Projects

Furthering Global Britain? Reviewing the Foreign Policy Effect of UK Engagement in East Africa

The project considered UK development investments in East Africa through the lenses of foreign policy, defence and security, and looked at their strategic relevance and effectiveness.




The 2021 Integrated Review sets out the UK government’s vision for Global Britain: an emphasis on openness as a source of prosperity; a more robust position on security and resilience; a renewed commitment to the UK as a force for good in the world; and an increased determination to seek multilateral solutions to challenges such as climate change.

This project analysed how significant UK development and defence investments are in contributing to selected Global Britain policy agendas in the Horn and East Africa.

The project assessed changes between 2021 and 2023 and looked back over the past six years to provide context and understand the extent of UK engagement in the region.

Project team


Simon Rynn

Senior Research Fellow, African Security

International Security

View profile

Michael Jones

Research Fellow

Terrorism and Conflict

View profile

Jack Garnett

Former Project Officer, Terrorism and Conflict

View profile

Bianka Venkataramani

Project Officer

International Security

View profile

Joyce Kamau

Project Officer, Finance & Operations

RUSI Nairobi

View profile

Luniya Msuku

Associate Fellow

View profile

Aims and objectives

Using the East Africa region as a case study where the UK has deployed its full defence, diplomacy and development toolkit, the project aimed to test the extent to which the UK’s foreign policy inputs have contributed to policy outcomes.

The project sought to answer the following overarching research questions:

  • How effective has the UK been in making a positive difference in relation to its 'Global Britain' objectives in the region?
  • What role, if any, has UK development engagement had in supporting positive outcomes associated with 'Global Britain'?
  • What role, if any, has UK defence and diplomatic engagement had in supporting the 'Global Britain' agenda?
  • What impact have recent structural and policy changes had on the 'Global Britain' outcomes?
  • What effect has the DFID-FCO merger had and is there a measurable shift in priorities, approach or perceptions of the UK?
  • Have cuts to UK aid affected UK efforts to pursue the 'Global Britain' agenda?
  • Have UK effectiveness and influence changed at all due to Brexit?
  • How does the UK's approach and its impact differ compared to other countries?
  • Is the UK approach more or less effective than that of other 'likeminded' partners in the region?
  • Do other countries' approach have comparative or complementary advantages, such as China's particular focus on infrastructure?
  • How do FCDO priorities in East Africa align with those of in-country governments and what are the in-country governments' expectations of and recommendations for FCDO?

 

Research methodology

The research methodology consisted of a review of selected policy literature and 182 semi-structured expert interviews carried out from mid-2021 to early 2023. The project’s lifespan was characterised by changes in government and policy direction in the UK as well as several social and political changes across all of the case study countries which ranged from violent conflict in Ethiopia, political changes and protests in Kenya, the near total collapse of Sudan, as well as ongoing unrest in Somalia.

All these developments have made it challenging to determine the longer-term impact on perceptions of the UK’s influence across East Africa. Despite this, the project led to the production of 4 country specific research papers as well as several commentaries, outlined by country below.

Related programme


Africa in Perspective Programme

We take an in-depth look at the evolving nature of conflict and security in key regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Project outputs

The project produced several country research papers and commentaries focusing on Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, as well as papers and commentaries evaluating the UK’s foreign policy approach in East Africa more generally.

Papers


Furthering Global Britain? An Overview of UK Engagement in Eastern Africa
Furthering Global Britain? Reviewing the Foreign Policy Effect of UK Engagement in East Africa - Occasional Paper

Commentaries


International Development for a Global Britain?
clock9 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Taking Forward the New US Strategy for Africa
clock10 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
The Politics of African National Debt
clock7 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
International Development Financing: Time to Think Afresh
clock6 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
On Shifting Ground: An Appraisal of UK Engagement in Ethiopia
Bargaining with the Green City in the Sun: An Appraisal of UK Engagement in Kenya
‘To Go Forward is Not to Arrive’: Donor Support Amid Kenya’s Elections
clock10 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Elections in Kenya: Cautious Optimism?
clock9 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Mired in Mogadishu: An Appraisal of UK Engagement in Somalia
Ballots, Bullets and Building Blocks: State Formation in Somalia
clock9 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Taking Stock in Somalia
clock9 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Defusing Diffusion: The Challenges for Peace-making in Sudan
clock10 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
‘Eating Their Young’: The Fratricidal Throes of a Sudanese Kleptocracy
clock15 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Redux or Revolution? A Year in Sudanese Coup Politics
clock15 Minute Read
View onlinechevron-right
Deal or No Deal? An Appraisal of UK Engagement in Sudan

Project impact

The project brought together over 200 speakers and guests from a mix of policymakers, practitioners and academics across the defence, security, and development sectors from both the UK and the African continent at the landmark RUSI UK-Africa Conference on 20 April 2023.

The project’s findings and recommendations were shared widely among UK policy-makers and are in part reflected in the UK Government’s 2023 White Paper on International Development.