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At this ODI and APGOOD event, the Secretary of State
for International Development, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP
spoke about the priorities for meeting the development challenge
at the MDG mid-point.
Meeting Report
1. John Battle MP, in the chair, introduced Douglas Alexander MP
and stated that he would outline his vision and the future direction
for DFID. He emphasized that Mr Alexander has a track record of
campaigning on development issues and that the recent CSR announcement
included details of an increased budget for DFID, which was very
encouraging. He also reminded the audience that the new enquiry
of the International Development Select Committee was on maternal
health.
Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP
2. Douglas Alexander started by reminding the audience that DFID
was established 10 years ago and since then, the UK has driven forward
the development agenda. The UK is now ranked as the second highest
aid donor, and DFID is widely regarded as the best development agency
in the world. The recent CSR settlement demonstrates that the government
is committed to deliver on its promises, and to build on this success
over the next 10 years.
3. Mr Alexander explained that his speech would address three questions:
a. What does the world currently look like?
b. What does this mean for the challenge of development?
c. What are the immediate priorities for action?
4. In asking what the world currently looks like, Mr Alexander stated
that there is a high level of interdependence, citing as examples
the issues of migration, defaulted US mortgages and the current
credit squeeze, and carbon emissions. He stated that there is no
such thing as self-interest anymore, there are only shared interests
and shared priorities. It is 7 years since the adoption of, and
7 years until the target for the achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). Much has been achieved already on these but there
is still a long way to go. A disproportionate number of people living
in poverty are women, for example. Urgent action is required, led
by developing countries practising good governance which will result
in effective and responsible states.
5. Mr Alexander explained that the Prime Minister's speech in New
York in July outlined a 'Global Partnership for Development' and
emphasized that development objectives would not be met unless we
work together to achieve them. He cautioned however that aid is
only part of the solution.
6. Mr Alexander explained that the fundamental challenges at the
start of the 21st century are:
a. Multilateralism
b. Growth/trade
c. Climate change
d. Conflict
7. On multilateral action, he explained that this was important
for a range of reasons and that DFID would be spending more through
multilateral institutions in the future, and in the process, would
be asserting more influence over the decisions of such institutions.
DFID would also be very supportive of the implementation of the
UN High Level Panel's report on system-wide coherence, as well as
Robert Zoellick's new vision for the World Bank.
8. On growth/trade, Mr Alexander emphasized that aid is a catalyst
and that development professionals and agencies exist to work themselves
out of business. He said that DFID's number 1 priority in this regard
would be to deliver on the Doha Round of trade talks. On Economic
Partnership Agreements (EPAs), he stated that the UK government
will argue that EPAs can and must be made to benefit ACP countries.
He emphasized that developing countries must be equipped to enter
the global marketplace, and to take advantage of initiatives such
as Aid for Trade and the International Finance Facility (IFF).
9. On climate change, the Secretary of State stated that it is imperative
that the issue is both recognised and tackled as it is currently
the greatest threat development and the poor face the biggest threat.
Developing countries must be assisted to both mitigate and adapt
to the effects of climate change, and helped to reduce their carbon
emissions. There should also be a cross-government framework agreement
to reduce emissions which must be followed. The new Environmental
Transformation Fund (ETF) will also help poor countries to adapt,
and to make the best use of new, carbon-free technologies.
10. On conflict, Mr Alexander stated that conflict is both a cause
and the result of poverty. Arms control measures are just part of
the solution and DFID, the FCO and the MoD must work closely together
on this issue, however the causes and impacts of conflict are the
responsibility of the whole international community, as is the upholding
of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle. In the case of
Darfur, UN Security Council Resolution 1769 makes this a reality
however, there is still much the international community could do
speed up the process, to get the African Union troops into position,
progress the peace talks and deliver humanitarian aid.
11. On the CSR commitments, Mr Alexander explained that funds for
DFID have trebled between 1997-2010, but progress towards development
goals in this period have been the result of the whole UK development
community working together. He emphasized that there is a real opportunity
for this coalition to achieve even more and to accelerate progress
towards the MDGs by together ensuring that the Global Partnership
for Development outlined by Gordon Brown in New York in July really
delivers.
Discussion
12. Questions and comments raised during the discussion included:
a. The issue of resource conflict with regard to Darfur, particularly
water - what can the UK do to prevent such conflicts from occurring?
Mr Alexander explained that resource scarcity is a problem in the
region, especially water, however the scale of the problem is also
important to take into account, as well as the causes, and other
dimensions. Mr Alexander felt that taking a long-term view was important
and that DFID would look to provide more assistance to aid agencies
and give clear and sequenced messages to the Sudanese government,
rebels and other parties to the peace agreement.
b. Maternal mortality is not the only issue affecting women - they
also make an important economic contribution. What programmes does
DFID intend to implement with regard to the wider role of women?
Mr Alexander replied that his focus on maternal mortality was not
intended to diminish the gender aspect - DFID understands the vital
importance of women and of gender programmes and further action
needs to be taken, both unilaterally, and by the multilateral community.
c. Where does the Secretary of State see the blockages/barrier to
implementing his vision for DFID and for international development,
especially internationally, and how can the wider development community
help? Mr Alexander replied that DFID have had a continuous focus
on trade policy and these are also critical weeks for the Doha negotiations.
In addition, Gordon Brown wants to instigate a 'development emergency'
- a global call to action - for 2008, using the G8 meeting in Japan,
the EU and the UN, to create a campaigning momentum to make other
governments implement their Gleneagles commitments. He also wants
to examine how the UK works with partners in both developed and
developing countries and to make sure that all governments do the
right thing in international environments. NGOs in all developed
countries take forward pioneering campaigns and the Ministers of
all countries should be obliged to meet with their campaigners.
d. What about conflicts of interest, e.g. trade needs to be reconciled
with local economic development too, and public services should
also be organised holistically. Mr Alexander replied that trade
was neither a problem nor a solution, it must reflect reality. Trade
facilitation and infrastructure should be driven by evidence but
it is not a panacea. The needs of developing countries must be understood.
Conditionality is also important.
e. Most poor people in Africa are still reliant on agriculture.
What does DFID intend to do with regard to agriculture and development?
Mr Alexander replied that agriculture is very important and continues
to be so, hence its mention in the 2006 White Paper. The aim is
not to replicate the Green Revolution in Africa, but to address
issues such as commodity prices and agricultural technologies around
seeds, etc.
f. What shape might the meeting that Gordon Brown called for in
New York take, will it be a large international conference? With
regard to low energy paths, it is very important to involve young
people in the post-Carbon future. Mr Alexander replied that the
meeting which the Prime Minster mentioned will possibly use the
UN as a forum via which to revisit the MDGs and other challenges.
With regard to such an event, NGOs are better qualified to maximise
political attention. With regard to low carbon, the World Bank has
a real opportunity to develop its role in driving forward financing
for low carbon technologies. The UK is ready to participate and
find a way forward for the Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF).
g. On debt cancellation, there is still a long way to go. With regard
to the new threat from vulture funds, both the Paris Club and the
Prime Minister have expressed concerns - will there be concrete
action on this from the UK government? Mr Alexander replied that
the technical expertise to deal with such issues often resides at
the Treasury rather than DFID but cross-departmental conversations
on this issue are underway.
h. The fundamental deal from Gleneagles was that rich countries
would provide the money if poor countries provided good governance.
There are other places apart from Darfur and Zimbabwe which also
merit international attention, such as: the Niger delta; Somalia;
and Rwanda. What is being done politically with regard to these
areas? If nothing, is that because the UK does not consider itself
strong enough to deal with the problems (as with the case of Zimbabwe);
because there is no publicity of these areas; or because it is believed
that money is better spent elsewhere? Mr Alexander replied that
it is not that we're not strong with regard to Zimbabwe, it's that
we want to engage in effective partnerships rather than patrimonialism.
In addition, we need to engage with others in the development community.
The UK has been relentless in its determination to keep raising
concerns. With regard to the three examples given, the UK does have
a differentiated approach, and a primary concern is to spend tax
payers' money effectively, either through general budget support
where governments are effective, or through direct humanitarian
assistance where they are not.
i. Staff cuts at DFID. Mr Alexander replied that the focus should
be on outputs not inputs. There are particular challenges of operating
in fragile environments especially, and DFID needs to be confident
in its ability to deliver on its responsibility to give tax payers
value for money.
j. How will DFID engage with China? Mr Alexander replied that there
is already extensive Ministerial engagement with China. Mark Malloch
Brown has just returned from Beijing and Gordon Brown is already
engaging. We can expect more in the future on how DFID will engage
with China on development issues, to share expertise, and to help
the Chinese spend their money more effectively.
13. In conclusion, John Battle summed up by stating that the local
is global and vice versa, we have to both think and act locally
and globally at the same time. Within the UK government, this might
mean DFID working more closely with the FCO, MoD, DEFRA, and other
government departments. He thanked Douglas Alexander for his cohesive,
holistic vision and for fusing the two agendas together.
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