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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is supporting in Iraq. [201288] Hilary Benn: Since March 2003, DFID has committed £333 million for humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Iraq, and disbursed approximately £251 million. This sum includes over £100 million disbursed through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations in response to humanitarian appeals in 2003. Current projects in Iraq supported by DFID are listed as follows. Reconstruction in southern Iraq: £20 million to an Emergency Infrastructure Programme, which is improving the supply of water, power and fuel to over five million people in the south. £20.5 million capacity building programme in the four southern Governorates, aimed at supporting strategic planning and financial management in both the public and private sectors. £16.5 million programme to generate employment and address weaknesses in essential services in the four southern Governorates. Technical assistance to help co-ordinate reconstruction in the south, and ensure completion of former Coalition Provisional Authority projects. (£5.5 million). Re-establishing radio and television broadcasting capacity in the south, through training programmes and supply of equipment. (£7 million). Support to government, justice, media and civil society: Technical support and training (£4 million) within Iraq's system of public administration; focused on the centre of government (Prime Minister's Office, Council of Ministers' Secretariat, and Presidency) and in key ministries for reconstruction. Support to the justice sector (£2 million): training programmes in international human rights law to Iraqi judges, lawyers and prosecutors. £4.3 million macro-economic reform project to support the Iraqi Government in developing and implementing pro-poor economic reform programmes. £5 million Political Participation Fund; supporting the development of legitimate and inclusive political institutions in Iraq, and to enable potentially marginalized groups to participate in the political process. £5 million Civil Society Fund: strengthening the capacity of Iraqi civil society organisations to better address the needs of the most vulnerable groups. £1 million media project: training journalists, editors and media managers on humanitarian and independent reporting. Multilateral contributions: £70 million contribution to the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), managed by the UN and the World Bank. Seventeen donors have committed around $1 billion to IRFFI. The UN and World Bank are implementing projects in a wide range of sectors including health, education, water and sanitation, electricity supply, support to refugees and internally displaced people, governance, and the electoral process. Over £3 million to the IMF, to project support to the Interim Iraqi Government in economic governance and financial management. Contribution of £8.5 million to the International Finance Corporation for a Small Business Fund Facility, designed to improve access to finance for small Iraqi businesses.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

201288; 428 c285W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Development aid Iraq

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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