Scope - DFID Digital Strategy 2012-2015

DFID’s vision and set of digital objectives are different from other UK government departments as our main priority is delivering Britain’s overseas aid, rather than delivering services to UK citizens. Our mission is to lead Britain's fight against global poverty, delivering UK aid to change the lives of those most in need in the world’s poorest countries.

This strategy is about the way we engage and communicate with stakeholders and beneficiaries. It is about bringing new voices into the debate about the future of international development. It is about speeding up evaluation and feedback cycles so that programmes that are not working can be adjusted and further investment can be made in ones that are. It is about using digital channels and common standards to increase transparency and the visibility of programmes both internally across the organisation and externally with our global audience. And finally, it is about not being left behind: using digital tools effectively is something DFID cannot afford not to do.

In developing digital programmes, we will follow the standards set by the Cabinet Office and Government Digital Service (GDS) as laid out in the Government Digital Strategy, and ensure this is reflected where appropriate in any revisions of our Departmental Business Plan, IT Strategy, and Open Data Strategy.

Actions for delivering this strategy will be set out in a delivery plan and roadmap, and the departmental business plan. Progress will be reviewed regularly by the executive management committee and the strategy refreshed at least annually.

Our global audience

DFID has two headquarters offices in the UK and works in 28 priority countries overseas. Our digital agenda is broad in scope, and encompasses the many ways the organisation carries out its business, interacting with many different audiences.

We need to ensure when planning and implementing aid programmes that digital technology is integrated where appropriate and that we take account of the different social, cultural, economic and geographical contexts. For example, infrastructure and connectivity may be extremely limited in some areas and access to mobile phones may be much higher for men than women. We need to identify what works and what doesn’t in the various countries and regions in which we work.

We also know our digital approach to communications with the UK public could encourage more two way and sustained public engagement and the opportunity to extend and deepen our engagement with particular audiences especially young people, diaspora and faith groups. We will explore further the opportunities digital channels give us for connecting the UK public directly with the people we are helping.