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Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development, addressed issues raised in the recent Department for International Development (DfID) White Paper, Eliminating World Poverty: Making Governance Work for the Poor.

The Minister expanded on the White Paper's call for an approach to development that goes beyond a narrow focus on material poverty reduction, recognising the demands from citizens for clean and accountable government.

The Minister's speech made a case for donors to recognise strong democratic cultures and institutions as both means and ends of development. Without capable, accountable and responsive governance, the global community will be unable to tackle the spectres of world poverty, disease and climate change.