Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37160 on Blue Belt Programme: Finance, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing funding for the Blue Belt programme on the UK's commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Blue Belt Programme has been instrumental in supporting the UK's global ocean commitments, including the Global Biodiversity Framework, where the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended to the UK Overseas Territories. Future funding considerations are subject to the ongoing Spending Review.
Asked by: Sarah Champion (Labour - Rotherham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding he plans to allocate to the Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa 2 programme in the (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28 financial year.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa 2 programme is a five year programme which is saving lives and reducing the impact of disease outbreaks on populations in Africa. Now in its second year of implementation, the programme is strengthening regional health security capacity and leadership to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies, protecting populations around the world, including the UK. We have signed a 3-year agreement to support Africa Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation's Joint Emergency Action. We have offered significant support to the response to mpox in Africa through the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and UNICEF Burundi. Our support to UNICEF Burundi alone will directly benefit about 20,000 people in communities, including 1,800 children through mpox case management, mental health and psychosocial support, infection prevention and control, and WASH and risk communication activities.
The impact on specific programmes of the decision to reduce UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5 per cent of GNI to 0.3 per cent of GNI in 2027 is being worked through. We will be taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money. Announcements will be made following the completion of the ongoing Spending Review process.