international development not just as a national interest, but a moral responsibility. It deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in the making of public policy and the scope for governments to be a force for good in the world.”— Peter Ricketts

“This is much more than an excellent history of DFID. It is a story of how the thinking and practice of development evolved over the most impactful period of poverty reduction in history. Read it and you will feel inspired at what the combination of political leadership, clarity of vision, and good management can achieve.”— Minouche Shafik