The Secretary of State for International Development responds to questions from citizens on various issues ranging from the role of business in international development, MDG's and the overall work of DFID.
Andy Jaeger: Isn't explicitly involving the private sector in development a dangerous thing? Surely their motive will be profit rather than humanitarian?
Douglas replies: The private sector has a key role to play in generating the wealth and employment required both to increase prosperity and to fund basic services in poor countries. No country has managed to lift itself out of proverty in recent decades without trading with its neighbours, and countries in South Asia have in recent years managed to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty. So I believe we should encourage both the public and private sectors together with civil societies and NGOs to all make a contribution to the challenge of development.
Mary Dawson: Given the Business Call to Action is 'not about philanthropy' and is about exploring new business opportunities it's obviously important that sub-Saharan Africa has a literate and trained work force to engage in these opportunities. Therefore what is the government doing to ensure not just that educational opportunities are open to all but that education in sub-Saharan Africa is of a high enough quality to meet the needs of businesses?
Douglas replies: We are working with a number of sub-Saharan African countries to extend educational opportunities. Today about 72 million children still have no school to attend and significant number of these kids live in African countries like Nigeria. That is why we are working with Governments, like the government in Uganda to provide new classrooms, new teachers and new opportunities. I saw this for myself when I visited a school in Kampala last November when the children told me of how much they valued the support of the British Government.
More on the Business Call to Action
Nik Kafka: The important role of business in international development is clearly recognized by the government and within DfID - but does the Secretary of State see a similar role of Social Enterprise in pro-poor development? And if so, how are DfID working towards supporting Social Enterprise approaches in developing countries?
Douglas replies: Prior to taking up my position at DFID I was the Minister for Social Enterprise in the DTI so I am fully aware of the contribution social enterprises can make both at home and abroad. DFID has a range of support available to NGOs and civil society to support their work in developing countries. If you have particular interests, why not visit DFID's website to find out more.
Ben Miller: Does does he think businesses can do more to support the Fairtrade initiative as a great way of supporting development? How can Dfid help this already successful movement more?
Douglas replies: We have seen a big increase in support for fair trade products in recent years here in Britain and I am delighted by such progress - but we still have a long way to go. In 2006 UK supermarkets spent £2.7 billion buying food, toys and clothes from developing countries. In contrast £250 million was spent on fair trade labelled products. I hope that we will see a bigger share of fair trade labelled products being stocked by UK supermarkets and being bought by UK consumers.
DFID is a strong supporter of the growing fair trade and ethical trading sector. During Fair Trade Fortnight I announced a doubling of DFID's commitment to £1.2 million to expand fair trade labelling across Europe and to help producers in the poorest countries around the world.
Eleanor Ramsey: DFID said ACP countries would be able to have long transitional periods, incl up to 25 years before they had to open their markets. Why then do countries like the Ivory Coast and the Caribbean have to open up most of their trade to competition within 5 years?
Douglas replies: DFID has long argued that Economic Partnership Agreements can bring increased opportunities to trade, more business and more jobs. 35 countries now have better access to Europe, simpler rules of origin of a product's makeup, and longer periods to open up their markets.
We are presently reviewing the texts that were negotiated and discussing them with ACP Governments to hear their views directly. The Ivory Coast and the Caribbean regions are part of those discussions.
Nick Chan: Is it inevitable that developing countries follow the same high-carbon development path that developed countries have - if it is not, why isn't the UK aid effort overwhelmingly directed in favour of low-carbon technologies, but still heavily biased toward fossil fuels?
Douglas replies: No. We support countries to follow a low carbon development path. That involves providing expert advice and research relevant to individual countries, together with our work to use our £800 million Environmental Transformation Fund to catalyse a broader international effort to support adaptation and mitigation in developing countries.
Leo Bryant: DFID has done fantastic work to get the Milennium Development Goals adjusted to reflect the importance of reproductive health services (such as family planning) to reduce maternal deaths worldwide. With maternal mortality still so high, will the UK now use its achievement to encourage more support from the international community for reproductive health?
Douglas replies: We are already working with others to try and tackle the issue of reproductive services. I saw for myself in Sierra Leone how vital maternal health services are, if the present appalling levels of maternal mortality are to be brought down. We are working with both the Danish and Norwegian Governments and we are hopeful that more focus will fall on this issue when heads of state gather in New York for the United Nations Secretary General's special meeting on the MDGs on September 25.
Brad Fuller: I work for a charity delivering malaria prevention and treatment in Zambia. The Prime Minister recently announced that 20 million mosquito nets will be purchased for Africa at a cost of £100 million pounds. As you well know buying the nets is only the first step. How does DFID intend to handle distribution and training in correct net usage?
Douglas replies: We already have experience of working with Governments and NGOs in Africa to make sure that bednets reach where they are needed and that people understand how to use them properly. Last November I travelled to Kenya and went out with one NGO who perform theatre in villages where they distribute bednets in order to teach parents to ensure that children sleep under this protection. We are already working to take forward the PM's announcement and only last night I attended a discussion with the Roll Back Malaria campaign to discuss how we can work with them in their continuing efforts to combat this disease.
claire morris: With the spread of HIV, growing resistance to first and second line treatment and the growing precedence of cancer and other non-communicable diseases, could you tell me what the British Government is doing to support the development of hospice and palliative care in developing countries, particularly considering the UK's role as the pioneer of this important movement.
Douglas replies: Just last week I met with Prof. David Kerr of Oxford University to discuss cancer care in Africa. He is working to try and ensure that African Governments integrate cancer strategies into their national planning of health policy. Many of these countries lack the most basic of facilities but recognise that cancer is a growing challenge. We are working with a number of Governments to help them coordinate their approaches to health care, not only for the treatment of cancer and HIV/AIDS, but for other diseases as well.
Clive Bacon: Given that children 0-18 years make up about 50% of the population in developing countries what is DFID doing to ensure it's work is child focused and that children participate in DFID decision making processes and evaluations.
Douglas replies: DFID supports work helping pregnant mothers, young infants and primary aged school children. That means ensuring access to lifesaving medical care, clean water and food, together with ensuring access to real educational opportunities. I have seen the difference that these programmes make in countries like Ghana, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Louise Meincke: What steps are DfID taking to ensure that street children are on the international development agenda, especially considering that this is a particularly vulnerable and overlooked group which do not normally benefit from 'community development' programmes?
Douglas replies: The week before last I met a British charity working in Durban, South Africa to help support street children in that city. Given that the World Cup will soon be held in South Africa there is a real opportunity to focus attention on the needs of street children, who as you say are all too often overlooked.
Peg Bavin: The recent International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report calls for a radical change in agricultural policy, placing the focus on sustainable agriculture and small-scale production. What is your view of the report, and will the Government adapt its' approach in accordance with the findings?
Douglas replies: It is expected that the Government's response will be published over the summer.
Sophie: Do you think that DFID should do more to educate the UK public about its work? If so, how do you think this should be done?
Douglas replies: I think it is really important that people here in Britain know the work that we in DFID do on their behalf, in part that is why I am taking part in this web chat today. I am confident that if people in Britian had the same opportunity that I have had in recent months to see the difference that DFID is making that they would be convinced as I am just how important is this work.
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