# International Development Secretary writes to sector about no deal funding concerns

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/08/19/international-development-secretary-writes-sector-no-deal-funding-concerns/
- Published: 2019-08-19T13:09:16+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, the new Secretary of State for International Development,
has written to civil society organisations about the government’s planning for Brexit,
with a reminder for those that deliver services throughout the EU and risk having
funding cut to respond to its offer of financial assurance.**

[In a letter](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-development-secretary-letter-to-civil-society-organisations-about-the-governments-planning-for-brexit/international-development-secretary-letter-to-civil-society-organisations-about-the-governments-planning-for-brexit)
published on Friday 16 August, Sharma said that the Government was gearing up to
leave on 31 October, deal or no deal.

DFID’s priority, he said, was ensuring that the country’s civil society organisations
remain able to continue their if there is a no deal exit following the EU’s statement
that it intends to terminate funding to some on-going programmes delivered by UK
civil society organisations in this event.

## Advertisement

He stated:

>  “As you will be aware, the Government has offered to provide financial assurance
> to UK civil society organisations that lead and deliver development, external 
> action and humanitarian programmes through the European Commission that are at
> risk of having their funding terminated in a no deal scenario. “I continue to 
> encourage organisations to apply for our financial assurance for any new programme
> that is agreed.”

The deadline for applying for this to prevent any loss of funding is 31 October.
More information is available on [the .gov site](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-overseas-aid-programmes-if-theres-no-brexit-deal).

Sharma also addressed reports of EU discrimination against British civil society
organisations. He stated that while DFID had received assurances from the EU Commission
that no discrimination was taking place, with reports to contrary, he will continue
to raise further reported cases with them and to monitor the situation closely. 
Any organisation that encounters any unfair treatment is invited to report it at
[DF*********************@******ov.uk](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/08/19/international-development-secretary-writes-sector-no-deal-funding-concerns/DF*********************@******ov.uk).

 * **[Civil society organisations co-sign letter to Boris Johnson on no-deal Brexit concerns](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/08/29/civil-society-organisations-co-sign-letter-to-boris-johnson-on-no-deal-brexit-concerns/)**(
   29 August 2019)
 * **[Predictions for 2020 : five trends we must address](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/02/26/predictions-for-2020-five-trends-we-must-address/)**(
   26 February 2020)
 * **[Lords Committee to hear evidence on data protection after Brexit](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/30/lords-committee-hear-evidence-data-protection-brexit/)**(
   30 January 2017)

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)