§ David HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development for developing countries; and what involvement she has had with the development of the United Nations policy guidance. [58570]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has been working within the OECD's Development Assistance Committee and the United Nations to reach international agreement on the characteristics of national strategies for sustainable development. In April 2001 the high level meeting of the Development Assistance Committee agreed guidelines on principles of planning for sustainable development. These principles were discussed at an international forum on524W national sustainable development strategies, held in Ghana in November 2001. This forum was organised by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs with support from my Department.
An important outcome of this work has been the conclusion that good poverty reduction strategies contain the elements necessary for strategic planning for sustainable development and fulfil the role of national strategies for sustainable development. My Department is providing support in over 30 of the 41 countries which have produced interim or full PRSPs.