3. Supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Department for International Development: Follow-up to
Secretary of State's evidence session, 24 July 2006
Q378 Publication of booklet on volunteering
We have looked into the possibility of producing
a booklet on best practice in volunteering and specifically twinning
initiatives. Information on volunteering best practice in response
to a disaster is already available in DFID's "Disasters and
Emergencies Overseas: How you can help" booklet. For longer
term reconstruction support, guidance is already in the "Rough
Guide to a Better World and how you can make a difference"
publication. We are providing copies of both booklets for IDC
members. On town twinning, the Local Government International
Bureau and Local Government Association already provide guidance
for local authorities on their websites, so we have decided to
place a link to this advice on the DFID website, and we will look
to incorporate appropriate material in any future publications
we print.
DFID will also look at the possibility of using
twinning initiatives to support our work in raising development
awareness. We will update the Committee on progress next year.
Q403 Disaster Risk Reduction—contacts
with the World Bank and EU
Gareth Thomas wrote to European Commissioner
Louis Michel on 15 May 2006 urging the EC to do more to support
DRR measures in disaster-prone developing countries. In his reply
of 12 June, Mr Michel confirmed that the EC would do more to integrate
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into its country and regional programmes.
DFID's representations to the World Bank resulted
in the establishment in June 2006 of a DFID-funded World Bank
DRR programme. Totalling more than £4 million over three
years, this will help developing country governments incorporate
DRR into Poverty Reduction Strategies.
September 2006
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