"We were surprised to discover the extent to which DFID [Department for International Development] uses large US organizations, which are alleged to have an unfair advantage because of the [US] CEPPS [Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening] system," the report read.
The paper showed that DFID has spent 22.5 million pounds ($33.2 million) of its $15-billion budget on parliamentary strengthening projects over the past two years. Of the ongoing 37 projects, parliament strengthening aid has been administered by UK-based organizations only three times, compared to seven that went to US programs.
"This runs the risk that UK taxpayers' money is being used to promote a switch from parliamentary to less accountable, US-style Presidential systems," the DFID report added.
According to a National Audit Office (NAO) report published earlier in January, in its race to reach the 0.7-percent annual growth of gross national income (GNI) target, the UK overspent by $1.52 billion in the last two months of 2013.
The UK government committed to increasing its overseas aid to the UN-mandated 0.7 percent of GNI mark five years ago. In order to meet this goal, the Department's 2013-2014 budget was increased by over 30 percent. Overall, the UK spent about $17.5 billion on overseas aid in 2013, becoming the first G7 country to reach the 0.7 percent aid target.
