DFID helps in lifting at least 3 million people out of poverty each year

The Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for managing Britain's aid to poor & developing nations and works towards eliminating world poverty. It supports long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty and responds to emergencies, both natural & man-made.

DFID was set up in 1997 with a primary mission of fighting world poverty. Today DFID works in over 150 countries and in 2008/09 spent £5.5 billion on aid to poorer countries. This budget will increase to £7.8 billion by 2010/11 and is aiming to reach 0.7% of the UK's gross national income by 2013.

In 2009, the UK aid has increased 14.6% which makes the UK one of the largest donors in terms of volume.

As a result of the May 2010 general elections, Andrew Mitchell has been appointed as Secretary of State for International Development. To find out more about the new ministers please visit the DFID website. 

DFID paper on urban development (March 2010)

The Department for International Development has recently launched a new paper on urban development, "Cities - the new frontier". In this paper, DFID highlights the important role of local government on the front line of service delivery, and schemes for reducing urban poverty by sharing experience between cities and towns, such as the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)'s Good Practice Scheme.

Click here for more information on the DFID paper.

Development Awareness Fund (DAF)

DFID manage the Development Awareness Fund (DAF), which aims to build support for development by generating greater levels of awareness and understanding of international development issues. The UK Local Government Alliance for International Development have received three year DAF funding from November 08 - November 2011 to support its work on raising awareness of global poverty issues within UK local councils.