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DFID
DFID, the Department for International Development, is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.
It is headed by a Cabinet minister, one of the senior ministers in the Government. This reflects how important the UK Government sees reducing poverty around the world. It has two headquarters (at London in England and East Kilbride in Scotland) and 64 offices overseas. It has over 2500 staff, almost half of whom work outside the UK.
DFID supports long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty. DFID also responds to emergencies, both natural and man-made.
DFID's work forms part of a global promise to
- halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger
- ensure that all children receive primary education
- promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice
- reduce child death rates
- improve the health of mothers
- combat HIV & AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- make sure the environment is protected
- build a global partnership for those working in development.
Together, these form the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals, with a 2015 deadline. Each of these Goals has its own, measurable, targets.
DFID works in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector and others. It also works with multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies, and the European Commission.
DFID works directly in over 150 countries worldwide, with a budget of nearly £4 billion in 2004.
A substantial part of DFID work concerns education and some concerns e-learning, for example in Rwanda.