§ Mr. Tony ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to introduce change of funding strategy for Burundi, moving beyond emergency relief towards more rehabilitation work; and what timeframe exists for this change. [67744]
§ Clare ShortA twin-track approach to the resumption of development assistance to Burundi was agreed at a donor meeting convened by UNDP on 11 January and attended by representatives of the Government of Burundi and ex-President Nyerere.
The international donor community agreed to provide immediate direct assistance to communities in Burundi focusing on local level reconciliation and rehabilitation. We already have the capacity to do this. It was also agreed that donors should prepare for the re-introduction of structural development assistance, which should follow the signature of a peace agreement. Burundi will need a substantial and well co-ordinated international effort to address its development constraints. Britain has not been a traditional bilateral donor to Burundi. But we will attempt to ensure that those multilateral organisations to which we are major contributors, including the EU and the World bank, are well prepared to make a major input when the political environment is right.