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Dept for International Development

Answer

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has given in the last five years to (a) education and (b) health projects in Kiribati. [73974] Clare Short: 1. DFID has provided assistance in health and education to Kiribati in a number of different ways in the last 5 years. We: (a) have strengthened the management and teaching capacity of the Tarawa Technical Institute. (£713,000) (b) have provided advice on how best to strengthen the curriculum in primary schools, particularly in relation to English and the Kiribati language. (Visits from DFID advisers). (c) have supported the very successful local development theatre group Te Itibwerere. This has enabled them to act as a medium for delivering a wide range of development messages for people of all ages. Topics include HIV/AIDS awareness, health and sanitation, domestic violence and environmental issues. (£240,000). (d). are supporting Voluntary Services Overseas in a 2 year project (until March2004) to tackle HIV/AIDS and social education issues. The project will increase the impact and effectiveness of civil society and government responses to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (£144,000). 2. The UK is also contributing to EC programmes in Kiribati. 12 million euros were allocation for the period 1995-2001. Interventions include an allocation of 1.6 million euros for a national training programme to provide in-country training to meet Kiribati's manpower needs and skills requirements. A second phase of the programme, costing 6.4 million euros, will be implemented to provide outer island adults and school leavers with the skills, needed for employment. This 5 year programme will also further strengthen the Tarawa Technical Institute and extend its activities to the outer islands. The health sector, particularly outer island primary health care, may become the focus for future cooperation between Kiribati and the EC under the Cotonou Agreement.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

390 c655-8W;390 c657-8W; 73974

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Development aid Health Health services Education Health education EU action Kiribati

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk