Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are promoting UK expertise in conflict prevention and reconciliation in Africa through academic study and training in the UK; and if so, how.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funds two international scholarship schemes - Chevening and Commonwealth. Chevening offers scholarships to applicants from over 160 Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries and territories to study for Masters degrees in any subject at any British University. Commonwealth scholarships are offered for post-graduate studies in development focussed subjects. Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships both promote UK expertise by allowing scholars to undertake post-graduate studies in conflict prevention and reconciliation related areas. Through these two schemes, the FCDO currently funds scholarships for 15 Chevening and 14 Commonwealth scholars from African countries studying for post-graduate degrees in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and reconciliation related courses in the UK, with an additional 37 African Commonwealth scholars studying long distance in their home countries through UK universities.