Good governance ‘at heart’ of development plan
Tackling corruption in developing world governments is at the centre of a new five-year aid and development white paper published today.
It includes a new ‘quality of governance’ framework UK ministers will use to assess governments’ commitment to tackle poverty, to uphold human rights and improve public financial management when deciding where to send aid.
International development secretary Hilary Benn also announced a new £100 million governance and transparency fund, to strengthen civil society and the media so citizens can hold their own governments to account.
In addition, he said there would be a doubling of funding for clean water and sanitation for Africa to £200 million a year by 2010, up from £95 million a year by 2007.
“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,” Mr Benn said.
“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.”
However, Mr Benn stressed that good governance did not stop at the developing countries themselves – anti-corruption measures needed to be promoted across the international community.
The UK would start talks on a legally binding arms trade treaty and ensure that all British arms trade deals did not interfere with the development agenda, he said. The government would also be encouraging responsible behaviour by companies working abroad.
In addition, Mr Benn said the UK would be sponsoring an UN assembly resolution to make the extractive industries transparency initiative (EITI), which requires governments to make public the profits coming from natural resources, a common standard.
Elsewhere, the white paper notes that climate change poses the “most serious long-term threat to development”, by increasing the likelihood of disease and posing even more of a strain on resources such as water.
It pledges to work for a climate change treaty to succeed Kyoto, a greater say for developing countries in future talks on the issue and efforts to include developing states in international emissions trading schemes.
Finally, the white paper outlines how the UK will press the UN to improve its development operations, including taking a lead in helping to establish peace in conflict states and reforming humanitarian operations to be able to respond faster to crises.
“Last year, millions of people got involved in the Make Poverty History campaign – their voices forced governments around the world to act,” Mr Benn said.
He added: “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.We know the people of Britain want us to do this.”
