Britain will in
future focus its aid on fewer countries in a move designed to
increase the impact of UK funding on the world’s poorest people,
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced today.
A review will scrutinise the countries which currently share
around £2.9bn in UK bilateral aid.
The Government has made clear that the international development
budget will increase – to 0.7% of Gross National Income from 2013
- but it will be better targeted to where it can do most good.
The redirected money will be channelled to priority countries and
used for poverty reduction measures including programmes to
improve maternal health, women’s right to family planning and
protection against deadly diseases like malaria.
Andrew Mitchell has said that countries such as China, which
recently hosted the Olympics, and Russia, a G8 member, will see a
phasing out of UK development assistance as soon as practical and
responsible.
The 'Bilateral Aid Review' will analyse the
Department for International Development’s programme in each
country to look at results, delivery and value for money. Around
90 countries will be included in the review.
The Review, which will report after the Comprehensive Spending
Review in the Autumn, will herald a new focus for DFID’s bilateral
programme.
International Development Secretary Andrew
Mitchell said:
"For some countries
aid is a vital safety net that saves lives every day. UK money
should be spent helping the poorest people in the poorest
countries, with every penny making a real difference by giving
families the chance of a better future.
"It is not justifiable to continue to give aid money to
China and Russia. Other country programmes which are less
effective will be closed or reduced and the savings will be
redirected towards those countries where they can make the most
difference.
"I am determined to get value for money across my
Department’s work and focus on the big issues such as maternal
health, fighting malaria, and extending choice to women over
whether and when they have children."
The Bilateral Aid Review follows the announcements of a new
independent aid watchdog; a transparency guarantee to publish all
details of DFID spending; and a review of how the UK spends money
through multilateral agencies, like the World Bank and UN.
Notes to Editors
1. The Government has pledged that it will honour its commitment
to spend 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid from 2013.
2. Written Ministerial Statement (No.1 16.06.10) The
Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Andrew
Mitchell):
The Government will honour the commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on
overseas aid from 2013. We are determined to ensure that this
vital and important aid budget is used effectively and delivers
value for money for the world’s poorest people. In this context I
would like to inform the House that I have commissioned a review
of the DFID Bilateral Aid Programme to ensure that we target UK
aid where it is needed most and will make the most significant
impact on poverty reduction.
The Review will consider which countries should receive British
aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop
receiving British aid. It will also consider which aid instruments
are most effective at delivering poverty reduction in different
contexts. Any savings generated will be redirected to more
effective programmes in other poor countries.
I look forward to sharing the full results of the Review with the
House when it is completed.
Contacts:
Department for International Development
Phone: 020 7023 0504
nds.dfid@coi.gsi.gov.uk