TNAG-2077-FCO40-2957-Hong-Kong-culture-1990 — Page 102

า

£ thousand

In confidence

Funding adjustments proposed in the Middle East and North Africa

1990/91 to 1993/94

1,800

1,500

1,200

900

600

300

0

4,528

Gulf States

1989/90 non-redeployable local

budget (agency and DTE)

1,770

727

Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco,

1,322

Iraq

Tunisia)

Jordan

1989/90 redeployable local budget

Figure 8

1990/91

311

East Jerusalem,

Gaza

-

1993/94 increases

South Asia (Afghanistan*, Bangladesh, Burma, India (including Bhutan*), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (including the Maldives*))

7.46 Most of the Council's work is agency-funded (see table 6); its main purpose is to maintain and develop the effective management of technical co- operation projects on behalf of ODA, and of FCO scholarship work, which is increasing. The Council supports British aid activity primarily through libraries and information work; Council libraries are highly regarded as sources of

information and ideas. English language and relatively modest cultural programmes also help to demonstrate Britain's importance on the world stage and the range and diversity of British cultural and educational excellence.

7.47 With the aim of securing the Council's role in the provision of British educational aid and multilateral aid programmes, and of sustaining British Council programmes in support of aid objectives, the Council's principal objectives are:

to run ODA's and FCO's programmes to their satisfaction, under delegated management ⚫ to ensure that project management charges cover all project costs, so releasing government grant subsidies for other activity

to increase the Council's share of ILA contract work

⚫ to increase the number of library members from priority groups to 70% of total membership.

7.48 India has Britain's largest aid programme and the Council's largest budget world-wide; it takes priority in the region, followed by Bangladesh and Pakistan. The proposal to open a Council office in Afghanistan is not feasible in the current political situation and does not feature in immediate planning.

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