Bilateral Aid By Alison and Charlotte!

Definition Bilateral Aid is given by the government of one country directly to another. Many dedicated governmental aid agencies dispense bilateral aid, for example USAID, and DFID.

DFID The Department For International Development (DFID) is a United Kingdom government department, the function of which is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty".

DFID’s Mission The main piece of legislation governing DFID's work is the International Development Act, which came into force on 17 June 2002, replacing the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act (1980). The Act makes poverty reduction the focus of DFID's work, and effectively outlaws tied aid. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, DFID works to support the United Nations’ eight ‘Millennium Development Goals’, namely 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. - all with a 2015 deadline. The reality may well be that none of these goals will be achieved so long as the trade gap between Africa and richer countries continues to widen. Former Secretary of State Hilary Benn has indicated that on current trends, we will not achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Top recipients of aid CountryMoney (millions) Nigeria£1164 Iraq£796 India£535 Bangladesh£232 Zambia£224 Afghanistan£222 Tanzania£217 Ghana£192 Dem. Rep of Congo£189 Sudan£157

Action in Africa In Zambia-The effects of extreme poverty, such as widespread disease, mean that many households in Zambia are without a breadwinner. These households risk missing out on food, medicine and education. Maureen and her family receive 180,000 Kwacha (£24) every 3 months through the Social Cash Transfer programme. This enables them to buy basic food, educational supplies for the children, and medicine, including treatment for her daughter’s TB. Maureen even managed to save enough money for the construction of a small mud-brick building as a place for herself and her family to sleep - a dramatic improvement from the straw shelter they used previously.

Action in Asia The Jamuna is one of Bangladesh's major rivers. In many places small islands (chars) emerge. These chars, which are continuously being deposited and eroded, typically exist for up to 20 years and are home to some of the country's poorest people. They are also highly vulnerable to flooding. That is, they were. Were, because the Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP), supported by DFID, has taken huge strides to reduce vulnerability to flooding. The severe floods that affected northern Bangladesh in August 2007, gave the programme its biggest test to date. Working through a network of local non- governmental organisations (NGOs), the programme has paid communities to raise 32,700 households above the 1998 flood level on plinths. It has also provided 23,700 latrines and 748 wells, and has transferred productive assets worth £100 to 11,420 extremely poor households.

Action in the Caribbean A decade ago, for people living on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, an HIV- positive test result meant an imminent death sentence. That is no exaggeration: in this region of Central America, the mortality rate due to HIV and AIDS was 100%. Now, the HIV/AIDS mortality rate in this part of Nicaragua (RAAS), is only 2%. This has been achieved by widening the provision of life-saving drugs, increasing HIV testing, & reducing the stigma that has long surrounded HIV/AIDS. Changing attitudes is vital to increasing the uptake of HIV services. ACRIS- RAAS now performs HIV testing in the region's 11 municipalities, & provides medication. An average of 50 people seeking a test in 2006, compared to only 1, 6 years earlier. In every month of 2007 so far, over 80 people have sought HIV testing & counselling. A key outcome of this is the early detection, which can make a real difference. The key aims are prevention initiatives by getting the public & private sectors to work together & bringing together a range of organisations. Banishing ignorance, & reaching a wide audience, is crucial to reducing the spread of HIV&AIDS Present tendencies show most new HIV cases in RAAS are within the age group.

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