We’re here today to chat about the FCDO, or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office if you like the long version. This powerhouse is the UK government’s diplomatic and development department and boy, do they do a lot!
Back in 2020, two major entities, the development agency (DFID) and the commonwealth and foreign affairs ministry (FCO), were consolidated together (hot take - this was viewed as highly politically motivated). The new iteration of FCDO has a headcount of around 17,000 folks globally and operate from a whopping 281 local embassies and high commissions.
And the kicker? They're committed to spending 0.5% of the UK’s gross national income on official development assistance (ODA)—down from a previous commitment of 0.7%, which is a loss—but still, that's an annual budget of around £11 billion! Yep, you read that right.
FCDO Funder Focus Areas
But, let's dig a bit into how they spread these funds across the globe, shall we?
Their focus is broad, ranging from harnessing innovation and new technologies, championing women and girls, and investing in education and health systems, to addressing state fragility and building resilience for those affected by conflict and climate change. To keep things transparent and accountable, everything is scrutinized closely by the UK Parliament. (And the public - the Daily Mail sure does not like global development sometimes)
As of a 2023 policy white paper, current UK government priorities include:
- Harnessing innovation and new technologies, science, and research for the greatest and most cost-effective development impact
- Centering women and girls and investing in education and health systems that societies want and that ensure opportunities for all
- Addressing state fragility, and anticipating and preventing conflict, humanitarian crises, climate disasters, and threats to global health
- Building resilience for those affected by conflict, disasters, and climate change
Procurement Systems
No two procurement processes are identical when it comes to awarding contracts and grants for FCDO-funded projects and activities. They operate two similar but distinct funding modalities: contracts, which follow UK government procurement rules, and grants, which follow specific rules and are often competitively launched by a county office rather than FCDO’s procurement office.
As with applying for USAID funding, you need to keep an eye out for eligibility, deadlines, terms of reference, and evaluation criteria. But don't worry, the FCDO eSourcing Portal and other FCDO information sources are there to guide you through.
The buzz starts with a business case—a document justifying the use of taxpayer money for a specific program. From there, it's a dance between the organization and FCDO staff to shape the program’s approach.
Early Market Engagement
Most experienced proposal managers know a strong proposal development process requires having as much information about the funder’s priorities and the specific opportunity as possible. Where does all this information come from? Your capture efforts. When conducting capture efforts with funders, you want to understand their priorities and how your organization can help them achieve their goals.
While USAID and many other funders use the common term “capture,” the FCDO refers to this pre-solicitation stage as “early market ” (EME). A core component of this period is the EME meeting.
The FCDO regularly holds an EME meeting, similar to a USAID bidder’s conference, during the pre-solicitation phase. These meetings aim to help FCDO engage with “the market” as this funder designs a program. By “market,” FCDO refers to any current or potential supplier (another term it uses) that may be interested in bidding.
The EME meeting aims to:
- Inform suppliers about a potential funding opportunity
- Allow suppliers to provide feedback on the design and to ask FCDO questions, using an online polling tool such as Slido
- Provide a forum for the 100+ supplier representatives in attendance to network, discuss the opportunity, and foster relationships between organizations
Upcoming EME meetings are publicized using the FCDO eSourcing Portal or the FCDO website. In addition to checking the site regularly for potential opportunities, you can sign up for the FCDO Supplier Engagement Newsletter, which also publishes details on upcoming EME meetings.
Want to learn more about how to participate in early market engagement? We've got a whole guide for you!
Download your free copy of our Early Market Engagement Meeting Guide here.
Accessing FCDO Bid Support
Sound intriguing? Well, get ready to dive deeper because applying for FCDO funding is a challenge we believe you're up for.
If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, don't fret. You can seek guidance from an expert on how FCDO funding may affect other operational aspects of your organization. Or, you can plan for resources to support your team, such as an FCDO expert advisor or an experienced proposal manager.
Remember, the goal is to craft your proposal so it's easy for FCDO staff to read and evaluate - check all the boxes and deliver what they're asking for, with style.
With the right folks at your back, FCDO isn't any more complicated than any funder you already know (and love/hate).
