In October 2004, UKAN was set up as a loose grouping of organisations to coordinate policy and lobbying efforts on more and better aid in 2005 as part of the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign. It has since continued its work and developed into a formal network of UK development NGOs, with a full time coordinator (from 2006) and Steering Group of 10 agencies.
At present UKAN is an ActionAid UK (registered charity number - 274467; registered office - Hamlyn House, Macdonald Road, London, N19 5PG) hosted network.
Highlights of UKAN’s work over the last 5 years include its key role in:
- coordinating NGO advocacy around the Comprehensive Spending review (CSR) in 2007, helping to secure an ambitious CSR settlement for DFID and new corporate aid effectiveness targets.
- leading UK advocacy around the Accra High Level Forum (HLF) on aid effectiveness in 2008, helping to ensure the UK government took a progressive approach to the HLF
- leading international NGO advocacy in the run up to the Accra High Level Forum (HLF) on aid effectiveness in 2008
- helping to mobilise UK NGOs to successfully oppose possible cuts to UK aid spending plans ahead of the April 2009 UK budget