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Press Release

13 July 2006

Benn puts governance at centre of UK's new action plan to fight world poverty

New measures to improve governance and fight corruption in poor countries, a commitment to increase spending on public services, and action to deal with the impact of climate change were announced today by the International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn, when he published the Government’s new White Paper on development.

The White Paper, entitled ‘Eliminating world poverty: Making governance work for the poor’, responds to four big challenges: first, the importance of good governance in poor countries; second, how to improve security, growth and public services to reduce poverty; third, the need to tackle climate change; and fourth, reforming the international system so that it is better equipped to deal with international problems.

Hilary Benn said:

“Aid works - it saves lives and supports economic growth. Our aid has helped double the number of children in school in Mozambique, abolish health fees and doubled clinic attendance in Uganda, and it has helped Tanzania to build over 30,000 new classrooms.

“But long-term progress in the fight against poverty will only be achieved through effective government, and by people with the voice and confidence to hold their governments to account. That’s why governance is at the heart of this White Paper.”

New measures to improve governance and fight corruption include:

  • a new £100 million Governance and Transparency Fund to help people hold their governments to account
  • a new ‘quality of governance’ framework that will assess states’ accountability and effectiveness – including the ability to deal with corruption – to ensure that UK aid is put to best effect
  • helping developing countries to investigate corruption, deal with alleged offenders through the courts, and strengthen their financial systems to prevent wrong-doing
  • an annual UK Action Plan to tackle international corruption, with a progress report every six months, and
  • a commitment to expand the successful Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to other sectors such as construction, procurement and health.

This will sit alongside a new anti-corruption unit, to include police officers from the Metropolitan and City of London forces, and the nomination of Hilary Benn as ministerial ‘champion’ to lead the fight against international corruption, announced on 22 June.

On basic services – health, education, water and sanitation, and social security - Mr Benn announced an overall increase in spending to at least half of the UK’s direct support to developing countries. Social protection – direct help for the very poorest people in developing countries – will be a major new area of work.

He confirmed that spending on education would double by 2010 to over £1 billion a year and the UK would work with developing countries to back ambitious ten year health plans, including ways to abolish user fees.

Dirty water claims the lives of 5,000 children every year, so having doubled spending on water and sanitation to £95 million a year in Africa by 2007, Mr Benn announced that it would more than double again to £200 million by 2010. There will also be new support to develop technologies for cleaner water and sanitation. “Because clean water saves lives, and it allows girls to go to school and women to work rather than spend long hours collecting water,” he said.

The White Paper argues that climate change could undermine any progress to eliminate poverty. Hilary Benn said: “Poor countries have made the least contribution to climate change but are likely to be hit the hardest.”

He set out what the Government would do help developing countries face the challenge by:

  • working for a long-term international stabilisation goal – a successor to the Kyoto agreement - to reduce the threat of climate change
  • ensuring developing countries have a say in any future international discussions on climate change
  • enabling developing countries to participate in international emissions trading schemes with the potential financial benefits that this will bring
  • significantly increasing spending on scientific research to identify and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and
  • supporting investment in low-carbon energy and energy efficiency measures and technology in developing countries.

The White Paper also sets out how the UK will work for reform of the international system, such as the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and European Union.

Hilary Benn emphasised that:

“Eliminating world poverty is in all our interests and a task that none of us can tackle on our own. We need an international development system that’s fit for the challenges of this century not the last. So we will use our money and influence to push for urgent reform of the United Nations so that it can lead the international response when poor countries face emergencies – whether wars or natural disasters.”

The White Paper outlines how the UK will press the United Nations to:

  • integrate its humanitarian work behind one Humanitarian Co-ordinator so as to act more quickly and save more lives in an emergency
  • take a lead role in fragile and conflict states, helping to establish peace and security states fail to protect their own people
  • streamline operations in developing countries into one office, one leader, one programme, one budget to cut duplication and inefficiency
  • seek transparent, competitive selection processes for the heads of all international development agencies.

Hilary Benn said:

“Last year, millions of people got involved in the Make Poverty History campaign - their voices forced governments around the world to act. I am keen to do all I can to ensure that people are able to continue to play their part in the fight against world poverty.”

He announced that the Government will:

  • double investment in development education so that every child in the UK has a chance to learn about issues that shape their world
  • set up a new scheme to help groups such as faith and community groups, businesses and charitable organisations build links with developing countries
  • expand opportunities for young people to volunteer in developing countries and take internships programmes with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Hilary Benn concluded:

“There is no greater cause facing us today than fighting the injustice that condemns millions of people around the world to a life of poverty. This White Paper sets out an ambitious plan for the next five years. We know the people of Britain want us to do this.”

Notes to Editors

1. The White Paper builds on the Government’s previous White Papers (1997 and 2000) and sits within the framework of the International Development Act (2002). A public consultation on the White Paper ran from January to April, during which the International Development Secretary gave six public speeches and over 600 submissions were received from the public.

2. Copies of the White Paper (144 pages, priced £24) are available from TSO (The Stationery Office) tel: 0870 600 5522. PDF and text versions are available freely on the DFID website. A pocket-sized booklet to accompany the White Paper sets out the key principles and pledges and will be distributed through a number of newspapers, magazine titles and at summer events in the coming weeks. It will also be made available through doctors’ surgeries. Hilary Benn’s statement to Parliament and other useful references are also available on the website.

For further information, contact DFID Press Office on 020 7023 0600, e-mail pressoffice@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100 or +44 1355 843 132.

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