§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2003,Official Report, column 432W, if he will list the countries whose poverty reduction strategy papers now include sanitation, water supply and hygiene as a result of pressure from her Department. [124442]
§ Hilary BennPoverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are intended to be country-driven and owned, based on broad participation in their design, implementation and monitoring. PRSPs provide a focus for joint donor efforts, and so it is not possible allocate particular elements of countries' PRSPs to the actions of any one donor. DFID participates in formal and informal donor networks around PRSPs, has co-funded World bank-led workshops and has been active on PRSP preparation committees and working groups.
DFID's strong commitment to achieving debt relief and poverty reduction in the world's poorest countries means that we are working actively with their Governments to support production of PRSPs. We are also supporting the consultative process that the PRSP requires, to ensure the strategy is built on broad-based consensus in which the poor have a voice. The majority of DFID country offices support the national PRSP process by promoting official or Government participation. We also give direct support to civil society to strengthen the impact of public action on poverty, and to encourage progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. DFID has worked with the World bank on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Sourcebook. This is a guide to assist countries in the development of poverty reduction strategies and includes advice on issues such as health, education, infrastructure, water and sanitation, macroeconomic policy, gender and the environment.
DFID also supports major multi-lateral initiatives, such as the Water and Sanitation Program, that work to support national Governments and civil society in national PRSP processes. Research undertaken by the Water and Sanitation Program of Full and Interim PRSPs in Sub-Saharan Africa has found that treatment of water and sanitation is not comprehensive and often inconsistent. In particular, sanitation and solid waste management received inadequate attention. Also, despite the significant continuing work on sector reforms (e.g. decentralisation, rural and urban water and sanitation), their incorporation in the country PRSP initiatives requires considerable strengthening. 10W The Uganda PRS was a notable exception having good coverage of water and sanitation issues, and serves as an illustration of good practice.
DFID has also commissioned a research and advocacy project in sub-Saharan Africa that is being undertaken by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and WaterAid. The project is investigating how resources allocated 10 water supply and sanitation in PRSPs in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar and Uganda) are converting into actual expenditure on water and sanitation, and will make recommendations to improve the poverty reducing, impact of this work. This will be completed in 2004 and is an important opportunity to support the building of sustainable improvements in local capacity in a way that is consistent with nationally owned poverty reduction strategies.