Andrew Mitchell presented his vision for British Development Assistance at Royal Society, 3 June. He gave a clear commitment to meet the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) commitment of 0.7% of Gross National Investment by 2013 but talked of shifting how this aid would be delivered.

Accountability and transparency are Mitchell's watchwords - where the Department for International Development (DFID) will be conducting a large 'value for money' review to see where savings could be delivered, including cutting programmes in Russia and China. The department will focus its aid to priorities such as maternal and child health, education, and supporting women's development. Mitchell announced a UK Aid Transparency Guarantee to allow citizens in the UK and developing world to see how money is spent, to cut corruption and waste. DFID will also be testing out new approaches, such as 'Cash on Delivery' programmes that seek clear poverty reduction outcomes from aid (Although not everyone in the development world thinks this approach is a wholly good idea - see 'development thoughts' blog).

Finally, Mitchell talked about putting 'power in the hands of local people' and how 'aid is a means to an end, not an end in itself'. He said we need to recognise the need to create opportunities across 'trade, investment and enterprise, climate change, economic growth, debt relief, financial services, intellectual property and advancing new technologies'. A part of this complex agenda he should not ignore is that this will require equipping people in local government to deliver lasting improvements on the ground, to ensure future communities are fully equipped to sustain themselves.

Click here for the Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell MP's speech.