HC Deb 09 July 2002 vol 388 c875W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reforms in the UN Development Programme and the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation have been assisted by financial support from her Department. [67485]

Clare Short

UNDP has embarked on an ambitious and wide-ranging reform programme which includes sharpening the focus of UNDP's programmes, improving the quality of its Resident Co-ordinators and developing its results-based management system. DFID has committed about £3.5 million in technical co-operation to support UNDP's reform programme. Our support is helping UNDP to strengthen its results-based management; to strengthen its partnerships with civil society, international financial institutions and the private sector; to focus the UN system around the Millennium Development Goals; and to develop the competencies for senior UNDP posts overseas. DFID is also providing significant support to build UNDP's capacity to respond to crisis and emergency situations.

DFID has collaborated with UNESCO to develop its results-based programming system and helped with training to the value of £100,000 for UNESCO's staff in project cycle management. DFID is supporting training (£750,000) for UNESCO staff in the use of new financial, budget and accounting systems, which support the results-based programming system. DFID also provides support (£250,000) for the evaluation work of UNESCO's new internal oversight system.