Mitchell redraws aid map to transform lives of millions

01 March 2011

A major shake up of Britain’s aid programme which will provide 50 million people with the means to help work their way out of poverty was announced today by International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell. 

The new strategy will:

• stop 250,000 newborn babies dying needlessly
• save the lives of 50,000 women in pregnancy and childbirth
• secure schooling for 11 million children – more than we educate in the UK but at 2.5% of the cost
• provide access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation to more people than there are in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• vaccinate more children against preventable diseases than there are people in the whole of England
• support 13 countries to hold freer and fairer elections
• help 10 million more women get access to modern family planning

The plans to redraw the aid map will concentrate efforts on countries where UKaid will, pound for pound, achieve the best results in fighting poverty and building a safer world, and where Britain is in the best position to deliver results.

The UK will continue to respond to humanitarian disasters as is needed – such as in Libya, where the Government has flown in tents and blankets and has positioned technical teams at both the Tunisian and Egyptian borders.

Mr Mitchell confirmed that Ethiopia will become Britain’s biggest bilateral programme over the next two years.  Bangladesh will also see a big boost, with aid doubling in the next four years.

The Secretary of State has made clear that some increased help is linked to key in-country reforms.

Pakistan could by 2015 become the UK’s biggest aid recipient but increased support will be linked to the Government of Pakistan’s own progress on reform.  This includes taking tangible steps to build a more dynamic economy and tackle corruption.

Britain has made clear that it stands ready to offer more help to Zimbabwe if the Inclusive Government can see through crucial reforms promised in its 2008 political agreement, and hold free and fair elections. 

The Secretary of State also announced plans to re-allocate the Department for International Development’s funding to international organisations to get maximum value for taxpayers’ money.  He will end funding to four agencies which were rated as providing poor value for money, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); increase support for the most effective agencies, such as UNICEF; and put four poor performers, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), on ‘special measures’, insisting they take urgent measures to improve their effectiveness.

Key priorities for Britain’s aid will be:

• Dramatically increasing the focus on tackling ill health and killer diseases;
• Tackling malnutrition and getting children, especially girls, into school;
• Dealing with the root causes of conflict;
• Putting wealth-creation at the heart of programmes; and
• Helping people adapt to the effects of climate change

Mr Mitchell said Britain will in future have bilateral aid programmes in a maximum of twenty-seven countries, which between them amount for 75% of global deaths during pregnancy and childbirth and nearly three 75% of deaths from malaria worldwide.

Nearly two thirds of the programmes – and 30% of Britain’s overall aid budget – will be in conflict and fragile countries.  Two thirds of the countries furthest from reaching the internationally agreed poverty targets – the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are in the midst of, or are emerging from, violent conflict. 

Britain will end bilateral programmes in countries such as Vietnam and Serbia, which are now no longer in need of British aid.  It will withdraw from other countries where the UK is not the best placed aid provider.

Today’s announcement follows two root and branch reviews of the  department – the Bilateral Aid Review and the Multilateral Aid Review – to ensure UK taxpayers’ money is being spent effectively.

Andrew Mitchell said:

“Today I’m setting out plans which show how the people of Britain will be changing the lives of the world’s poorest people.  This government is taking a radically different approach to aid.  We want to be judged on our results, not on how much money we are spending. 

“These results – which will transform the lives of millions of people across the world – should make everyone in Britain proud.  They reflect our values as a nation: generosity, compassion and humanity.   But these results are not only delivered from the British people; they are also for the British people.  They contribute to building a safer, more stable and prosperous world which, in turn, helps keep our country safe from instability, infectious disease and organised crime. 

“The ultimate aim of this government’s aid policy is to end the need for aid, enabling countries to stand on their own two feet.”

He added:

 “The British public must be able to hold us to account for our work.  This is why we have set up an independent aid watchdog, to provide tough scrutiny of our spending, why we have introduced a new Aid Transparency Guarantee, and why we have cancelled £100m of low performing programmes.

“This Coalition Government is taking a tougher, more hard-headed approach on getting value for money in aid.”

UK aid: Changing lives, delivering results – extracts from the document

“We know the UK is in the midst of making tough economic decisions, but it’s great that the UK sees so clearly that development aid, when done properly, is the most effective investment a government can make for saving lives, improving livelihoods, and building prosperous and stable societies.”
Bill Gates

To change lives and deliver results, we will:

• Stop 10 million children going hungry

“The world is undergoing a food crisis – supplies are
scarce and prices continue to escalate. But 60% of the
world’s remaining uncultivated arable land is in Africa,
so it is vital that Britain invests in the African farmer
and their land. It is ironic that Africa can now help
feed the world.”
Sir Bob Geldof
(Commenting on DFID’s plans
for food and agriculture)

• Secure schooling for 11 million children – more than we educate in the UK but at 2.5% of the cost.

“The UK’s support for schooling is vital – especially for
girls. Without an education, those girls will continue
to be at greater risk of disease, forced marriage, early
childbirth – and so the cycle of poverty continues.”
Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director

• Help halve malaria deaths in 10 of the worst affected countries
• Help vaccinate more children against preventable diseases than there are people in the whole of England
• Help 10 million more women get access to modern family planning
• Save the lives of 50,000 women in pregnancy and childbirth
• Stop 250,000 newborn babies dying needlessly

“The UK is investing in women and children’s
health which is a smart economic strategy.
Healthy children are more likely to attend and
finish school, which greatly increases their
chances of a productive future, that will build on
itself for generations.”
Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

• Provide access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation to more people than there are in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

“Clean water to drink and improved sanitation are essential
for human development. With them, lives are saved,
stability thrives, more children go to school – especially
girls – and millions more are able to escape poverty.”
Barbara Frost, Chief Executive, WaterAid

• Support 13 countries to hold freer and fairer elections. Britain has helped to give more than 60 million people in Nigeria the chance to vote in their elections this year

“In breaking out of the conflict trap, security and development go hand in hand.”
Professor Paul Collier, Oxford University

• Help millions of poor people protect their livelihoods from the impact of climate change. In Bangladesh alone, we will help protect 15 million people against the effects of climate change and natural disasters

“The UK is showing leadership in tackling the two great
challenges of the 21st century, managing climate
change and overcoming poverty. If we fail on one, we
will fail on the other. The commitment to overseas aid
and to the International Climate Fund are critical
to the global credibility and influence of the UK in
a rapidly-changing world.”
Professor Lord Nick Stern, London School of Economics

• Provide 50 million people with the means to help work their way out of poverty.

“The main objective of aid is to abolish the need
for aid. That is why DFID is rightly focused on long
term development and wealth creation – to help
unlock the great potential of Africa, its youth,
natural resources, land and markets.”
Dr Mo Ibrahim, Leading African businessman
and governance campaigner