Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND UPDATE
1. The Global Opportunities Fund has been
in operation for just over 6 months and in line with the GOF Strategy
is funding a wide variety of projects that support its key aim
and objectives.
The one core change has been the way in which
the GOF infra-structure has organised itself to deliver on those
objectives. It was initially envisaged that the budget would be
divided up between 5 Strand allocations (representing the objectives):
— Democracy and Good Governance
— Science and Technology.
Shortly after the release of the draft Strategy,
the FCO Board decided it would be more practical and effective
to allocate the budget across (initially) 5 Programmes that would
support clusters of projects in priority countries. The Programmes
would have to meet one or more of the above objectives. Subsequently
the following were agreed:
2. Climate Change and Energy Programme (located
in the Environment Policy Department, Global Issues Directorate)
To promote change in the governance of international
energy resources and systems to help secure the UK's medium-term
global climate change objectives.
Target Countries: China, India, South Africa,
Mexico, Russia, Nigeria, Angola and Kazakhstan.
3. Engaging with the Islamic World Programme
(located in the Middle East and North African Directorate)
To strengthen the rule of law, to promote good
governance and to increase the participation of women in decision
making in matters that affect their lives.
Geographic Scope: Islamic World, in particular
Middle and Near East (to expand in subsequent years).
4. Strengthening Relationships with Emerging
Markets Programme (located in the Economic Policy Department,
Global Issues Directorate)
To strengthen economic governance, democracy
and respect for human rights in the countries concerned and to
work more effectively with them in pursuit of shared interests.
Target Countries: China, India, Brazil, Russia,
South Africa, Argentina, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Korea and Mexico
5. Re-Uniting Europe Programme (located in
the EU Directorate)
To invest in and support those countries on
the path to EU membership while they are most open to change,
in order to further the UK's overall EU policy objectives.
Geographical Scope of Programme: The 10 EU accession
countries, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Western Balkans, Ukraine,
Moldova and Belarus.
6. Counter-Terrorism Programme (located in
the Counter-Terrorism Department, International Security Directorate)
To increase international capacity to counter
terrorism and other threats in support of UK bilateral and multilateral
security objectives.
Geographical Scope: Middle East, North Africa,
South East Asia, East and Horn of Africa and South Asia.
Fuller briefs on the 5 GOF Programmes follow
on from this update.
As the GOF evolves, it is envisaged that other
Programmes may be added. It has been agreed that a 6th Programme,
Human Rights, Democratisation and Good Governance will be added
in FY 2004/05.
All GOF Programmes are administered by Programme
Teams who in turn are monitored by the GOF Central Management
Unit (CMU). The CMU reports to the GOF Steering Group (made up
of FCO Directors, DFID/British Council representatives and other
interested parties) on a quarterly basis.
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY PROGRAMME
OBJECTIVE OF
PROGRAMME
7. To promote change in the governance of
international energy resources and systems to help secure the
UK's medium-term global climate change objectives.
TARGET COUNTRIES
8. The key programme countries are China,
India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, & Russia. Philippines,
Nigeria, Angola and Kazakhstan are second tier countries with
an emphasis on reform in the energy sector. The intention is not
to exclude projects in other countries. However, in order to ensure
the programme makes an impact, funding for other countries would
be for projects that are designed to have a clear regional impact
on climate change or energy policy, or have a global demonstration
value.
SUMMARY OF
PROGRAMME
9. To undertake a concerted programme of
work which increases international and regional collaboration
on energy sector governance in support of the UK's climate change
objectives.
Three main outcomes are envisaged:
— Key countries and businesses agree
need to increase investment in developing new low carbon technologies
in order to both improve energy security and tackle climate change
in the longer term.
— Acceleration in the global use of
renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, particularly
in rapidly industrialising countries critical to the success of
international efforts to tackle climate change. Including through
the UK Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
as a vehicle to create open markets and support regulation at
the national and international level.
— New strategic dialogues and programmes
on energy efficiency and renewable energy with key countries result
in improved management of resources and risks and better willingness
to engage in discussions on action to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.
FUNDS AVAILABLE
The budget for Financial Year '04-'05 will be
approximately £2,000,000.
COUNTER-TERRORISM PROGRAMME
OBJECTIVE
10. The CT programme is designed to support
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Strategic Objective No.1:
To increase international capacity to counter terrorism (CT)
and other threats in support of UK bilateral and multilateral
security objectives.
PRIORITY COUNTRIES/THEMES
11. Target countries have been identified
according to the current threat posed to UK interests from terrorism.
Priority regions are;
— Middle East and North Africa
— East and Horn of Africa
In addition the programme will also address
specific thematic issues of global concern including those covered
by UNSCR 1373 and the work of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee
(CT legislation, combating the financing of terrorism and border
control), aviation and maritime security, anti-kidnap training
and counter-proliferation. In all cases, account should be taken
of the value of Counter Terrorism Assistance (CTA) to forestall
future terrorist threats.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
12. The programme will be focussed on those
countries and thematic issues which are assessed to present the
greatest threat to UK interests and where the UK can add most
value to the co-ordinated international activity in the field
of counter-terrorism. The programme will primarily seek to support
sustainable CT relationships with key countries to develop their
long-term counter-terrorism capacity.
13. Within the programme there will be three
main strands of project activity:
— Operational CT Assistance: primarily
delivered bilaterally by UK counter-terrorism experts in government,
the police and military. Typical assistance projects include CT
law enforcement, CT crisis management, aviation security, hostage
and crisis negotiation training and bomb disposal.
— UNSCR 1373 CT Assistance: In
support of the work of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee, assistance
programmes are delivered to raise global standards of CT capacity
in the areas of CT legislation, combating the financing of terrorism,
charity regulation, border control and counter-proliferation.
— Wider capacity building: The
sustainability of aspects of the programme will often depend upon
wider capacity building initiatives across the security sector.
It will be appropriate therefore for programme funds to support
and promote such activity. This may include wider police training
and other security sector work.
14. Programme funds will also be used to
help develop the UK's capacity to deliver overseas CT assistance
projects. Presently CT Assistance funded by the FCO is delivered
by a limited pool of operational CT units, all of whom are already
stretched by our present demands on their time. The Programme
will be used to widen the available net of experts through the
identification and training of additional expert consultants and
advisers.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Gofcounterterrorism@fco.gov.uk
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ISLAMIC WORLD PROGRAMME
15. FCO objective(s), PSA target (s) to which
Programme relates: FCO objectives 1, 3 , 5
PSAs 1, 4, 6, 9
Key target regions: Islamic World, in
particular Middle and Near East in FY 2003-04 To expand cover
in subsequent years.
OBJECTIVE OF
PROGRAMME:
— To strengthen the rule of law;
— To promote good governance (including
through economic and administrative reform and through the oversight
of government);
— To increase the participation of
women in decision making in matters that affect their lives.
Through such engagement to underpin a moderate
version of Islam and greater understanding between Islam and the
West.
We have agreed an incremental budget of £1.5
million FY 2003-04 and £3 million 2004-05.
16. Each programme will be actively monitored
at all stages for an impact assessment.
The programme is designed to deliver:
— Greater political pluralism and a
stronger rule of law;
— Increased political and social participation
by women in the Islamic world;
— Better conditions for economic prosperity
in the region through reform of key institutions and the bureaucracy;
— Improved oversight of government
including by the media and a strengthened civil society;
— Through such reform to develop a
strong dialogue in support of a moderate version of Islam and
help minimise anti-Western sentiment and the threat from terrorism.
The main means of delivery will be through available
experts whether from within the region or from the UK.
INDICATORS OF
SUCCESS
17. An increase in the representation of
women in national and local government as well as in civil society
and international organisations;
Growth of institutions underpinned by international
standards and the rule of law;
Strengthening of civil society measured by development
of indigenous NGOs, enhanced legislative process, strengthened
public administration/civil service;
Legal and penal reform at national level measured
by the extent to which an independent and impartial judiciary
are operating in accordance with UN principles.
EXIT STRATEGY
18. The programme is initially designed
to run for three years. But this is a long term exercise in cultural
change. We are unlikely to see significant outcomes in 3 years
and the impact of the GOF programme will be a small when measured
against the broader objectives in the regions. Where projects
were yielding significant results we would seek further funding
while drawing to a close those where outputs were more limited.
PROGRAMME TIMELINES
AND EXAMPLES
OF BEST
PRACTICE
19. The deadline for bids was 8 September
2003. A Programme Selection Committee considered the bids and
met on 24 September to make the first selection.
Project funding was allocated in September and
examples of best practice will follow after implementation has
started.
LOG OF
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMME
BIDS
20. This list gives an indication of the
type of bids that were successful in the first round;
Training of selected senior officials on human
rights: e.g. Attorney General's Office in Oman. The expectation
is a long-term change within existing systems and responds to
a request from Oman that fits with FCO objectives.
A high level conference with influential decision
makers on reform in Saudi Arabia following on from a Ministerial
visit. This is a good example of a short-term individual event
which clearly works in support of existing objectives to promote
dialogue on opportunities for change.
Creation of a new high level skills course for
women. E.g. in Yemen to support the creation of an accessible
certified management training course.
Training judges on human rights instruments.
E.g. in Egypt training 720 trainee lawyers on civil and political
rights so that they can defend these rights when they qualify.
STRENGTHENING RELATIONS WITH EMERGING MARKETS
21. The Emerging Market Programme was approved
on 16 June 2003. The programme aims to support the achievement
of FCO objective 3:
"increased prosperity and a better quality
of life in the UK and worldwide, through effective economic and
political governance globally."
and the delivery of FCO PSA 7:
"to make globalisation work for sustainable
development in the UK and internationally (particularly in Africa)
by promoting democracy and the rule of law, good economic and
environmental governance, and security of long term energy supply,
measured by specific underlying targets."
22. The programme focuses on ten priority
countries which are seen as strategic partners for the UK on global
issues.
Priority A: China, India, Brazil, Russia,
South Africa
Priority B: Argentina, Indonesia, Nigeria,
South Korea, Mexico
23. The objective of the programme is:
"to strengthen economic governance, democracy
and respect for human rights in the countries concerned and to
work more effectively with them in pursuit of shared interests."
Projects will not necessarily be funded in all
10 countries. Projects will be incorporated into country sub-programmes
which will provide a strategic framework for all project activity
in each of the countries concerned.
24. In the first year, the programme is
focusing mainly on helping to strengthen governance within the
priority country. Key themes include economic reform to ensure
sustainable growth and stability, promoting corporate social responsibility,
combatting corruption, building participatory democracy, strengthening
civil society and human rights, promoting adoption of new technology
and improved management of natural resources.
In subsequent years, this work will continue,
but will increasingly be accompanied by activities aimed at building
strategic relationships with the priority countries to have a
positive impact on regional or global issues. There is also scope
for regional initiatives involving one or more of the priority
countries and States within their sphere of influence.
REUNITING EUROPE PROGRAMME
25. To invest in, and support, those countries
on the path to EU membership while they are most open to change,
in order to further the UK's overall EU policy objectives. Geographical
and thematic priorities will be reviewed in each funding year
to take account of the EU accession process and other developments
in the region.
GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE
OF PROGRAMME
— The 10 EU accession countries (Czech
Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,
Poland, Slovakia & Slovenia);
— The 3 candidate countries (Bulgaria,
Romania and Turkey);
— Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia
& Herzegovina , Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
Serbia & Montenegro);
— Ukraine, Moldova & Belarus;
Priority will be given to applications covering
the following: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, Romania, Serbia
& Montenegro (SaM), Turkey and Ukraine in the first year.
This focus is likely to shift as the Enlargement process develops.
SUMMARY OF
PROGRAMME
26. Priority themes are as follows:
(i) Better conditions for economic growth
through policy reform and more effective judiciary and bureaucracy.
(ii) Better co-operation on Justice &
Home Affairs (JHA) issues to help reduce cross-border crime and
illegal immigration.
(iii) Stronger democracy and rule of law.
27. The emphasis will vary depending on
the region concerned. In 2003-04 there will be a focus on political
and economic good governance for accession countries; on human
rights for Turkey; on political/economic governance, and legal
reform and Justice and Home Affairs for the candidate countries;
and on JHA, economic reform and improved governance for Moldova
& Belarus. Allocation for 2003-04 is £2.1 million.
The programme is designed to complement the
work of other donors active in the region (eg the European Commission,
particularly in niche areas where UK assistance can provide value-added,
where we have a comparative advantage or where we can apply leverage
for more substantial (eg EC) funding.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
October 2003
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