What is the UK government's approach to international development?
Launching its recent white paper, the Department for International Development (DfID) said the developing world is facing its profoundest challenge in a generation and that development is not just a moral cause, but is in all of our common interests.
It talks about an"increasingly interdependent world" and, as such, will strengthen partnerships with development countries through civil organisations, faith groups and the private sector.
Underpinning all the government's messages on development, however, is its commitment to meet its promises on aid – specifically to hit the UN target of 0.7% of national income, amounting to £9bn, which it expects to do by 2013.
What are some of the main policy pledges?
Poverty reduction and sustainable development remain the planks of the UK government's development objectives. The new white paper also sets out the government's commitment to protecting the poorest through the current economic downturn and supporting poor countries as they adapt to the impact of climate change. Details of how the government plans to achieve all it promises, particularly in regard to ensuring greater transparency and delivering aid more effectively, are thin on the ground.
directing half of UK bilateral aid - around £1bn a year - into conflict affected and "fragile" states
investing £1bn for African infrastructure programmes, including transport, energy and trade
a renewed commitment of ￡800m to support climate change adaptation, mitigation and innovation
plans to help 50 million poor people through the global downturn
assisting 15 countries in growing their economies through an international growth centre
supporting 8 million children in school by 2010
trebling the amount of money devoted to fighting corruption in developing countries
reforming the World Bank and the IMF to improve responsiveness and effectiveness and to give developing countries more say in how resources are used
giving a higher priority to tackling malnutrition and launching a new nutrition strategy by the end of 2009
What are they saying?
"It is morally right to help our global neighbours free themselves from the shackles of extreme poverty. But in today's world, with climate change, migration, international crime and terror – it is also in our self-interest," says Douglas Alexander, Britain's international development secretary. "As the credit crunch, the food crisis and the rise of the price of oil remind us, in today's world no country can isolate itself from global pressures. By supporting poor countries to become stable and effective states, we contribute to the emergence of global solutions."