§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being given to Rwanda to help improve its educational infrastructure. [94387]
§ Clare ShortEducation is identified as a key sector for DFID support in our recently published Country Strategy Paper for Rwanda. Since 1998, we have provided short-term planning advice and, together with the World Bank, have been helping the Government of Rwanda carry out a Public Expenditure Review of education and other key social sectors aimed at identifying strategic priorities which are affordable and sustainable. In addition, we have provided direct budgetary support aimed at increasing the proportion of Government expenditure in the social sectors.
Over the next three years, we plan to build on this work as our partnership with the Government of Rwanda deepens. We are at the early stages of planning a sector support programme in education to be implemented in collaboration with the World Bank and other interested donors. In addition to providing much needed institutional strengthening and further strategic planning support, the programme would target infrastructure and training priorities.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the current humanitarian situation in Rwanda. [94388]
§ Clare ShortUnrest in the north-west of Rwanda in the latter part of 1998 led to the displacement of over 600,000 people. Since November 1998, we have provided over £1.7 million in humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable groups. A degree of stability has now returned to the north-west, but we stand ready to respond to any further humanitarian crises in Rwanda as needs are identified.