Bernard J. Durkan
Question:152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans in conjunction with the EU and UN to tackle the problem of aid in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30695/04]
View answerWednesday, 24 November 2004
Questions (152, 153)
Written answers
Ireland's national aid programme is largely focused on the African continent. Some 85% of our bilateral programme country assistance is spent there. It is our intention to maintain this focus and indeed to expand our assistance to the region as the aid programme grows.
The EU is a major donor to Africa. EU aid to Africa is provided from the Community budget and the European Development Fund, EDF. The majority of this aid comes from the EDF which is the main instrument of Community aid for development co-operation in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The current 9th EDF was concluded at the same time as the African, Caribbean and Pacific, ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement in June 2000. Aid amounting to €13.5 billion was allocated by EU member states over a period of five years. Ireland contributes its proportionate share to the 9th EDF. In 2004, an overall sum of €2.34 billion was contributed to the Ninth EDF. The Commission has indicated that it wishes to raise the level of overall contributions to €2.855 billion in 2005.
Ireland also works closely with the United Nations to assist Africa. The UN Secretary General has highlighted the need for special support from the international community for sub-Saharan African countries if they are to achieve the millennium development goals within the target dates. I share the Secretary General's concerns about the achievement of the millennium development goals in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ireland has substantially increased its voluntary contributions to the UN development agencies in recent years. Slightly more than one third of Ireland's overseas development assistance is disbursed through support to key UN agencies such as the UN Development Programme, the UN Children's Fund, the UN Population Fund and UNAIDS.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:153 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his priorities in regard to the issues of famine and strife in Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30696/04]
View answerIreland's programme of development co-operation has sub-Saharan Africa as its core focus. The programme concentrates on addressing the key causes of problems relating to poverty, food insecurity and strife in Africa. We use a variety of channels to deliver our development support, including directly through our embassies in a number of African countries and indirectly using experienced and effective NGOs, UN agencies and other international organisations.
There is a strong interrelationship between conflict, food insecurity and poverty. Conflict is exacerbated by poverty, inequality and exclusion. It is undeniably the case that most wars occur in poor countries. Conflicts impact on the poorest and most vulnerable people, particularly women and children. Furthermore, food security is undermined by the effects of conflict.
Ireland responds in two ways to the humanitarian and development needs of Africa. In the short term, we focus on saving lives in the most effective way possible. A recent example of Ireland's humanitarian efforts is our response to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. We have combined immediate life-saving assistance through a number of key humanitarian NGOs and UN agencies, with pressure at the international political level to bring about an end to the conflict.
In the longer term, Ireland's development programme tackles the structural reasons underlying endemic poverty. One of the main ways in which this is pursued is through our strong development partnerships with six countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Through these partnerships, Ireland fully engages with Governments, local communities, donors, EU and UN agencies on the basis of poverty reduction strategy plans, PRSPs. The PRSP process brings Governments, donors and all interested stakeholders together, with the objective of prioritising a country's resources and expenditures to reduce poverty. They also aim to support democracy and build a culture of respect for human rights and the rule of law. These are enormous challenges. However, they stand the best chance of, at long last, beginning to reverse the decline of social and economic indicators in Africa. The people of Africa deserve no less.