Annex A
CLARIFICATIONS AND COMMENTS ON THE REPORT TEXT
Uganda
Paragraph 16:
Accurate data on the cause of death is difficult
to obtain using crude mortality surveys. Further work is required
on this to enable interventions to be better targeted. DFID has
raised this with both the Government and UN agencies and is funding
this work.
PARAGRAPH 22:
In January 2006 the UK Government reduced its 2005/06
Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) by £15 million and
held back £5 million until after the elections. This decision
was taken in particular because of concerns about the way in which
the first multi-party elections since 1980 were being handled.
The £15 million released from PRBS was diverted to assist
with the humanitarian crisis in the North.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
PARAGRAPH 28:
Recent information has shown that the largest bilateral
donor is in fact the US, not the UK. This comparison excludes
our share of finance through the European Union and shares of
finance for peacekeeping operations (which we would in any case
exclude as they are not Official Development Assistance (ODA)).
ENGAGING WITH FRAGILE STATES
PARAGRAPH 35:
The issue of 'donor darlings' and 'donor orphans'
is not a result of the World Bank's Country Policy and Institute
Assessment (CPIA) index per se, rather it is a result of
the way in which the CPIA score is used in donor aid allocation
models and policies. The use of the CPIA as a proxy for fragility
is, however, debatable. It does provide a reasonably comprehensive
and objective assessment of the policy environment. But the CPIA
fails to capture sufficiently some key aspects of fragility, such
as accommodation of political dissent, political instability,
and security or susceptibility to conflict. The World Bank itself
has recognised that security-related variables are missing from
the CPIA. DFID is currently reviewing its approach to the issue
of whether or not to maintain a list of Fragile States.
GOVERNANCE: THE ROLE AND TIMING OF ELECTIONS
PARAGRAPH 86:
The 2006 elections were the first multi-party elections
since 1980. In March 2005 the UK Government withheld £5
million from its £40 million budget support for financial
year 2004/2005. In January 2006 the UK Government reduced its
2005/2006 allocation of PRBS by £15 million and diverted
this sum to northern Uganda in the form of humanitarian assistance.
In addition £5 million was withheld until after the elections.
This £5 million was released in July 2006.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE DRC
PARAGRAPH 104:
The report states that NGOs such as Action Aid argue
that voluntary codes of conduct are insufficient, and that many
civil society organisations support stronger regulation of corporate
behaviour through, for example, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises. It goes on to say that the UK Government view is
that a voluntary approach to regulation is adequate at present.
This is inaccurate regarding both the Government's and civil society's
views on the OECD Guidelines as well as the Government's overall
ambitious vision for Corporate Social Responsibility. The Government
very much supports the Guidelines, and has recently revamped the
UK's National Contact Point to strengthen implementation of the
Guidelines. UK NGOs support the Government's revamp, but generally
view the Guidelines as a relatively weak instrument. They do not
equate the Guidelines with the 'stronger regulation' noted in
the paragraph.
WOMEN AND PEACEBUILDING
PARAGRAPH 133:
The guide on gender, peace and security referred
to by the committee will be specifically for Africa.
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