§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool and its achievements since its creation. [133142]
§ Mr. RammellSetting up the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) has helped the partner departments (FCO, MOD and DFID) work more closely together in the field of conflict prevention. This is also helping the departments carry out more detailed and consistent policy analysis, and establish a more integrated approach to developing and implementing programmes on the ground. The Pools are therefore strengthening the UK's contribution to international conflict prevention, efforts by ensuring that initiatives are based on evidence of what works and are well targeted.
In FY 2002–03 the total spent on GCPP programmes was £66 million. The budget for FY 2003–04 is £74 million. Details of the GCPP Strategies are set out in the recent publication the GCPP: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool—A joint UK Government approach to reducing conflict, which is available in the Library of the House. A copy of the booklet has also been placed on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) accessible under Global Issues-International Organisations-UN-Conflict Prevention.
619WSince its start in April 2000, the GCPP has funded several hundred projects under a range of geographic and thematic strategies. It has been engaged in:
Post conflict reconstruction work in Afghanistan, the Balkans, and now in Iraq.Helping to create security, stability and encourage peace negotiations in Belize and Guatemala, Nepal, Indonesia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sri Lanka.Supporting more stable and democratic systems in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union.In encouraging contact between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.Building capacity to undertake conflict prevention work in international organisations such as the UN and OSCE.Developing understanding and promoting activity on security sector reform as a means of longer-term prevention of conflict, and a reduction in the levels of small arms and light weapons.An independent evaluation is being undertaken this year to look at how the Pools are run and assess the impact of their work to date.