Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:65 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the five countries which will receive the largest amount of overseas development aid for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13026/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 4 April 2006
Ceisteanna (64)
Freagraí scríofa
In 2006, it is expected that the largest amounts of Irish development aid will be provided to Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia. Ireland's assistance will be delivered via our embassies in these countries and through non-governmental organisations, NGOs, missionaries and UN agencies active on the ground. Funding will also be delivered through global programmes supported by Ireland, such as the global fund for AIDS, TB and malaria. It is estimated that in 2006 assistance amounting to over €150 million will be provided to these five countries. These five countries are among the poorest in the world, ranked from number 146 to number 171, out of 177, on the United Nations human development index, HDI.
Ireland's support is focused on poverty reduction through the provision of basic services, the building of local capacity and the promotion of good governance, including human rights. We work closely with other donors, host governments and civil society to ensure a coherent and co-ordinated approach to development activities. This approach stands the best chance of reversing years of economic and social decline.
At a very practical level our aid programme assists, inter alia, the building of schools, health centres, sanitation facilities and rural roads, the sinking of village wells and the training of teachers, health workers and public servants. We also focus on preventing and mitigating the spread of HIV-AIDS and we facilitate the promotion of a culture of good governance and human rights, through supporting human rights and anti-corruption commissions, as well as national parliaments.