To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the development of international health partnership compacts between international development partners and the governments of (a) Burundi, (b) Cambodia, (c) Ethiopia, (d) Kenya, (e) Mozambique, (f) Nepal, (g) Zambia and (h) Mali; whether he has identified inadequate funding as a hindrance in the development of any such compact; and what arrangements his Department has in place to overcome any such hindrance. (187434)

The international health agencies, under the leadership of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Bank, are now implementing the International Health Partnership (IHP). At the country-level, the governments are working with these agencies and other donors to develop country compacts. We do not have specific information on the progress in each of the IHP countries. There will be a meeting in Lusaka, Zambia this month to review progress in individual countries. Early indications are positive. WHO expects the first set of compacts to be ready by September 2008.

The health agencies have identified a budget of £7 million over two years in order to implement the IHP. To date £4 million has already been provided, with the UK funding £3.5 million and Norway £0.5 million. The WHO and the World Bank are approaching other countries to provide the balance of costs in year two of this work. Part of these funds are earmarked to offset the costs involved in developing country compacts.