Thursday 27 September 2012

POVERTY: DFID


Prime Minister David Cameron addresses the General Assembly.
UK aid at the UN General Assembly
Co-chairing the first meeting of the UN Secretary-General's High Level Panel on the post-2015 development agenda, Prime Minister David Cameron challenged world leaders to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Prime Minister said that despite tough economic times, countries cannot lose sight of delivering the existing eight MDGs to help the world's poorest people and reaffirmed Britain's pledge to spend 0.7% of gross-national income on aid by 2013.
Addressing the panel, the PM said: "The first thing we must do is send a clear message to everyone who signed up to Millennium Development Goals - that now is the time to step up and honour those promises.
"When we make a promise to the poorest people in the world - we should keep it, not turn our back on people who are trusting us to help them. More than five thousand infants die every day from preventable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea. So to those who say we can't afford to act, I say, we can't afford to wait."
During the week of the UN General Assembly, the British Government made three announcements including,
Girls in school in Africa.
The governments of the UK and US hosted an event titled MDG Countdown 2012 during the United Nations General Assembly, in New York yesterday. MDG Countdown 2012 showcased innovative projects and programmes highlighting how coordinated development work is making a real difference.
Speaking at the event, Justine Greening said: "I'm proud, on behalf of the UK, to lead the the way on progress towards the MDGs over the next three years. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the international community to work toward meeting the MDGs but before we focus on the next set of goals we must remember to deliver on existing ones". 
Find out more: MDG Countdown 2012 - Feature | In Pictures | Video
UK Secretary of State Justine Greening speaking at the MDG Countdown 2012 event in New York.
The Prime Minister appointed Rt Hon Justine Greening MP as Secretary of State for International Development and Lynne Featherstone MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. Alan Duncan remains in his post as Minister of State.
On arriving at DFID Justine Greening said: "I'm delighted to have been appointed International Development Secretary to lead the Government's work to promote development around the world. This Government has radically overhauled the way in which British taxpayers' money is spent helping the world’s poorest people, making it more transparent, focused and better value for money. But there is no doubt more we can do."
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© 2012 Department for International Development.
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