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Information About

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CURRENT MINISTERS



PERMANENT SECRETARY

The current Permanent Secretary (since 2002 ) at DFID is Suma Chakrabarti .


HISTORY

Originally created as the Ministry of Overseas Development (ODM) during the Labour government of 1964-70, the agency lost its ministerial status following the Conservative victory in 1979. Its successor, the Overseas Development Administration (ODA), was under the supervision of the .


MISSION

The main piece of legislation governing DFID's work is the International Development Act , which came into force on 17 June 2002, replacing the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act (1980). The Act makes Poverty Reduction the focus of DFID's work, and effectively outlaws Tied Aid . [http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/ida.asp]

As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, DFID works to support the United Nations ’ eight ‘ Millennium Development Goals ’, namely to:
  • halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger

  • ensure that all children receive primary education

  • promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice

  • reduce child death rates

  • improve the health of mothers

  • combat HIV & AIDS, malaria and other diseases

  • make sure the environment is protected

  • build a global partnership for those working in development.

  • - all with a 2015 deadline.


The reality may well be that none of these goals will be achieved so long as the trade gap between Africa and richer countries continues to widen. Former Secretary of State Hilary Benn has indicated that on current trends, we will not achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 {Link without Title} .


DFID RESEARCH

DFID is a major funder of development-focussed research, managed by its Central Research Department through a series of Research Programme Consortia (RPCs) Information on both DFID current research programmes and completed research can be found on the [http://www.research4development.info/ Research4Development (R4D) portal .

The DFID Research Funding Framework {Link without Title} identifies four priorities, which take two-thirds of the funding. They are:


The remaining third of the spend is allocated under the following headings:


DFID also conducts research into trade This is mainly financed by International Trade Department. Central Research Department funds some trade research through the World Bank's Knowledge for Change Programme [http://www.research4development.info/projectsAndProgrammes.asp?ProjectID=3861 .

See also the DFID Imfundo Partnership for IT in Education.


EXTERNAL LINKS