Global Development Engagement Fund Scrapped in DFID Review
Following the review of its work that followed the election of the coalition government and the appointment of Andrew Mitchell as the new DFID Minister, Development Education in Wales, and throughout the UK, received a major blow in the shape of the scrapping of the Global Learning Engagement Fund.
The Global Learning Engagement Fund was intended to partly replace the DAF Major and Mini Grants fund and to provide funding for work in the informal sector. The scrapping of this fund will mean that the key potential source of funding for organisations involved in youth and community work will be lost. This will inevitably have a serious effect on organisations in Wales involved in the delivery of ESDGC.
The review brought some positive news for the Formal Sector with DFID reaffirming its commitment to the Global Learning Strategy. The Global Learning Strategy is intended to replace the Enabling Effective Support initiative, known as ESDGC School Networks in Wales. A clear indication of how this will be delivered in Wales is not yet forthcoming, but the on-going commitment has been widely welcomed.
Another positive note was struck by the decision to let projects already supported under the Development Awareness Fund, both the Major and the Mini Grants programmes, to be funded to their completion.
It would in no sense be an exaggeration to say that ESDGC in Wales is facing challenging times. Over the years DFID funding in the form of DAF funding or EES has enabled NGOs to make a key contribution to ESDGC, providing support and resources for practitioners and drawing on a well-established body of practise and expertise.
Cyfanfyd will continue to argue the case for DFID funding support for this work as we consider the delivery of ESDGC to be not only important, but essential.