Lord Benyon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL692):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps UK AID Direct has taken to ensure that a proportion of UK Aid funds to Nigeria are dedicated to (1) reducing conflict based on religion or belief, and (2) promoting freedom of religion and belief in the region. (HL692)
Tabled on: 29 November 2023
Answer:
Lord Benyon:
Insecurity has impeded on the rights of people of all faiths in Nigeria. UK Aid Direct closed in October 2023 but the UK continues to support Nigeria to deliver on its constitutional commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) through our development programming and security cooperation. Since 2020, we have provided over £80,000 in funding to promote FoRB in Nigeria, including peacebuilding projects to build dialogue between religious groups, in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue and Niger States. In April 2023 we launched the £40 million Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme (SPRING) to help Nigeria tackle the causes of conflict.
Date and time of answer: 11 Dec 2023 at 11:54.
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From: Written Parliamentary Questions and Answers <[email protected]>
Sent: 13 December 2023 15:39
To: ALTON OF LIVERPOOL, Lord <[email protected]>
Subject: Written answer to your QWA HL691 received from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL691):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what specific mechanisms are in place within UK Aid Direct to ensure that UK aid is distributed in an equitable manner to organisations that offer aid to minority religious communities in Pakistan. (HL691)
Tabled on: 29 November 2023
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
We prioritise our aid to achieve maximum impact for the people of Pakistan in line with our strategic priorities, including promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK Aid Direct programme is now closed. When operational, it funded the Coalition for Religious Equity and Inclusive Development (CREID) project in Pakistan from 2018 to 2022, which worked to reduce religious inequalities. In addition, it funded projects supporting faith and community leaders to form networks championing FoRB in Pakistan. The UK Government continues to fund projects with local Pakistani organisations to empower minority religious communities and to tackle online hate-speech.
Date and time of answer: 13 Dec 2023 at 15:38.
