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British Officials on mission to Eastern Cape
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 MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 2 MARCH 2001

BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON MISSION TO EASTERN CAPE

10 British Government officials visited the Eastern Cape this week, on a mission to explore opportunities for UK development assistance to 
the Province.

The officials, from the UK Department for International Developments office in Pretoria, undertook a busy schedule of meetings with 
government, including discussions with the Provinces Director-General, several MECs and senior provincial officials, the Provincial 
Legislature and local government representatives. Meetings were also held with a number of private sector and civil society organisations.

The objective of the mission was to gather data to inform the UKs strategy for development assistance to the Eastern Cape. The Province is 
a priority recipient of assistance from the Department for International Development (DFID) which recently agreed to contribute 
approximately R242 million towards the development of an effective decentralised education system in the Eastern Cape. DFID supports a 
range of other programmes in the Province, for example in public service reform, safety and security, forestry, coastal livelihoods and 
enterprise development.

Sam Sharpe, Head of DFID Southern Africa, in Bisho, said:

"DFID is already supporting some excellent work in the Eastern Cape. But we are determined to do more, working in partnership with 
organisations in the Province to defeat poverty. That is why we are here this week - to consider opportunities for increased UK assistance 
to the people of the Eastern Cape."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Department for International Development (DFID) is the British government department responsible for promoting development and the 
reduction of poverty. Britains current development partnership with South Africa was launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair and President 
Thabo Mbeki at the UK-South Africa Bilateral Forum in January 1999. Under this partnership, Britains Department for International 
Development (DFID) will provide up to 90 million in development assistance to South Africa over three years to support South Africas 
development efforts. The UK is the largest bilateral donor to South Africa.

DFID has agreed with the South African government that the UK development assistance programme should focus on enabling pro-poor economic 
growth, and supporting good governance and human rights, improved livelihoods - especially for people living in poor and rural areas - and 
better health and education opportunities for previously disadvantaged communities.

DFID is committed to at least doubling the proportion of its assistance targeted at the poorest parts of South Africa: the former homeland 
areas in Eastern Cape, Northern and North-West Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

3. For more information about DFIDs development partnership with Southern Africa, contact: Emma Back, DFID Southern Africa, Tel: 012 342 
3360 ext 136 / Cell: 083 676 0649.

4. For information about DFIDs work elsewhere in the world, contact the DFID Press Office, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7917 0600 or visit the DFID 
website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk

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