HC Deb 15 December 2003 vol 415 cc723-5W
Tony Baldry:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development problems his Department is seeking to resolve through research. [142643]

Hilary Benn:

The current research programme covers a very wide variety of development problems. DFID supports major research programmes, either alone or with other funders, on:

  • HIV/AIDS—including vaccine and microbicide research
  • Malaria
  • Tuberculosis
  • Reproductive and maternal health
  • Child health
  • Health systems and economics
  • Crop production, protection and post-harvest
  • Livestock and fish production and health
  • Forestry
  • Natural resources systems
  • Chronic poverty—how to reach the very poorest
  • The state, and how citizens can participate in decisions
  • Migration
  • Inequality and ethnicity
  • Competition, regulation and investment
  • How developing country governments respond to crises.
  • Urbanisation
  • Water and Sanitation
  • Transport
  • Energy
  • Information and Communication Technology

I will also write to the hon. Member with some recent examples of DFID-funded research having an impact on poverty.

Tony Baldry:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's research strategy. [142644]

Hilary Benn:

Following a review of DFID research last year, entitled "Research for Poverty Reduction", the Department is preparing a new research strategy which I hope to publish early in the new year.

Tony Baldry:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the remit of the Policy Division within his Department. [142645]

Hilary Benn:

Policy Division's role is to develop evidence-based, innovative approaches to development, which make a real difference to the poor. Policy Division has been set up to react flexibly to changing needs and priorities. The main areas of work are Aid Effectiveness, Growth, Working in Difficult Environments, Service Delivery, Future Challenges, and Research.

Policy Division has four equally weighted functions:

  • New policy development
  • Knowledge sharing and lesson learning across countries
  • Core policy subjects eg civil service reform
  • Advisory support to our country programmes worldwide.

All Policy Division teams are focussed on producing work that can be put to practical use in the field of poverty reduction.

Policy Division has four Public Service Agreement/Service Delivery Agreement (PSA/SDA) targets:

  1. Take up of innovative approaches and research findings developed by DFID;
  2. Progress on global issues with major impact on poor people;
  3. Increased coherence and quality in the international system for reporting progress against the MDGs;
  4. Analytical methods to integrate poverty-environment issues into PRSPs and other development plans.

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