Department for International Development
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The Department for International Development (DFID) is a United Kingdom government department, the function of which is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty".
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Ministers
The Department is headed by Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn. The only other minister is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Gareth Thomas.
Permanent Secretary
The current Permanent Secretary (since 2002) at DFID is Suma Chakrabarti.
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. [1]
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.
DFID Programmes
Imfundo Partnership for IT in Education