A comment from Mike Noyes, Deputy Director for Humanitarian at ActionAid UK, on the government’s decision to appoint Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP as the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development.
Commenting on the government’s decision to appoint Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP as the Secretary of State for the Department for International Development, Mike Noyes Deputy Director for Humanitarian at ActionAid UK says:
“We welcome Anne-Marie Trevelyan into her new position. At a time when disease, disasters and inequality are only becoming more rife, the role of DFID’s new Secretary of State is crucial.
“Following our departure from the EU, what the UK stands for on the global stage is up for debate. The government must reinforce our position as a force for good and going forward, commit to spending aid not on furthering other department’s interests, but on supporting those most in need - especially women and girls.
“The new Secretary of State must continue DFID’s world-renowned, life changing work and maintain its track record for spending UK aid money transparently and with accountability to both the British taxpayer and the communities being helped.
“Whilst we’re pleased that DFID remains independent with its own Secretary of State, it’s important that the new Minister is given enough time to make a real difference. This is the third change to the role in under a year - high turnover like this is detrimental to decision making and can ultimately have a grave impact on those in desperate need.
“We look forward to working with the new Secretary of State, alongside civil society and grassroots women’s rights groups, to make sure that gender issues are heard at the top of government and that the rights of women and girls around the world are not rolled back, but protected.”
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