To underline the link between the FCO’s policy goals and programme funds, the Global Opportunities Fund (GOF), established in May 2003, has been renamed the Strategic Programme Fund (SPF) .

The overall purpose of the SPF is to focus on the FCO’s main policy goals:

• counter terrorism, weapons proliferation and their causes;
• promote a low carbon, high growth, global economy;
• prevent and resolve conflict; and
• develop effective international institutions, above all the UN and EU.

The SPF will be a key tool in pursuing an active foreign policy in these areas and in engaging with our partners across the world.

Currently, the thematic programmes offered at post are:

1. Counter Terrorism and Engaging with the Islamic World
2. Human Rights and Democracy
3. Low Carbon High Growth (Economic Reform)

Bids will be assessed by a selection panel made up of UK Government officials and subject experts using the SPF selection criteria.