Press Release
From the Department for International
Development
Hilary Benn, the UK Secretary of State for International Development today launched the new Department for International Development (DFID) Country Engagement Plan for the DRC with the transitional national government and local partners, which sets out DFID's plans over the next 2 to 3 years.
Hilary Benn discussed DFID's Country Engagement Plan with President Kabila, vice-president Ruberwa, vice-president Bemba, and vice-president Ngoma. He also met the Presidents of the five Democracy Support Commissions during his visit Hilary Benn met local religious leaders and NGOs to gain understanding of local perceptions of progress so far. He also visited an HIV/AIDS women's centre run by Fondation Femme Plus, the first women's organisation set up to provide assistance and support to people living with HIV/AIDS in DRC.
Leaving DRC Hilary Benn said, "This is a time of great opportunity as well as great challenge for DRC. I have heard from all the people I met how the creation of the transitional government has been a major step forward for peace and stability in the DRC. The transitional government, working with others, is now focusing on making the transition work, tackling the country's huge poverty and holding the elections, which will be the next crucial stage. In doing all this they will need the assistance and involvement of the international community. The UK, working with other donors, is keen to develop a long term partnership with the Congolese and helping to make progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals."
Notes to Editors
1. So long as the transition process remains on track, the UK is planning a significant increase in its level of engagement and rate of spending in DRC over the period 2003-06, with a view to helping DRC make progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.
2. The UK bilateral assistance to DRC in financial year 2003/4 will be approximately =A323million. In addition, the UK is working with other bilateral donors and multi-lateral agencies to ensure a coordinated response to the needs of the DRC. In 2002/3, in addition to =A316m in bilateral assistance, the UK contributed approximately =A39m through the EU, =A326m through World Bank IDA, =A336m through the UN agencies (including MONUC).
3. The UK's Department for International Development (DFID) has built up Development partnerships with a number of other countries in the region, including Uganda and Rwanda. These partnerships are based primarily on the partner government's commitment to poverty alleviation as the cornerstone of its social and economic policies. The UK looks forward to being able to develop a similar partnership with the Government of the DRC.
4. DFID will focus its resources for the DRC around two core tasks:
a) Ensuring a successful transition process.
Activities already underway include:
- Support to the Transition Institutions - DFID has pledged a contribution of =A3700,000 to the Trust Fund to provide immediate support to transitional institutions and new Ministries created by the 2002 Global Accord, and is supporting the Haute Autorité des Medias and the Commission on Ethics and Anti-corruption;
- A quick start programme including primary education and health programmes
- Support to Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) of the armed forces - DFID has committed =A316.5m to the Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme (MDRP) over five years and seconded a DDR expert to UNDP to help the government develop a national DDR programme
- Contribution to international community support on policing and the justice sector;
- Continued humanitarian support - DFID provided =A310.5m in humanitarian assistance to the DRC last year and will maintain the same level of assistance this year.
b) Establishing basic systems of governance for conflict prevention and poverty reduction, including systems of government accountability and capacity, economic governance, service delivery, and fighting HIV/AIDS, and developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.
5. The UK is committed to providing =A31 billion of development assistance to Africa by 2005/06 to help the continent reach the Millennium Development Goal of reducing poverty by half by 2015. Reducing poverty in the DRC and ensuring the war does not break out again are essential elements of achieving this goal.
6. For further information please contact Amanda Phillips on +44 (0)207 023 0600.