Download or read book DFID written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-03-22 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The term 'civil society' covers aspects of society independent of the state and the private sector, and civil society organisations (CSOs) include large charities and NGOs, trade unions, faith groups and business associations. The Department for International Development (DFID) has increasingly worked with CSOs to help to reduce world poverty, and in 2004-05 channelled £328 million of its development aid expenditure through CSOs. These organisations play a variety of roles in development activities, including delivering services, giving a voice to the poor and helping hold governments accountable for poverty reduction. Following on from a National Audit Office report on this topic (HCP 1311, session 2005-06; ISBN 9780102939156) published in July 2006, the Committee's report examines how the DFID is engaging with CSOs, focusing on four themes: how and when to engage with CSOs; providing services targeted at the poorest people; measuring achievements; and improving value for money.