This 119-page report sets out what the United Kingdom (UK) Government aims to do to reduce world poverty over the next 5 years. The provision of overseas development assistance and debt relief are understood to be key in saving lives and supporting economic growth - as reflected in promises made by G8 countries at the Gleneagles Summit in July 2005 to provide an extra US$50 billion per year by 2010 and to double aid for Africa. Pledges made by the Department for International Development (DFID) in this White Paper to increase its development budget to 0.7% of gross national income by 2013 and to double funding for science and technology are also a reflection of this emphasis. Partnership will be a key theme in establishing DFID priorities for the distribution of such aid; DFID will work with the rest of UK Government, partner governments, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and academics to fulfill promises made in 2005. (Editor's note: Chapter 1, "Delivering the Promises of 2005" discusses the global poverty and aid situation; a chart on page xi traces progress in meeting the 8 Millennium Development Goals).

However, the White Paper is also premised on the notion that - in the words of Secretary of State Hilary Benn - "long-term progress in the fight against poverty will only be achieved through effective government, and by people with the voice and confidence to hold their governments to account." Benn explains that governance at all levels (global down to village) "is about people and their relationships, one with another, more than it is about formal institutions. What makes the biggest difference to the quality of governance is active involvement by citizens". The idea is that people want to have a say in what happens in their lives, and to use their voices to call for fair treatment by their governments and public officials. Furthermore (from Chapter 2 of the White Paper), "States which respect civil liberties and are accountable to their citizens are more stable, which in turn means they are more likely to attract investment and generate long term economic growth. They can also cope better with calamities. Famines, for example, are less likely where there is a free media, because the press creates pressure on governments to provide relief." When there have been successful examples of change, "a greater willingness by civil society and media to speak out" were key factors in pushing political leaders to improve the performance of the state.

For these and other reasons, DFID's work to address poverty in the next 5 years will involve putting governance at the centre of its assistance and programming. This process will include communication-centred components such as the following:

• Building the state capacity of public institutions for responsiveness and accountability (the three key components of good governance) in developing countries, while doing more at the grassroots to reinforce the demand for good governance. A new £100 million Governance and Transparency Fund will support civil society, a free media, parliamentarians and trade unions in improving accountability.
• Tackling corruption by taking steps to bring greater transparency into public revenues and procurement. In part, this will involve supporting "watch-dog agencies" in their efforts to provide more public information on local budgets (which, in Uganda and India, has reportedly reduced corruption by local government officials) "Independent customer surveys in Bangalore between 1994 and 2003 produced dramatic improvements in services such as water, policing, public transport and hospitals."
• Adopting a new "quality of governance" assessment to monitor governance and DFID partners' commitment to fighting poverty. The assessment will be based on discussions with partner governments, civil society and other international partners - and will be published and disseminated widely.
• Involving international partners in efforts to facilitate the participation of citizens in their government by asking them what they want, which "leads to better public services....For example, the UK is helping countries to analyse the social impacts of policies, and to monitor and evaluate poverty reduction programmes."
• Supporting efforts on the part of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media to hold governments to account. "Grassroots organisations and the media play a vital role in generating public debate about corruption by campaigning against it. Newspapers and radio stations have led the demand for action in high profile corruption cases in countries such as India, Kenya and Zambia."
• Giving developing countries a say in the negotiation process for an international, legally binding Arms Trade Treaty, which DFID is pushing for in order to increase transparency and prevent arms transfers that make conflicts worse.
• Working to ensure that developing countries are able to fully participate in any international negotiations designed to lead to agreements on climate change that stabilise greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere; enable developing countries to grow, create incentives and generate investment for clean energy; and help economically poor countries adapt to the impact.

In a short section within the final chapter of the White Paper, DFID addresses UK citizens directly, encouraging them to get involved in efforts to understand how those in poverty live, and to take action. "Schools, universities, clubs, churches, temples and mosques can debate the issues, generate new ideas, and ultimately influence opinion. And people can help organisations that need their skills. A link between Nottingham City Hospital and Jimma University Teaching Hospital in Ethiopia, for example, has helped build capacity for better nursing, midwifery and management training. Links between schools can help children learn and help each other, and change the way they see the world. Links between trade unions can help build capacity. Volunteers - whether they are campaigning in this country or sharing skills in developing countries - can affect the lives of hundreds of people....Everyday choices matter too..."

This White Paper is a follow-up to two earlier papers ("White Paper 2000 - Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor [PDF]" and White Paper 1997 - Eliminating World Poverty: A Challenge for the 21st Century [PDF]"). It emerges from a participatory consultation process, which ran from January to April 2006. Secretary of State Hilary Benn gave a series of 6 speeches, and encouraged members of the public to write in with their views on what international development should focus on for the next 5 years; over 600 Members of Parliament, organisations and people sent in their ideas.

DFID website.