The Department for International Development (DFID) is the UK Government department responsible for promoting development and reducing poverty overseas. Its central goal is to work with other countries to halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015.
The Department funds projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe to improve basic health care and develop universal access to primary education. It helps poorer communities to improve their economic situation, by better managing the process of globalisation and protecting their local environment.
A major objective is supporting the economic development of the poorest countries through debt relief linked to practical measures to reduce poverty.
The Department also funds projects and works with other organisations to provide humanitarian support for victims of war, famine and natural disasters. DFID works with other governments, business, development agencies and researchers to achieve its goals. It is also the lead UK department working with the World Bank, European Union and United Nations development agencies.
Within the UK, DFID works to increase public understanding of our global mutual dependence and the need for international development. It also supports schools in educating their pupils about development issues, so that they can understand the key global considerations that will shape their lives.
Here is a list of ministers who work for the Department.
Secretary of State for International Development
The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP
Responsibilities:
- Africa
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Middle East Peace Process/Palestine
- World Bank
- Major donors (US, Germany, France, Italy, Japan EC/EU)
- Humanitarian
- Migration
- UN
- Trade
- Finance & Corporate Performance
- Communications & Human Resources
- Lead on interdepartmental relations
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Gareth Thomas MP (jointly with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
Responsibilities:
- Trade joint with Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (DBERR) - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- EC - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Climate Change, Water & Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) - Supporting Shriti Vadera on G8/Policy, sustainable development & climate change
- UN & Commonwealth - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Parliamentary - available to support Douglas Alexander across all geographical and policy issues
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Gillian Merron MP
Responsibilities:
- Africa & African Development Bank
- Emerging economic leaders: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS)
- World Bank - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Big & new donors and European donors - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Funds & Foundations - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Finance & Corporate Performance - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Policy & Research
- Global Development Effectiveness - Supporting Douglas Alexander
- Parliamentary - Lords
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Shahid Malik MP
Responsibilities:
- Brazil & Latin America
- South Asia - Supporting Douglas Alexander on Afghanistan & Shriti Vadera on India
- Europe, Middle East, Americas, Central & East Asia - Supporting Douglas Alexander on Iraq, MEPP & Palestine
- Regional Development Banks except African Development
- Security & Development
- CDC
- UK civil society expenditure
- Parliamentary - available to support Douglas Alexander across all geographical and policy issues
Contact Department
The Public Enquiry Point is the initial point of contact for information on the work of the whole of the Department.
Telephone:
UK local call rate: 0845 300 4100
Outside UK: +44 (0) 1355 84 3132
The telephone helpline is open from 10am-4pm (GMT/BST), Monday to Friday.
Fax: +44 (0) 1355 84 3632
Email: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk
You can also write to the Secretary of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State:
DFID
1 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HE
United Kingdom
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