The FCDO's Programme Operating Framework A rapid review - April 2023

While the PrOF’s overall approach is credible, and the principles and rules that form the centre of the PrOF are relatively concise, much of the remainder of the document is not clearly written, making it harder for readers to find and absorb the most important information. [...] Context and the development of the PrOF 3.4 FCDO developed the PrOF in response to the merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) with the Department for International Development (DFID) in September 2020. [...] The PrOF reflects the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s priorities and structure 4.13 While Centre for Delivery has updated most of the rules in some way, the most substantive changes to the PrOF compared to the Smart Rules reflect the differences between FCDO and DFID, and alignment with government priorities. [...] Due to the light-touch communications, the length of the PrOF document, and their involvement in the evacuation of Afghan fellows in August 2021, the Chevening team did not prioritise applying the PrOF for the first year after the PrOF launched. [...] 4.55 The PrOF’s addition of the Portfolio SRO reflects the intent of the UK government’s strategy for international development to reduce bureaucracy by giving authority and portfolio oversight to Heads of Mission – the UK’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners – and central Directors of equivalent seniority.46 Portfolio SROs “have overall accountability for the whole portfolio of activity in the po.