Watching UK aid work

9 February 2007

Research by DFID shows that over three quarters of people in the UK say they care about poverty around the world. However most people do not know about or understand how UK aid to poor countries reaches them, and they are not really aware of the role of the UK government plays in the global fight against poverty.

In fact some people believe that aid doesn't actually reach the people it is intended for; that it is wasted through corruption, or inefficiency. And that both donors and recipients are to blame.

DFID knows that corruption and inefficiency exist, and we're constantly looking for ways to tackle these and many more complex and difficult issues. But we know that aid works.

For example, in Tanzania the number of children in primary school has doubled from four million in 2000 to eight million today, this means that almost all children are now in primary education, with 96% enrolment. In Afghanistan 12 million children have been immunised against polio and 16 million against measles since 2002. This has saved an estimated 30,000 lives. DFID, working directly with governments all over the world, and in partnerships with NGO's and multilateral organisations, has helped to bring this about.

By watching the films ‘Aid Works’ and ‘Making Aid Work’ you can learn a lot more about aid and development, and DFID's role in tackling global poverty. The films explain why it is important to give aid to poor countries, how UK taxpayers’ money gets to those in need, how DFID tackles difficult issues and who we work with to make the right decisions to achieve progress.

• Watch 'Aid Works' - Windows Media version | Flash version | transcript
• For a copy of the DVD please call the DFID Public Enquiry Point 0845 300 4100 or email enquiry@dfid.gov.uk

Links

• Millennium Development Goal 8 - Aid, Trade, Growth and Global Partnership
• Development Works 52 weeks a year(2.6 mb)

Back to top