‘Poverty immersions’ for International Development staff

Andrew Mitchell has announced plans for a programme of ‘poverty immersions’ for Department for International Development staff.

Every member of DfID staff who arrives to work in a new country will undertake a one-week immersion, living with and learning from poorer communities.

The move comes after the National Audit Office and the OECD criticised the Government for failing to encourage DfID staff to leave the relative comfort of capital cities and engage with poorer people in rural areas.

Andrew said British aid officials would benefit from this direct, face-to-face interaction with the people they serve.

“These immersions will serve as a valuable ‘reality check’ from the usual round of meetings, paperwork and spreadsheets. It will help keep everyone at DfID focused on their core mission: serving and helping poor people to work their way, sustainably, out of poverty.”