21 June 2007
Thank you for your questions to Hilary Benn on Africa and international development issues. A transcript of the webchat is available below.
Read the transcript
Hilary says: Hello. Hilary Benn here and ready to answer your questions!
Dennis James: What are the tangible strategies that G8 has put in place to eradicate poverty in Africa and if there is/any how do they hope to achieve it or them?
Hilary replies:
We have the Gleneagles commitments on debt which have already written off debts for 22 of the world’s poorest countries. It’s allowed Zambia to introduce free health care in rural areas. On aid, the UK is keeping its commitments - we have to make sure other countries keep theirs!
On trade, we are stuck, but haven’t given up hope of a breakthrough. It’s also about developing countries keeping their promises - good governance is the most important. But on current trends, we will not achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Tunde Oseni: I would want to know how far the G8 nations have fulfilled the earlier (Gleneagles) promises to Africa, in respect of wiping off poverty on the face of Africa. And also would like to what the British government in particular is doing towards improving the lives of the teeming youths of one of her former colonies, Nigeria.
Hilary replies:
Dear Tunde - see my previous answer, but on Nigeria we have a big programme. The most important thing, however, is the decisions that the new government takes in fighting corruption and using the country’s oil wealth to improve people’s lives. We did also help Nigeria achieve the biggest debt deal in the history of Africa.
Professor S. C. Mallick: There are 54 low-income countries and 58 low-middle-income countries spread over Africa, South Asia and other continents. Why G8 emphasizes only Africa?
Hilary replies:
Because that is where the problem is greatest, but the G8 aid commitment was to increase global aid by $50bn, half of which would go to Africa.
Africa - vast continent, big challenges, great potential
Max Smith: Every other year, the G8 makes promises to solve the African problem by promising more money. When will you actually realise the problem is not necessarily money, but the administration. The UK and others promise economic incentives on the one hand and take it back via indirect colonialism by controlling trade prices etc. This is the area that needs to be addressed. Remember the adage, give a man a fish and he’ll feed for a day, teach him to fish and he’ll be self sufficient. African countries don’t want handouts, they want to be self-sufficient. Are you going to help with that?
Hilary replies:
Absolutely right, Max. What the developing world needs more than anything else is the chance to earn and trade its way out of poverty. That’s why a deal in the Doha talks is so important.
andrew rawlinson: We are constantly told that trade is a key issue with regards to African countries and others escaping poverty, but every round of trade talks collapses because rich countries are so protectionist (EU farm subsidies, US steel and textile tariffs and so on). What can be done to get around this problem and what, specifically, do you think African countries need to get out of the next round of trade talks?
Hilary replies: African countries want better market access, an end to rich country subsidies, better rules of origin and recognition of the circusmtances that they start from; ie the speed which they open up their markets and keeping the right to protect particular sectors that they depend a lot upon. And they want aid for trade - ie investment that will help them build roads and improve customs facilities so that goods can flow quicker.
Dave Pearce: If the Doha round really was intended to primarily help lift the poorest countries out of poverty, how should these countries be compensated for the continuing agricultural subsidies (which will continue even if they are reduced)? Can ‘aid for trade’ possibly be sufficient? Why shouldn’t these countries be allowed to protect their markets from dumping from the EU?
Hilary replies: Dave, see the answer I have just put up.
Raphael Rogans-Watson: In light of the fact that the DOHA round has been virtually unmentioned during this year’s G8, how does DFID, the DTI, and other relevant UK Government departments propose to practically support countries wishing to use TRIPS flexibilities?
Hilary replies: We are strong supporters of Trade related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and we are helping countries to make the best use of its flexibilities, especially in the fight against AIDS and other diseases.
Glen Lee: Like many people, I would like to support trade in developing countries by buying their goods but I am concerned that those goods should be produced by adults, under good working conditions with proper health and safety standards, decent hours and at least a living wage. Would it be possible to introduce a reliable labelling system, rather like Fair Trade so that we can be sure that we are not just enriching exploitative employers and businesses but enabling people to work their way out of poverty?
Hilary replies:
Glen - FairTrade is a really important start and it is why themarket has grown so quickly. The more of these goods we buy, the more other businesses will get the message. There is also the Ethical Trading Initiative - which we support - and that is doing a lot of good work too.
Toby Quantrill: In the light of emerging information on climate change impacts and other environmental resource constraints, can we really make poverty history AND continue to rely on a strategy based on global economic growth? You and David Miliband said on Monday that we can de-link economic growth, consumption and carbon, yet there is little evidence that this is possible. How much are we prepared to risk on this unproven assumption?
Hilary replies: Not so, Toby. That’s just what we have done in the UK in the last few years. But you are right that we have to make economic growth - both here and in developing countries - much more sustainable and low carbon.
Dr. VK Sapovadia: When there is a clash between environmental issues with that of poverty, what should be the priority? say for example in few developing countries in Asia & Africa, it is possible to manufacture hazardeous chemicals that generate emplyoment. The chemical process is damaging environment. The employees are aware the danger they are facing, but there is compulsion on their part as they faces extreme poverty. How do you address the question of preserving environment and providing employment to hungry people?
Moderator replies: In the end, countries and their politics will have to take these decisions. But as we see in China now, people are becoming more aware of the environmental consequences of economic development, and they are starting to take steps to deal with it.
Ellie: Hello Hilary.
Thanks for your efforts so far for treatment for all by2010.
Do you agree with Stephen Lewis "that the betrayal of Africa is almost a matter of principle for the G8" and that promising an extra $60bn for health "over the coming years" means nothing? I don’t govern a country yet I know that goals should be time specific and measurable. What hope do AIDS sufferers have of getting access to medicines as they were promised back at Gleneagles?
Hilary replies: Thanks for your thanks, but no, Ellie, I don’t agree. The truth is that there are now over 1 million people in Africa on antiretrovirals (ARVs); six years ago that figure was 100,000. Is it enough ? No. Is it progress? Yes. And we need more of it. That requires money for drugs but also money for nurses, doctors, and clinics, and the G8 was clearer 2 weeks ago about how the extra money will flow.
Kari Mawhood: In light of the G8 commitment to increase funding to HIV and AIDS, what increased spending will be forthcoming for prevention and particularly sexual health commodities?
Hilary replies: That will partly be for countries to decide, but we are also helping through our own programmes - which inlcude distributing a lot of condoms - and through the Global Fund. The best prevention is knowledge which is why fighting stigma and discrimination is so important.
Claire Morris: UNAIDS recognises that palliative care is one of the most neglected area of health care particularly in Africa where the need is so great. Indeed a recent survey by the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University found that 119 countries around the world had no palliative care services AT ALL and a significant number of these were in Africa. There were only two countries in Africa where palliative care services were approaching integration with the mainstream health providers and gaining wider policy recognition. 1. What is DFID planning to do support the development of hospice and palliative care in Africa. 2. Do you think DFID should be doing more as it can be argued that no other agency is effectively taking the lead in this area?
Hilary replies: Good point, Claire. This is a really under-developed part of the fight against AIDS. In practice it is families and communities that are providing it now, but it is the same problem as the broader fight against AIDS - lack of health service capacity. We all need to do more.
rob thomson: Mr Benn,
what mechanisms are in place to monitor the aid donated to impoverished countries, for example in Africa? What measures are being taken to encourage / force good governance and what is done when corruption seems insurmountable?
Thank you
Hilary replies: Thanks, Rob. We take great care to ensure that our aid money goes where it is intended. And for every partner we have three requirements; that they are serious about fighting poverty, that they uphold human rights and other international obligations, and that they fight corruption and promote good goverance. We give our aid in different ways depending on the circumstances.
Stephen Mutoro: Dear Mr. Benn,
My name is Stephen Mutoro from Nairobi, Kenya.First, I must appreciate your great effort in reaching out to Africa as been the case with Mr. Tony Blair.
The question is - Why do people in the West believe that "help" or "aid" to the continent is a panacea to the woes of the continent? Is not simplistic to have to imagine that a mere absence of money (against the Western benchmarks) is the problem? And if Africa should look up to the West for solutions, just how will the West improve the governance, transparency and accountability - which for me is more crucial than providing more avenue for corruption through further aid?
Hilary replies: It is not a panacea, Stephen but it does help feed people, distribute bednets, help governments to get more children into school, or buy drugs. It also helps governments to build their capacity to do all these things. In the end, however, the most important factor is good governance!
kathy: Do you think it is right that poor countries have to liberalise their economies in order to qualify for debt relief from place like the IMF? Or should they receive debt relief unconditionally, as NGOs say?
Hilary replies: Well, Kathy, the multilateral debt cancellation agreed at Gleneagles has no conditions attached at all. But it is true that there are conditions attached to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) scheme which countries have to go through first. In the end, the conditions were part of the deal on getting HIPC and it is not unreasonable to esnure that the money released is used for reducing poverty.
Cathy Marchi: Dear Sir
Will the British Government join Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa and other leading Human Rights Activists in advocating the establishment of a UN controlled Trust fund allowing Sudan to continue to export oil, to countries such as China And Russia but placing the revenue from oil sales in a mandatory oil trust fund?Which will then be used to help the victims in Darfur.
Will The British Government also support the proposed criteria for the lifting of these sanctions also proposed by Justice Richard Goldstone?
Which include the end to attacks on civilians, an end to obstruction of intervention by humanitarian agencies and deployment of the United Nations- African hybrid force?
Hilary replies:
It is an interesting idea but it would need the agreement of the Government of Sudan to make it happen.
The most important thing we can do is to get the hybrid AU/UN force in and get the peace talks going again. In the meantime, we continue to provide humanitarian aid to the 2 million people living in camps and to the others who have been displaced by this terrible conflict.
James Yew: How effective will the hybrid AU/UN force be in assisting local people in Darfur and bringing an end to the lawlessness to the region?
Hilary replies: Well James it will have a lot more troops than the current AU force which has done a good job in very difficult circumstances. But in the end it is only a bigger sticking plaster on the conflict. What we need is a negotiated peace agreement.
Jane Grantham: Given the plans for every school in the UK to have an international partner school by 2010 what role do you think school partnerships between the UK and schools African countries have? Will increasing numbers of partnerships affect the quality at all?
Hilary replies: I think the most important effect is that they change the way those who take part think about the world. I have spoken to many young people who have taken part and seen what a diference they have made. That’s why we want to help more of them to happen.
suvashi: my name is suvahi i am from india. I am a tribal women and i know very closly tribals peoples problems in india. So many tribal childrens are dropout from school because they are below on poverty line and they have no any job.
So I want to do some help to tribal children to futher study .
suvashi
Hilary replies: Thanks Suvashi. There are still many children not in school, and it is both about providing school places and ensuring that families can afford to send their children to school - in every sense. Good luck!
Ruth Dearnley: In order to deliver on the G8 promises, it is essential that the gender imbalance is addressed. Women bear the brunt of poverty and hardship and unless this issue is tackled and women are given the opportunity to empower themselves, we will never be able to achieve global social justice. With this in mind, what is DfID doing to ensure that the UN delivers upon Gender Equality Architectural reform, by establishing a fully and ambitiously funded UN Women’s Agency?
Hilary replies: We are supporting the UN in trying to do this, Ruth.
Sarah: What is your view of Andrew Mitchell’s recent suggestion to expand the objectives of NATO to do humanitarian and peacekeeping interventions in Africa?
Hilary replies: We all have a part to play and NATO countries have helped out in the past with peacekeeping. On humanitarian assistance, I think this should be led by the humanitarian agencies, but there may be occasions - like the Pakistan earthquake or the tsunami - where military help is neded to get supplies in.
Ann&Rebecca: Hi, what role do you think young people have in eradicating poverty?
Ann and Rebecca (16)
Hilary replies: Thanks Ann and Rebecca. The best thing you can do is raise the issue, ask questions like this, get campaigning, talk to your friends and help all of us to realise that this is a responsibility we all share. We live on a small and fragile planet and we are in this together. So best of luck.
Hilary says:
I am sorry that I have go off now, but I have really enjoyed trying to answer some of your questions. I would be happy to do another session in the future. And if you are really burning to get an answer, then write to me and I will respond!
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