HC Deb 19 July 2002 vol 389 cc588-90W
Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce), of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 959W, what recommendations were published for, and what assessment she has made of, her Department's involvement in the Environment Poverty Workshop in Albania during 2001–02. [71250]

Clare Short

The purpose of the Government of Albania, DFID and World Bank Poverty and Environment Workshop was to sensitise and raise awareness among a broad stakeholder group of the issues and links surrounding effective environmental management, poverty reduction and economic growth in Albania. This was done in the context of Albania's preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy paper. The group agreed several recommendations which have not been published but which were taken into account in the preparation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. A copy is in the Libraries of the House.

As a result of my Department's involvement in the Workshop, a technical assistance programme has been developed with the Government of Albania, focused on institutionally developing and reforming the Ministry of Environment (formerly the National Environment Agency).

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce), of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 959W, which United Kingdom companies were involved with her Department's work in the Strengthening Partnerships for Municipal Sustainable Development project in Romania during 2001–02. [71249]

Clare Short

WS Aktkins International Limited.

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce), of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 959W, if she will outline the (a) aims, (b) methodology and (c) outcomes of the Rural Livelihood Project. [71251]

Clare Short

1. The main aim of the Rural Partnerships Programme in the Baltics is to enhance the capacity of local communities to improve rural livelihoods on a sustainable basis.

2. The methodology adopted by the project is centred on the use of participatory approaches for communities to assess their problems and needs, and plan and implement solutions and mechanisms for fuller representation through all levels of government. The project provides a range of experts and practitioners of community development and participatory processes, local government, regional development and EU who are transferring knowledge and skills through a number of different ways eg workshops, training, study tours, focus groups and mentoring.

3. The project is working towards achieving six outcomes:

  1. (i) Area based strategies for tackling rural poverty and social exclusion.
  2. (ii) Increased capacity within municipalities in applying participatory approaches and in accessing EU funds.
  3. (iii) Community based projects developed and implemented through partnerships between community groups, NGOs, municipalities and the private sector.
  4. (iv) Enhanced local skill base to manage and influence the rural development agenda.
  5. (v) Improved capacity of rural business support/employment services as effective partners in the local development process.
  6. (vi) National and Regional policy agenda and framework embrace inclusive area based partnership approaches to rural development.

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce), of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 959W, which United Kingdom companies have been involved with her Department's work in the Capacity Building on the Public Private Partnership project in Romania during 2001–02. [71248]

Clare Short

Mott MacDonald Limited.

Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce), of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 959W, (a) what assessment she has made and (b) what recommendations her Department has made of the Rural Livelihood Project in (i) the Baltic states and (ii) Central and Eastern Europe in 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [71246]

Clare Short

The Baltics Rural Partnerships Programme was formally reviewed in October 2001 and has been monitored on a regular basis since then. It is an institutional building project focused at local and national levels with communities, government, NGOs and Civil Society to enhance the capacity of local communities to improve rural livelihoods. The project is assisting the authorities in the three Baltic countries to change the way regional planning is implemented in line with good EU practice by the introduction of a more participative and bottom-up approach to decision making processes.

DFID assessments have shown that the project is providing value for money in terms of its impact on (i) the progress being made in building local capacity and networks and (ii) links being made into the national policy debate to inform regional policy in preparation for accession to the EU and future effective use of structural funds. Recommendations to the Baltic authorities are made through on-going dialogue between the relevant authorities and institutions in the Baltics and project managers.

The regional Central and Eastern Europe project consisted of a study on the appropriateness of the rural livelihoods approach in transition economies. I will place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

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