To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria were used by his Department for the selection of organisations to participate in (a) strategic grant agreements and (b) strategic framework partnership agreements since its creation. (312517)

The Department for International Development (DFID) selected organisations for strategic grant agreements and the strategic framework partnership arrangement for which international development was not a main focus but which demonstrated potential to work constructively and strategically with DFID in reducing poverty.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) purpose and (b) terms are of each (i) strategic grant agreement and (ii) strategic framework partnership agreement entered into by his Department since its creation. (312518)

The purpose of strategic grant agreements and the strategic framework grant agreement was to enable the recipient organisations to increase their knowledge of international development issues and build their capacity to make an effective contribution to international development. Each agreement contained clear outcomes and implementation procedures. An example of one such agreement is available on the DFID website:

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/publications/sgauklocalgovernalliance.pdf

In addition, a standard memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DFID and the recipient organisations contained terms relating to the use of funds, independent auditing and reporting of financial accounts and evaluation requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria were used by his Department for the selection of organisations to participate in the partnership programme arrangements awarded in 2009; and for what reasons these awards were not subject to competition. (312519)

The Department for International Development (DFID) entered in to Partnership Programme Arrangements (PPAs) with three groups in 2009: CIVICUS, Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Comic Relief. All three groups were previously being funded through a variety of separate programme funding arrangements involving considerable staff time and resources. All three groups filled an important niche in civil society not covered by other PPA partners. By supporting these groups through PPAs, we were able to provide assistance more efficiently. There was no benefit to DFID in undertaking a long and costly competitive application process.