UK provides £7.5 million to the Palestinian Authority
21 December 2012 — On 17 December 2012 US$32 million was disbursed from the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Multi Donor Trust Fund to the Palestinian Authority. The United Kingdom’s contribution to this was £7.5 million.
On 17 December 2012 US$32 million was disbursed from the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Multi Donor Trust Fund to the Palestinian Authority. The United Kingdom’s contribution to this was £7.5 million.
The UK supports the Palestinian Authority to develop strong institutions, deliver essential services and reduce poverty, helping to ensure any future state will be stable, well-run and an effective partner for peace.
The UK will be providing up to £122 million to the Palestinian Authority over the next three years to help fund the provision of basic public services and support reforms to its dependence on aid. Ten percent of this funding is dependent upon delivering improvements in value for money. Each year, UK aid will help immunise 2,000 under-fives against measles, support 5,700 children through primary school and provide cash transfers to 7,000 of the poorest people.
The UK is committed to providing long term predictable aid to the Palestinian Authority to develop strong institutions and deliver essential public services. This predictable funding will help the PA to plan ahead, and we look to other donors to do likewise. The PA regards the UK as a model donor because of our commitment to predictable funding and alignment with PA priorities.
We are helping the PA to deliver its own development priorities, as set out in the Palestinian National Development Plan 2011-13 and our aid is not earmarked to specific sectors. However, this support is conditional upon the PA's commitment to reducing poverty and promoting the Millennium Development Goals, and is monitored against specific benchmarks in these areas. The PA has made impressive progress in delivering outcomes in health and education. Over 97% of children are enrolled in primary school and its general immunisation programme covers more than 96% of the population. This compares favourably with other countries in the region.
While the Palestinian Authority has made impressive progress building state institutions, improving security and managing the economy in the West Bank, significant challenges remain. Many Palestinians remain highly aid dependent and vulnerable and the non-payment of PA salaries puts at risk the delivery of basic services. The effect on household finances and the wider economy could also be severe.
With the new tranche release, the PRDP-MDTF will have disbursed about US$931 million since its set-up in 2008.
Country: United Kingdom
Subject: Assistance, Children, Economic issues, Education and culture, Health
Publication Date: 21/12/2012