The Department for International Development (DFID) is the UK Government department responsible for promoting development and the reduction of poverty.  The government first elected in 1997 has increased its commitment to development by strengthening the department and increasing its budget.

The central focus of the Government's policy, set out in the 1997 White Paper on International Development, is a commitment to the International Development Targets, to halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Associated targets include basic health care provision and universal access to primary education by the same date. A second White Paper on International Development, published in December 2000, reaffirmed this commitment, while focusing specifically on how to manage the process of globalisation to benefit poor people.

DFID seeks to work in partnership with governments committed to these targets, with business, civil society and the research community. DFID also works with multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, United Nations agencies and the European Community.

The bulk of DFID's assistance is concentrated on the poorest countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, but DFID also contributes to poverty elimination and sustainable development in middle-income countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and elsewhere. In the transition countries of central and Eastern Europe, DFID is helping to ensure the process of change brings benefits to all people, particularly to the poorest.

As well as headquarters in London and East Kilbride, DFID has offices in many developing countries. In others, DFID works through staff based in British embassies and high commissions.

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