NOVEMBER 2005: UK GOVERNMENT NEWS REPORTJICA UK OFFICE
Sources:- Department for International Development (DFID) website: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/- Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/- HM Treasury website: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/- 10 Downing Street website (PM’s speeches): http://www.number-10.gov.uk/

PRESS RELEASES
29 November 2005
Further UK assistance for the development of Sierra Leone was announced. The UK will
allocate £26 million to the budget support programme, the PRSP Trust Fund and electoral
reform, while urging the Government to continue work to fight corruption. Significant progresshas been made in rebuilding the general machinery of government and in introducing reforms
to help sustain peace, stability and encourage further economic growth but Sierra Leone is still
a way off some Millennium Development Goal targets such as maternal mortality. Following
the announcement, the UK will make an immediate disbursement of £5m to the Government of
Sierra Leone, as a result of meeting agreed Action Points on corruption and benchmarks for2005. In addition, a £15m Poverty Reduction Budget Support Programme (PRBS) will beallocated in financial year 2006-07. The UK Government will also contribute £3m to kick start
the World Bank managed PRSP Trust Fund and provide £3m to support electoral reform
before the 2007 elections.
24 November 2005
An extra £25 million to help the humanitarian relief effort in Pakistan was announced. The
new pledge is in addition to the £33 million already committed for relief and the £70 million
announced last week for long-term reconstruction. It brings the UK's total support forearthquake relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation in Pakistan to £128 million.
Part of this additional funding will pay for helicopters for the UN. DFID will be taking on thecontracts for four medium-life Mi-8 helicopters for a 4 month period. These will be able todeliver relief to any location in the affected area throughout the winter.
The Government of Pakistan will also be taking up the Ministry of Defence's offer of a Royal
Engineers team. Working in small teams and with Pakistani guides, the British soldiers will
help quake survivors in remote villages set up shelters in preparation for the approaching
winter.
22 November 2005
European Development Ministers meeting today in Brussels agreed for the first time acommon vision for development. It focuses on eradicating poverty and meeting theMillennium Development Goals, particularly in the poorest countries.
Ministers agreed:• To deliver commitments to double EU aid by 2010 and to provide more long-term,
predictable aid to poor countries, so better helping them to plan for the future.
• The importance of providing aid to help developing countries improve their capacity for
trade.
• To formally untie all aid channelled through the European Commission. This will ensurethat developing countries receive the most suitable aid possible.
Ministers discussed:• The new European Union-Africa Strategy to be adopted at the December European
Council which sets out how the European Union (EU) will help support Africa's
development, with governance, infrastructure, HIV & AIDS, peace and security, migrationand the importance of African ownership being priorities.
• The EU's response to the South Asia Tsunami, noting that of the 556 million Euros pledged
for humanitarian assistance, 452 million - 80 per cent - has been disbursed.
• Ways to improve the EU's response to disasters like the Pakistan Earthquake.
• European ‘Consensus on Development’ webpage on EU website:http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/development_policy_statement/index_en.htm
17 November 2005
The UK became the first country to make a financial commitment to a new facility designed
to help lower the cost of doing business in Africa and promote a better investment climate
across the continent. The UK government will provide $30 million over three years to theInvestment Climate Facility for Africa. Royal Dutch Shell plc and Shell Foundation alsoannounced that they would contribute a combined total of $2.5 million over five years, andAnglo American confirmed that they would also contribute $2.5 million over the same period.
The ICF will help bring about more business friendly policies, laws and regulations across thecontinent, and strengthen the institutions that enable these to be administered. It will help bringabout a more effective dialogue on investment climate reform between governments and thebusiness community.
The ICF was recommended by the Commission for Africa and supported by the G8 at
Gleneagles. It will be a public private partnership, funded by companies, bilateral andmultilateral donors, and working in close partnership with African governments and regionalorganisations such as NEPAD. It is expected to be launched in Africa and become fully
operational in mid-2006, once other donors and companies have also made theircommitments.
The ICF has a limited lifespan of seven years. It aims to raise US$120m for its first three yearsof operations. It is being established, in Africa, as an independent Trust, and will be governedby a Board of Trustees (the majority of whom will be African).
• Frequently Asked Questions about the ICF:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/investment-climate-facility-faqs.asp• Case Studies reflecting type of work the ICF will do:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/icf-case-studies.asp
14 November 2005
DFID will treble its “aid for trade” support to £100 million pounds a year by 2010 to help
poor countries boost their exports to the rest of the world. By increasing this support, the UK
hopes to help poorer countries seize the opportunities presented by more open markets. For
example, the funding will help countries in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere to speed up theircustoms reform, get their goods to market and meet European Union health and safety
standards. UK support for "aid for trade" has already produced benefits in Mozambique where
DFID backed customs reforms which increased revenues from $70 million to $250 million ayear. The UK government's announcement is aimed at extending these benefits to other poor
countries.
11 November 2005
A new report, ‘The UK Remittance Market’ investigates the £2.7 billion UK remittancemarket. Leading banks and money transfer companies, as part of the UK Remittances
Working Group, have worked with the government to produce the report. It targets over two
million people in the UK who last year sent £2.7 billion to family and communities in thedeveloping world. It gives an overview of the sector and makes several recommendations,which include the creation of a private sector task force to deliver increased competition andchoice for the consumer.
The launch event also saw the launch of a new, easy to use, consumer section on the
DFID-supported Send Money Home? website (www.sendmoneyhome.org/) which allows
customers to compare money transfer providers on the basis of cost and speed. This is
expected to bring lower prices and better service to consumers as a result of increased choice
and transparency in the market.
The report also highlights how technology like mobile phones, Automatic Teller Machines(ATMs) and point of sale devices offer the potential for a growth of remittance services. DFID
has supported the rollout of these technologies in Africa and Asia, for example thedevelopment of mobile phone banking in East Africa and the use of debit cards in South Africa.
Remittances are amounts of money - typically between £50 and £500 - sent by people working
in the UK back to families and friends in other countries. The largest developing country
recipients of remittances from the UK are India, Pakistan, Jamaica, China and Nigeria.

Global remittances to developing countries are estimated at over £100 billion. They are thesecond largest global financial inflow to developing countries after foreign direct investment,
exceeding international aid.
• UK Remittance Market report:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/uk-remittances-report.pdf• Sending Money Home? – Remittances to Developing Countries from the UK:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sendmoney-summary.pdf• Sending Money Home? – A Survey of Remittance Products and Services in the
United Kingdom: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sendmoneyhome.pdf

NEWS
23 November 2005
A group of Nepal’s development partners met in London on Friday, 18th November todiscuss development in the country.
The group discussed:
1. Outcomes of recent donor reviews, including future directions, plans and prospects.
2. Aid effectiveness, the humanitarian situation, peace, civil liberties and human rights.
3. The approach of the international financial institutions and other multilateral bodies.
The meeting agreed:
1. That peace is a prerequisite for progress towards development
2. Donors are willing to provide support to a democratic and inclusive peace process.
3. That there are continuing concerns at violations of human rights and international
humanitarian law by both sides to the conflict.
4. Concern over the continuing erosion of civil liberties and its implications for development
5. That the government of Nepal has publicly committed to the Basic Operating Guidelines(BOGs), but also to that the government needs to ensure that they are respected.
6. That development assistance effectiveness is being increasingly jeopardised by the
conflict.
7. To acknowledge emerging issues of humanitarian concern especially protection, accessand the need for preparatory steps.
8. On the need to continue efforts at co-ordination, collaboration and sharing of information
among development stakeholders in order to promote a coherent approach.
Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom,
the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, IMF and Asia
Development Bank were represented.
The Basic Operating Guidelines for the Implementation of Development Activities provided aframework of good practice for development programmes and set out the minimum conditions
required for safe delivery.
21 November 2005
Following the Gleneagles Summit and the Millennium Review Summit, DFID and theTreasury have prepared a paper called "From Commitment To Action". This sets out somekey actions for donors to ensure that the commitments made in 2005 will make a differencein poorer countries. The paper has been sent by Hilary Benn to the World Bank, WHO and
UNESCO as a contribution to the High Level Forum on Health and the Education for All HighLevel Group.
The key findings and action points of the paper are:• if we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, we must accelerate
progress dramatically in the coming decade• the G8 has committed to write off immediately the debts of 18 of the world’s poorest
countries, 14 of them in Africa• by 2015 all children should have access to quality primary education and should receive
basic health care
• the international community have committed to making substantial progress towards
universal access to HIV/AIDS treatments by 2010 and to give more support toimplementing the G8 water plan agreed at Evian•

within developing countries, the political commitment to accelerating progress needs tobe shared at the highest levels. Developing countries will have to make their national
plans and policies more ambitious• none of these changes will take place unless developing countries are convinced that
donor commitments will be realised and sustained over the long term
The paper focuses on what donors need to do now to enable developing countries to makemore ambitious plans, based on their own needs and priorities, to reach the Millennium
Development Goals.
Overview paper: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/g8-outcomes-overview.pdf
Paper on Education: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/g8-outcomes-education.pdf
Paper on Health: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/g8-outcomes-health.pdf
Paper on Growth: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/g8-outcomes-growth.pdf
9 November 2005
A new Bednets programme was launched in Mozambique supported by DFID to coincidewith the South African Development Community (SADC) Malaria Week. The Malaria
Consortium Partnership will promote a sustainable market for insecticide-treatedmosquito nets in Mozambique. Distribution of low-cost nets will start through the health sector
to pregnant women in Inhambane province, as well as support to Mozambican commercial
companies to set up a distribution and retail system for nets in Nampula province. This is adifferent approach from previous social marketing programmes of nets. The programme issupporting the real private sector instead of replacing it. Support goes directly to commercial
companies to allow them to set up sustainable systems for distribution and retail of nets. Thisway the population can buy nets quality and reasonable price in a shop or market stall near
their home. Media campaigns will pass the message to families that nets are now available athealth centres and in shops. Increasing demand for nets will sustain the commercial market fornets in Mozambique.
3 November 2005
DFID released its second Institutional Strategy (IS) with the United Nations Development
Fund for Women (UNIFEM) covering the period 2004 to 2007. It focuses on DFID's
relationship and priorities with UNIFEM and sets out how the partnership can be maximised tosupport UNIFEM in strengthening its impact on, and strategic contribution to, the achievementof the Millennium Development Goals. UNIFEM has an important role to play, particularly
through its innovative contributions to the development and implementation of national Poverty
Reduction Strategies (PRS), Common Country Assessments (CCAs) and United Nations
Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs).
• UNIFEM Institutional Strategy 2004-07: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/unifem-is.pdf
SPEECHES
17th November 2005
Address to Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) rally
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, Manchester
If you think back 40 years ago John F Kennedy said that the purpose of the 1960s trade round
was and I quote from him the opportunity to help developing countries like Japan. And so it did
as Japan grew to become a mighty economic power and we must now do the same for today's
developing countries.
• First, tackling distorting tariffs and subsidies. Because we know that every dollar paid in aid
to help the poor is cancelled out by $6 paid in trade subsidies to the rich. Nowhere is theneed for reform more urgent than in agriculture.
• Second, country owned trade plans. Because we know even with fair access it will taketime for poor countries to compete globally and that trade reforms must fit with a country's
own development programs, our test will be agreeing there can be no forced liberalisation,
but instead to allow poor countries the flexibility to decide, plan and sequence theirreforms.
• And third, help for poorer countries to develop their capacity to trade.

CAFOD and its partners are at the centre of the work to support those affected by the recent
earthquake in south Asia, the landslides in Central America, as well as continuing to support
partners working in tsunami-affected countries. The UK has been one of the most generous
donors and has pledged £33m and 3 RAF Chinook helicopters have been operating in theaffected area transferring casualties to Islamabad.
Our priority must be to reform the UN's Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF). There is aneed for a new humanitarian world fund into which donors pay and from which humanitarian
coordinators can immediately draw funds when a crisis threatens. The UN Office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will later this month make detailed proposals for areformed CERF. It should be a sizeable fund - of around $500 million.
11 November 2005
Human rights and development in the real world
Hilary Benn, Leeds Metropolitan University, School of Applied Global Ethics, Global Ethics
SeriesHuman rights are often associated with civil and political rights, such as the right to life and toliberty. But they are more than that – as I am sure you all well know. This year, Kofi Annan,
Secretary-General of the UN published his “In Larger Freedom” report – a report that set out
an ambitious case for ensuring all the people of this world can experience freedom – freedom
from want, freedom from fear and freedom to live in dignity. In it he said “Humanity will not
enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security, and it will
not enjoy either without respect for human rights.” He’s absolutely right. Now, there are some
who argue that poor countries will only take human rights seriously when they have managed
to reduce poverty. Or that political freedom comes after prosperity. They are wrong.
We will only end poverty if poor people have the freedom to make their voice heard in thedecisions that affect their lives. The freedom to be active citizens with rights, expectations andresponsibilities. In countries where citizens are oppressed and rights denied, progress is notpossible.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a common vision of human dignity andvalues that we all share. It establishes the indivisibility of rights – in that violation of one rightaffects the achievement of others, and universality – in that all people have equal rights. Theserights were agreed in 1948 and have been reaffirmed in UN and regional human rights treaties
over the last 40 years. They include economic and social rights, such as the right to a standardof living that provides for shelter, food and water; the right to social protection in times of need;
the right to the highest standard of physical and mental health, and the right to education.
If we are to advance development we need to respect these rights, based on three overlapping
principles:• Participation – enabling people to participate in decisions that affect their lives• Inclusion – building inclusive societies based on the values of equality andnon-discrimination• Fulfilling obligations – strengthening institutions and policies which ensure human rights
are realised by states and others
How does this work in practice? Where we are working closely with governments, we are also
helping to advance human rights. Aid is not effective when it is used to force governments todo things they don’t want to do. Our new approach is about making partnership work, througha shared commitment to reducing poverty, financial accountability and respect for humanrights. So respect for human rights is at the heart of our decisions on providing aid. Ethiopia isa recent test of our approach. Earlier this year, following a government crack down on
demonstrations that led to a number of deaths, we gave the government a warning that wemight reduce our aid. Recent events - more deaths and the detention of opposition politicians are unacceptable and undermine our partnership principles. We are urging the government torespect human rights – I spoke to the Ethiopian Prime Minister myself, over the weekend. And
we, and other donors, are also reviewing our aid programmes. We need to give a firm signalthat we care about rights, but with actions that do not penalise poor people in Ethiopia. As you
can imagine, this is an extremely difficult process, and we are carefully developing thisapproach to our aid conditions. Stop-Go aid harms poor people – governments can’t deliver
improved health care or education if their budgets go up and down every time there is aproblem.
We are challenged even more when we work in countries affected by conflict. What can we dowhen states commit gross abuses against their own people? What do you do when you see
someone being mugged on the street? Do you cross on to the other side of the road? No. We
know we have to act, but it is not easy, and we have not yet got it right. These are profoundchallenges that we face, but we are not helpless.
On the 60th anniversary of its foundation, at the UN Millennium Review Summit, the UN for the
first time resolved that the world has a responsibility to protect citizens from genocide or crimes
against humanity when their own states cannot or will not protect them – or are committingthese crimes themselves. And this largest ever gathering of world leaders also agreed thecreation of a Human Rights Council. The Council will be responsible for promoting universal
protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and will address violations of humanrights and make recommendations, including to the Security Council. The next step is to agree
its mandate, size, composition and working methods. Also agreed was a new Peacebuilding
Commission – to help countries recover from conflict.
We will only make progress if we help the citizens of the world’s poorest countries hold theirgovernments to account for their human rights obligations. And that’s why human rights are at
the heart of DFID’s work.