§ Mr. GummerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which countries other than Iraq his Department has assigned gender advisers since 1997. [141825]
§ Hilary BennGender equality and the empowerment of women are very important for the elimination of poverty. A large percentage of the poor in developing countries are women.
All DFID staff have a responsibility to ensure that gender issues are addressed in development programmes. However, social development advisers work as part of teams in all DFID country offices and have special expertise in gender issues. They do this as part of their overall role which covers social issues as they relate to all poor people.