Chapter 11: Department for International Development
Aim
Eliminate poverty in poorer countries in particular through achievement by 2015 of the Millennium Development Goals1:
- eradication of extreme poverty and hunger
- achievement of universal primary education
- promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women
- reduced child mortality
- improved maternal health
- combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- ensuring environmental sustainability
- a global partnership for development
Objectives and performance targets
Objective I: reduce poverty in Sub Saharan Africa.
1. Progress towards the MDGs in 16 key countries demonstrated by:
- a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty from 48% across the entire region;
- an increase in primary school enrolment from 58% to 72% and an increase in the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school from 89% to 96%;
- a reduction in under- 5 mortality rates for girls and boys from 158 per 1000 live births to 139 per 1000; and an increase in proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants from 49% to 67%; a reduction in the proportion of 15-24 year old pregnant women with HIV from 16%;
- improved effectiveness of the UK contribution to conflict prevention and management as demonstrated by a reduction in the number of people whose lives are affected by violent conflict and a reduction in potential sources of future conflict, where the UK can make a significant contribution. (Joint Target with FCO and MOD); and
- effective implementation of the G8 Action Plan for Africa in support of enhanced partnership at the regional and country level.
Objective II: reduce poverty in Asia.
2. Progress towards the MDGs in 4 key countries demonstrated by:
- a sustainable reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty from 15% to 10% in East Asia and the Pacific and 40% to 32% in South Asia;
- an increase in gross primary school enrolment from 95% to 100% and an increase in the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school from 87% to 94%;
- a reduction in under 5 mortality rates for girls and boys from 92 per 1000 live births to 68 per 1000; and an increase in proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants from 39% to 57%; and
- prevalence rates of HIV infection in vulnerable groups being below 5%; and a
tuberculosis case detection rate above 70% and cure treatment rate greater than 85% are achieved.
Objective III: reduce poverty in Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa.
Objective IV: increase the impact of key multilateral agencies in reducing poverty and effective response to conflict and humanitarian crises.
3. Improved effectiveness of the international system as demonstrated by:
- a greater impact of EC external programmes on poverty reduction, including through working for agreement to increase the proportion of EC to low income countries from 38% to 70%; and
- ensuring that three-quarters of all eligible HIPC countries committed to poverty reduction receive irrevocable debt relief by 2006 and work with international partners to make progress towards the United Nations 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Joint target with HM Treasury
4. Secure agreement by 2005 to a significant reduction in trade barriers leading to improved trading opportunities for the UK and developing countries Joint target with DTI and FCO.
Objective V: develop evidence based, innovative approaches to international development.
Value for Money
5. Increase the proportion of DfID's bilateral programme going to low income countries from 78% to 90% and a sustained increase in the index of DfID's bilateral projects evaluated as successful
Who is responsible for delivery?
The Secretary of State for International Development is responsible for the delivery of this PSA. The Secretary of State for International Development is jointly responsible for a number of targets in the PSA: with the Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for Defence for the target on conflict prevention; with the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for the target on trade; and with the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the debt relief and Millennium Development Goals element of target 3, who also shares responsibility for agreed measures to improve the effectiveness of the EC external programmes.