In confidence
18
number of exchanges
• two English language lecturer posts in Iraq. The re-establishment of a British Council presence in Iran awaits the restoration of diplomatic relations. Funds allocated to this purpose will be redeployed non-recurrently.
7.40 In Egypt, the Council's principal objective is the professional and efficient management of FCO, ODA and ILA-financed activity and to identify additional opportunities for British education and training activity. The Council believes that to ensure long-term British influence in Egypt and therefore also the Middle East, training programmes will need to expand, even beyond the planned growth for FCO SAS (standing at £1 million in 1990). In addition to interchange schemes, the Council provides library and information services, operates two DTOS and administers British examinations. The focus in the triennium will be on continuing project work and strengthening the business position of the teaching centres. Premises improvements will be made to achieve a better image and increase capacity. A threat to the operation is that, as a result of a decree from the Egyptian government, revenue from examina- tions work may disappear in 1990/91, requiring budget reductions to cover the consequent deficit.
7.41 In the Maghreb, £0.135 million will be deployed from new grant funds to increase British involvement in science and technology, leading to institutional links and opportunities for British universities for client-funded training. Programmes will be co-financed by host governments or institutions. They will operate on a smaller scale than envisaged; new operating targets nonetheless include a 35% increase in inward exchanges from Morocco and Tunisia in 1990/91. Maintaining net surpluses in the DTOs is a key target in Algeria and Tunisia; in Morocco it is to increase the trading surplus achieved in 1989/90. Project management work for ODA is expected to increase to a total value of £0.75 million over three years.
7.42 In Iraq, increased funding of £0.05 million. recurrently from the government grant in 1990/91 will extend ambitious English language and exchanges programmes outside Baghdad and consolidate Britain's position as Iraq's main foreign partner in education and training. The funding level is lower than planned in CP2, but the Council will find from existing budgets a further £0.05 million non-recurrently and £0.02 million recurrently. Thereafter planned levels of activity will be achieved through joint financing and internal adjustments; funds will be sought for extension of the exchanges programme from 1991/92.
7.43 Additional recurrent resources will be needed from 1991/92 in East Jerusalem to begin to meet the increasing demand for staff develop- ment at higher education level. In Gaza, £0.2 million will be sought to establish a Council centre, incorporating a branch of the East Jerusalem DTE, and information and education counselling. The exchanges programme in Jordan will be implemented in full, as described in CP2, although some budget reduction may be required towards the end of the triennium if contingency plans for a balanced budget are implemented.
7.44 In Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, priority will be given during the triennium to promoting British education and revenue-earning English language teaching. Although there is scope for expansion in Saudi Arabia, this is of lower priority and offers less potential than, for example, growth in Europe and the Pacific Rim. However, operations will be strengthened in the Eastern Province in support of DTE, within the existing Saudi budget, unless contingency planning requirements make this impossible. Additional funds will be sought for exchanges work in the Gulf that will achieve rapid direct access to key sectors of the successor generation: a particular focus will be on scholarships for top graduates from new universities, and on sports administration. Such programmes will be co- financed with local partners; an initial investment of £0.10 million is expected to attract £0.10 million from partner institutes and governments within two years. Funds will also be sought for a further project to stimulate closer contact with the West by demonstrating recip- rocal interests. A series of touring exhibitions is planned, with related seminars, on aspects of Islamic studies in which Britain has strengths. Contributory funding from business sponsorship will widen the programme's scope. Modest staff reductions in the Gulf may be necessary within the Council's plans for a balanced budget.
7.45 Operations in the Yemen Arab Republic, largely ODA-financed, are expected to hold steady. The Council will review the level of its activity in the Yemen in response to prospective unification. While political and security relations remain uncertain, the Council will not re- establish a presence in either the Lebanon or Syria, although it will wish to do so when circumstances permit.
Principal effectiveness measures for the Middle East and North Africa
• net contribution to DTE global business
• % increase of students from priority countries
in British higher education since 1989/90
• average number of information enquiries per information centre
• Council share of ODA business.
£ thousand
F