The Department for International Development is the UK government department responsible for promoting development and the reduction of poverty. The government has increased its commitment over the past 7 years to development by strengthening its department and increasing its budget, with further increases announced in July 2004. The central focus of the Government's policy is to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals to reduce the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Improved health and reduced child mortality, especially for children under the age of 5 years, is an important part of the development targets objectives. Reduced indoor air pollution should reduce respiratory infections, which the WHO estimate accounts for up to 11 million child deaths each year. DFID is currently (as of July 2004) funding a substantial research project on Smoke, Health and Household Energy being carried out by ITDG. This has strongly informed ITDG's briefing publication Smoke-the killer in the kitchen. The project is expected to be completed early in 2005.
Contact Information
Our Focus
The bulk of our development assistance is concentrated on the poorest countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The current research programme on indoor air pollution is based in Kenya, Nepal and Sudan. We are also funding a programme in China, being managed by the World Bank ESMAP.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
None noted
Relevant Publications or Studies
DFID's general web site www.dfid.gov.uk DFID's energy research briefings, including household energy, can be found at www.dfid-kar-energy.gov.uk
Our Contribution to the Partnership
Mainly in helping to link other global initiatives on energy and poverty to the PCIA.
