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Ethiopia: Overseas Aid

Volume 480: debated on Monday 6 October 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the reasons are for the amount of development aid and assistance allocated to (a) Ethiopia and (b) Eritrea in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09. (222664)

UK Aid to Ethiopia was: £90.5 million in 2006-07 and £139.5 million in 2007-08 and is budgeted to be £140 million in 2008-09. These allocations have been made in recognition of the needs of the large poor population and the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment to poverty reduction, strong financial management capacity and programmes to improve capacity. The UK Government have been able to establish a strong development partnership that is delivering real impact in terms of better service delivery and poverty reduction.

UK Aid to Eritrea was £3.49 million in 2006-07 and £3.37 million in 2007-08 and is budgeted to be £2.1 million in 2008-09. UK Government assistance is limited to a humanitarian programme, which is channelled through international relief agencies. The UK Government do not have a development programme in Eritrea because it has not been possible to establish a development partnership with the Eritrean Government.