HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 cc1123-4W
7. Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the forthcoming United Nations world summit on sustainable development will review the performance of the World bank business partners for development initiative. [69879]

Ms. Keeble

Business Partners for Development (BDP) was a project-based initiative set up in 1998 to initiate partnerships for development. It involved 30 focus projects in 20 countries around the world. The BPD final report containing conclusions and recommendations was launched in April of this year. An independent evaluation of BPD, funded by my Department and the World bank, has already been conducted, and the findings will be available later this month. WSSD will review general progress on sustainable development to see where the

implementation gaps are, as well as new challenges. Although not formally part of the WSSD process, the review will of course be available to all participants.

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