How DFID will ensure sustainable development
22 December 2005
DFID has published an action plan showing how it will play its part in
delivering the UK Government’s vision of sustainable development.
That vision, spelt out in the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, launched
in March 2005, is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their
basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without compromising the quality
of life of future generations.
As the government department with responsibility for poverty reduction and
sustainable development in poor countries, DFID has a key role to play. Our
approach is to balance the economic, social and environmental aspects of what we
do in developing countries according to the priorities and circumstances of each
country. We also work closely with other government departments in the UK and
with other aid donors and development agencies to ensure domestic and foreign
policies reflect the needs of international development.
The UK’s priorities for action on international sustainable development stem
from recent global summits and agreements: the Millennium Assembly of the UN,
the 4th World Trade Organisation Ministerial (Doha), the Financing for
Development Conference (Monterrey) and the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). DFID is the lead UK department on many of the commitments
made at these summits, and we are already working with developing countries,
international institutions, and other UK government departments to meet them.
DFID’s action plan highlights a cross-section of specific commitments, and gives
details of how we will follow up on them. These are to:
- promote international efforts to achieve the MDGs;
- achieve the target of putting 0.7% of the UK’s
gross national income (GNI) into official development assistance (ODA);
- increase the effectiveness of aid;
- work with developing countries and other donors to help integrate principles of sustainable development in poverty
reduction strategies;
- help developing countries to give appropriate emphasis
to water and sanitation in national development plans;
- share experiences of sustainable development with other countries;
- help developing countries adapt to climate change;
- tackle illegal, unlicensed and unregulated fishing;
- extend the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to other countries and
resources;
- support the Global Environment Facility;
- support environment projects in UK Overseas Territories; and
- lead by example by ensuring sustainability in our internal operations.
DFID’s sustainable development action plan is available here. Progress is
monitored regularly by the inter-departmental Sustainable Development Programme
Board, and ultimately by the Sustainable Development Ministers Committee
Read the
Sustainable Development Action Plan (168
kb)
For more information please contact Anna Ballance on 020 7023 0879.
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