§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the US Government calling for them to raise overseas development assistant to 0.7 per cent, of GNI. [75059]
§ Clare ShortI have made clear on many occasions to our own Government, to the USA and other developed countries, the need for donors to work towards the 0.7 per cent, target of official development assistance as a proportion of GNI. The Government itself has committed, in the Comprehensive Spending Review, to reaching a ratio of 0.4 per cent, by financial year 2006–07. I welcome the establishment by the USA of the Millennium Challenge Account, which will increase US development assistance by 50 per cent. in cash terms by 2006. I hope that the USA will continue to expand its development assistance programmes towards the levels of ODA/GNI achieved by most other developed countries. US Assistance has the potential to make a very significant contribution towards the reduction of poverty in the world.
Date/country Description Total (£ million) September 2001 Zimbabwe NGO feeding programme 4.0 Zimbabwe WFP emergency appeal 3.5 Malawi Targeted inputs programme 3.75 January-May 2002 Malawi NGO feeding programme 4.4 Malawi Winter inputs programme 1.2 June 2002 Zimbabwe WFP regional emergency feeding operation 7.0 Lesotho WFP regional emergency feeding operation 1.56 Malawi WFP regional emergency feeding operation 5.0 Swaziland WFP regional emergency feeding operation 0.25 Zambia WFP regional emergency feeding operation 5.0 Zambia NGO food for work programme 1.02 Region WFP logistical support in Johannesburg regional hob, Lesotho and Zimbabwe 0.51 Region SADC vulnerability assessments to improve targeting 0.2 Region IFRC feeding HIV/AIDS affected people 2.5 Region WHO regional health operation 0.13 Malawi Targeted inputs programme 6.8 Zimbabwe NGO agricultural inputs 5.0 Zimbabwe WHO essential drugs and medicines 2.5 September 2002 Zimbabwe NGO feeding programme 16.0 Malawi/region Nacala rail-link 4.1 October 2002 Zambia Agricultural recovery through NGOs and FAO 1.5 Zambia Improved nutrition programme 1.2 Zambia Support to the health sector 0.2 Region OCHA southern African humanitarian information service 0.11 Region Southern Africa humanitarian crisis unit for monitoring and liaison 0.5 Lesotho Livelihoods recovery through agriculture programme 1.0 Zimbabwe Epidemic preparedness 1.2 Zimbabwe Improved nutrition programme 1.1 November 2002 Region SADC vulnerability assessments 0 2