Sections:
A new approach to aid
In a new policy paper, “Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: rethinking conditionality”,
(146
kb) the Government has announced that it will not in future impose policies on developing countries as a condition of aid, including in sensitive economic areas such as privatisation or trade liberalisation. It will
instead support developing countries’ own priorities in reducing poverty,
with agreed benchmarks to measure the outcomes and improvements in health and education.
Mr Benn launched the paper today at a meeting of the Development Assistance Committee in Paris involving development ministers from the world’s richest countries, and representatives from 60 developing countries, and institutions, to discuss aid effectiveness.
The meeting is expected to agree an important set of new commitments by aid donors to improve the way aid is delivered, along with a new monitoring mechanism to ensure that these commitments are implemented.