HL Deb 21 October 2004 vol 665 cc98-9WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether forming plans for Africa in conjunction with the African Union, New Partnership for Africa's Development and others, they will consult the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees about the needs of refugees arising from wars and dictatorships. [HL4378]

Baroness Amos

The Government, mainly through DfID, the FCO and MoD, support a number of African regional institutions including the Africa Union and the New Partnerships for African Development (NePAD). DfID's support to African institutions is to help them develop their own Plans for African development. UNHCR maintains a permanent presence at the African Union (AU) through the UN Liaison Mission at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. The two organisations have had a joint Comprehensive Implementation Plan on refugees since March 2000. NePAD is now part of the AU and we expect the two institutions' contacts with UNHCR to be rationalised within the new joint structure in due course.

DfID's own co-operation with UNHCR is governed by a DfID institutional strategy paper (ISP), which was prepared in extensive consultation with UNHCR. DfID currently provides UNHCR with £17 million unearmarked core funding per annum. Also, the Africa divisions of each organisation have co-operated on specific refugee issues. DfID Africa Division has funded a number of UNHCR country-specific appeals. In country-specific emergencies the UN consolidated appeals process, of which UNHCR is a part, is one of DfID's key needs assessment mechanisms.