Background

The Isle of Man Government has supported international development projects for over three decades and is proud of this long tradition of providing assistance to those in need.

In 1985, the Council of Ministers formed the Voluntary Service Overseas Aid Committee to fund the overseas postings of Isle of Man VSO volunteers. The Committee was renamed as the Overseas Aid Committee the following year when it was given responsibility for the funding of all overseas development aid projects. Responsibility for donations to disaster appeals was tasked to the Committee in 2000.

In January 2013 the Overseas Aid Committee changed its name to the International Development Committee to reflect a shift in emphasis in how the Isle of Man supports the world’s less developed nations.

In 2017, the Council of Ministers reviewed the Isle of Man’s international development policy and subsequently agreed that the International Development Committee would not be reconstituted and that the management of the Government’s International Development budget would be the responsibility of the Cabinet Office Political Group in accordance with the policy of the Council of Ministers.

The review considered the changing international development environment and how it has moved on since the last policy update in 2008, with a particular focus on how assistance is delivered to developing countries and how aid in response to emergencies and disasters is most effectively delivered. The Council of Ministers subsequently agreed that in order to ensure the Isle of Man Government fulfils its commitment to the Island of being respected internationally, and to meet the stated policy of maintaining its commitment to international development, the Government must refresh its policy and align its objectives with the United Nations new Global Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Governance and Administration

The Cabinet Office Political Group is responsible for the allocation of the Isle of Man Government's International Development budget. The Political Group consists of the Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK, the Minister for the Cabinet Office Kate Lord-Brennan MHK, and the Political Member of the Cabinet Office Diane Kelsey MLC. The group is supported by the Chief Secretary and the Cabinet Office Executive Leadership Team. The External Relations Team in the Cabinet Office are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Government's International Development funding.

When a funding stream is open, the applications received are robustly assessed in line with the agreed objectives which are outlined in each funding stream's guidance document. Applications are considered in a three stage process:
Initially applications are reviewed to ensure eligibility criteria are met and all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Secondly the External Relations Team assess the applications against a matrix document which is adapted to include the specific requirements of each funding stream. An example of an assessment document is available for review in the downloadable documents box at the right of this page. Following the External Relations assessment, a shortlist of eligible projects is compiled.

Thirdly a panel is convened by the Executive Director of Crown & External Relations, made up of specialist officers from relevant areas such as AML/CFT or Project Management. The panel reviews each shortlisted project and offers COPG their recommendations regarding the suitability of projects to be funded. COPG makes the final decision on which projects will receive funding.

Once this process is complete the successful applicants are notified and agreements are drawn up to detail the governance and reporting requirements grant-holders are required to comply with as part of their Conditions of Grant.