[5] The CSSF is overseen by the National Security Council (NSC), whereas the previous Conflict Pool had been jointly controlled by the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
[6] The CSSF funds a broader range of activities to help prevent conflict that affects vulnerable people in the world’s poorest countries, and tackle threats to British security and interests from instability overseas.
This will include actions the UK delivers directly or through third parties to help prevent conflict and instability, and support post-conflict reconciliation.
[17] The fund's first annual report was published in July 2017, under the auspices of the new National Security Adviser, Mark Sedwill, covering the financial year 2016/17.
[20] This followed concern in the media that the fund was causing more of the UK aid budget to be spent on defence and foreign policy objectives.
The committee reported that "There is a risk that the CSSF is being used as a ‘slush fund’ for projects that may be worthy, but which do not collectively meet the needs of UK national security".
There was particular criticism of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, both for its lack of procurement expertise and outdated understanding of the political causes of armed conflict.
They were concerned this would hinder the ability to anticipate conflict, prevent escalation, and respond effectively to areas of known instability across the world.