§ 17. Mrs. McKennaTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to strengthen the work of regional development banks. [82967]
§ Clare ShortWe are working to ensure that the focus of the work of the Regional Development Banks is on poverty reduction, and we welcome recent progress on this in the Asian and African Development Banks. We are also urging increased effectiveness in the design, implementation and evaluation of their projects and programmes, and the adoption of appropriate pro-poor and financial strategies. We seek to exert influence at all levels including through contact with the Presidents of these institutions, other members of Bank management and country programme managers and their advisers.