Minister of State (Development and Africa)
Responsibilities
The Minister deputises for the Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons.
The Minister’s responsibilities include:
- Africa
- International Development Strategy, Official Development Assistance (ODA), Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI)
- British Investment Partnerships
- international finance
- global education, gender and equality (including scholarships)
- global health
- humanitarian and migration
- safeguarding
- research and evidence (including the Chief Scientific Adviser)
Current role holder
The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP
Andrew Mitchell was appointed as a Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 25 October 2022. On 12 April 2024 he was given the honorific title of Deputy Foreign Secretary.
He was previously Secretary of State for International Development from May 2010 to September 2012. He was elected Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield on 7 June 2001.
Education
Andrew was educated at Rugby School and Jesus College, Cambridge where he studied history and was President of the Union.
Career outside politics
He served in the Royal Tank Regiment before joining Lazard, where he worked with British companies seeking large-scale overseas contracts.
Political career
After serving as a government whip between 1993 and 1995, Andrew served as Minister for Social Security from 1995 to 1997.
While in opposition, he was Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs from 2003 to 2004 and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs from 2004 to 2005. He then served as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development until the 2010 election.
Personal life
Andrew is married with 2 children.
Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewmitchMP