Pause FCDO plans to cut around 2,000 staff in the name of “agility” weakening UK diplomacy and response to crisis. Preserve expertise developed over the past years humanitarian, development, conflict and gender; and carry out humanitarian, climate and equality impact assessment before changes.

Since the DFID–FCO merger, FCDO has already lost vital expertise and left many development adviser posts vacant. IDC Chair Sarah Champion warns that plans to cut 2,000 posts will cause an exodus of staff and put lives at risk. As other donors and agencies cut aid and staff, the UK should lead in diplomacy and multilateral crisis response by investing in humanitarian response, climate action, poverty reduction and protection of women and girls, not hollowing out the teams that deliver this.