Policy paper

FCDO annual statement of compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2024 to 2025

Published 23 December 2025

1. Introductory statement

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the UK’s diplomatic, development, and consular efforts worldwide, investing in research, technology development, and global partnerships to tackle complex challenges.

FCDO is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity across all research, evidence, and technology innovation activities that support development, national security, and foreign policy objectives. These principles are embedded throughout the research lifecycle – from commissioning and management to application and dissemination.

2. Governance

Research integrity at FCDO is supported by robust governance structures. Oversight is led by the Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence Directorate (RED), who is responsible for safeguarding integrity across all research activities, while also guiding the development, synthesis, and application of research in support of FCDO objectives and the wider public good.

RED Deputy Directors for research and technology development further support strategic direction, while the Programme and Research Standards Unit (PRSU) plays a key role in ensuring research aligns with FCDO policies and adheres to best practice standards.

Investment Committee delivers oversight and assurances for major or high-risk programmes, assessing whether investments deliver maximum impact and value for money.

The Research Advisory Group (RAG) provides strategic guidance and independent scientific challenge to strengthen the quality and appropriateness of FCDO’s research portfolio.

RED works closely with the Evaluation Unit and Head of Profession for Evaluation (in Analysis Directorate), to ensure FCDO evaluations adhere to these same principles.

3. Processes to support culture of research integrity

The FCDO promotes research integrity though activities targeting both internal staff and commissioned research partners. These include:

• promoting ethics and safeguarding guidelines
• developing inclusive, diverse, and equitable research approaches
• delivering mandatory fraud and safeguarding training

FCDO continuously review processes through cross-government initiatives, to improve commissioning effectiveness. The 2025 launch of the Global Research and Technology Development (GRTD) portfolio will expand equitable access to FCDO-funded research, science, technology, and innovation, reinforcing the department’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and research excellence.

Our commissioning practices are underpinned by rigorous ethical and quality standards and are upheld across the full delivery chain to ensure FCDO-funded research is conducted responsibly and with impact.

• commissioning: open global competition attracts high calibre institutions and individuals, driving innovation, excellence, and value for money. Research awards are granted based on merit, relevance to FCDO priorities, and demonstrable commitment to upholding research integrity
• research implementation: the FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PrOF) sets standards for all programme delivery, evidence-based decision-making, and transparency. Every programme requires an approved business case and partner assessment to confirm capacity and capability to deliver high-quality research that meets integrity standards
• monitoring and evaluation: annual reviews serve as the primary monitoring instrument for individual research programmes. They facilitate performance management and ensure compliance. Annual Reviews are published on Development Tracker. When more rigorous scrutiny is required, formal, independent evaluations are commissioned through competitive procurement. In line with the FCDO Evaluation Policy, terms of reference and final reports undergo internal and external quality assurance and are published alongside a management response
• quality assurance: quality is maintained through rigorous due diligence, risk assessment, and independent audits. Research proposals are reviewed for originality and ethical compliance, while outputs undergo expert and external peer review

4. Guidance and standards

FCDO provides guidance and follows internationally recognised standards to ensure all research upholds the highest ethical, safeguarding, and quality principles. The key standards, policies, and guidance relevant to FCDO-funded research include:

• Official Development Assistance (ODA): research funded by FCDO primarily uses ODA, in line with OECD criteria, focusing on economic and welfare development in qualifying countries. FCDO also funds research outside ODA conditions where appropriate
• international standards: all research investments align with the OECD Frascati definition, which informs our own Classification of Research guidance that all teams are required to adhere to as part of our Programme Operating Framework
• UK government standards: all research must comply with the FCDO Programme Operating Framework, guidance for Managing Public Money and Cabinet Office Grants Standards
• ethical guidance: all research must adhere to Ethical Guidance for Research, Evaluation and Monitoring Activities and Safeguarding in International Development Research (UKCDR)
• equality, diversity and inclusion: FCDO strives to embed those principles across all investments, including equitable partnerships
• open dissemination: research outputs are openly shared following rigorous quality and assurance peer review
• evaluations: all FCDO evaluations need to adhere to the FCDO Evaluation Policy principles: useful, credible, robust, proportionate and conducted in a safe and ethical manner. Evaluation products are independently quality assured and published to the Evaluation Registry unless there are content sensitivity or methodological concerns

5. Training and external engagement

Professional development of staff is supported by the Head of Profession (HoP) Group which maintains research standards and professional standards for FCDO’s global network of around 900 technical advisers across 12 Advisory Cadres. There are further Heads of Analytical Professions, including the Government Social Research (GSR) profession, and a pipeline of GSR professionals within research teams. Staff are assessed against cross-government technical competency frameworks, and the International Academy provides ongoing professional development opportunities.

The Senior Research Fellows Programme embeds external academic experts within FCDO research teams to provide technical advice, challenge thinking, and strengthen standards and decision-making. Fellows work on topics including global health, climate resilience, AI governance, quantum technologies, and political economy.

The FCDO works in partnership with governments, academia and the private sector through robust science, technology, and research funding collaborations to ensure that research is relevant and aligned with ministerial and global development priorities.

The FCDO also partners with the research sector and country governments through the UK Science and Technology Network (STN), jointly sponsored with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and through regional Research and Innovation Hubs across FCDO’s global network.

The FCDO actively contributes to the cross-government network on research bureaucracy, coordinated by DSIT, offering examples of streamlined commissioning, leading on ODA best practices, and applying the recommendations of the Independent Review of Research Bureaucracy.

6. Open Science and publication of research

FCDO is committed to Open Science, ensuring research outputs are shared openly following peer review and quality assurance. It promotes equitable access to knowledge and a commitment to transparency. Partners receiving FCDO ODA funding are required to report their project and transaction data to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) open data standard to support informed decision-making and analysis.

FCDO advances Open Science principles to strengthen global research capacity and equitable dissemination of knowledge. In line with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, FCDO’s approach is grounded in the Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles), reinforcing accountability, openness, and responsible research conduct.

FCDO’s Research Open and Enhanced Access policy (published under the former DFID but to be updated later in 2025) outlines open access requirements for full-text scholarly material, including rights for reuse with proper attribution. It applies to FCDO-funded research which is published in the public domain. FCDO funded research programme outputs are available on the Research for Development (R4D) platform, which currently hosts over 37,000 document records.

7. Research misconduct

The FCDO is committed to creating a research environment where staff, researchers, and communities feel confident reporting misconduct. Our robust policies and programme controls set mandatory standards and best practices to ensure the highest quality of conduct and research delivery. These frameworks enable the FCDO and its partners to make evidence-based decisions, deliver value for money, and maintain full accountability to UK taxpayers.

A comprehensive risk management framework tracks risks across the research portfolio. Whistleblowing procedures are in place, with zero-tolerance policy to any mishandling or inaction related to Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (SEAH), Managing Public Money, or research ethics. Lessons learned inform training, guidance, and leadership engagement to prevent recurrence and improve resilience.

Reports can be submitted anonymously via:

• email: reportingconcerns@fcdo.gov.uk
• confidential hotline: +44 (0)1355 843747
• in writing to:

Director of Internal Audit and Investigations
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AH
UK