DFID: Structural Reform

Since the coalition government was elected back in May, we have been watching with interest to see how UK development policy may change.

For avid aid-watchers, there has been an interesting setting of priorities for the UK's approach to development. It comes in the form of DFID's recently-released "Structural Reform Plan" .

The plan covers many vital issues of direct concern to our work at Progressio, including helping poor countries adapt to climate change (this includes tackling illegal logging, the subject of a recent successful EU campaigning) and the importance of building up civil society to help them hold their governments to account - a core area of  work for our development workers and partners.

In a mark of the document's importance, and its endorsement by both coalition partners, it was launched jointly by Nick Clegg MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, and the International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell MP. Fascinating to see coalition politics in action, and great to see shared commitment to tackling global poverty reinforced at this level of government.

Tim Aldred is Progressio's Advocacy Manager

Photograph: Germán Luebert, Environmental Conflict Development Worker with Accion Ecologica stands next to wood waiting to be sold in the jungle of Ecuador. Chiwitayo area, province of Pastaza, Ecuador