Strategy of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
From climate change and financial instability to health pandemics and weapons proliferation, national security and prosperity depend on our work with other nations. Global progress will help Britain change for the better; and Britain has the resources across Government, business and the voluntary sector to make a real difference.
This requires a modern and effective Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) that is clear about its role and focuses its efforts where it can make the greatest difference. Following extensive discussions, we have produced a new strategic framework which brings clarity to the FCO's work.
Following extensive discussions, a new strategic framework was produced. The framework is centred on a new mission statement: ’Better World, Better Britain’ and was launched on 01 April 2008.
The framework has 3 parts:
1. Global network
Our flexible global network of staff, embassies and offices, serves all of UK Government – it’s a unique asset for the UK.
We will continue to shift resources to Asia and the Middle East to deliver better our new policy goals and to reflect global economic trends.
2. Essential services
We have 3 essential services to support British nationals and business:
- support the British economy
- support British nationals abroad
- support managed migration for Britain.
These are the direct services we provide to British citizens and businesses, often in partnership with other UK Government bodies, such as UK Trade and Investment and the Borders and Immigration Agency.
3. Policy goals
We have 4 new policy goals to guide our work:
- counter terrorism and weapons proliferation, and their causes
- prevent and resolve conflict
- promote a low carbon, high growth, global economy
- develop effective international institutions, above all the UN and EU.
These are our priorities in advancing the UK’s foreign policy, through which we seek to shape the international environment, in order to protect our citizens, promote our economy, and spread our values.
Useful Links
Find out more on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website
