§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how funds for the New Cross departmental forum for reducing conflict in Africa will be spent. [142514]
§ Clare ShortA joint strategy for conflict prevention and peacekeeping is currently being developed co-operatively with the FCO and MOD, as part of the new arrangements for the Africa Conflict Prevention Joint Pool. This will come into effect in April 2001 and is intended to improve the effectiveness, impact and efficiency of HMG's contribution to peacekeeping, conflict prevention and management.
DFID currently directly supports conflict prevention programmes in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. For 2000–01 and 2001–02, the three countries in which DFID is expecting to have the highest levels of funding for conflict prevention are Sierra Leone, Uganda and Rwanda. The Conflict Fund will cover much of this expenditure, the bulk of which is likely to be in Sierra Leone.
We are promoting security in Sierra Leone by giving substantial support to the police, helping to civilianise and make accountable the country's Ministry of Defence, and helping to reintegrate ex-combatants who wish to return to civilian life.