The Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, in presenting the new UK strategy on fighting global poverty, warns that none of the Millennium Developments Goals can be reached "without global, as well as local action".

 

The Department for International Development (DFID) this week launched its new White Paper 'Eliminating World Poverty: Building our Common Future', which focuses on tackling the impacts of the global recession, climate change and conflict on the poorest in the world. 

 

The White Paper recognises that in the context of the global economic downturn 'good public services are central to poor people's prospects of a decent life' and that the UK should meet its pledges to finance and further extend access to quality public basic services. It also highlights that faster progress on the Millennium Development Goals could be achieved through 'supporting leadership at every level in society', including local government, and a 'continued commitment to good governance'.

 

DFID, in introducing the White Paper, pledges to 'work across government, the international community, and at local levels with a wide set of partners to make our commitments a reality'. 

 

The UK Local Government Alliance for International Development, in its submission to the DFID White Paper Consultation, asked for DFID to work in partnership with local government (in the UK and overseas) to strengthen local government and improve basic service provision. The LG Alliance looks forward to working with DFID to further explore the role of local government in reducing international poverty, in particular how to better use the skills and technical knowledge that exist within the UK local government sector.