We have deep historic ties to a future continental leader and one of the fastest-emerging global economies.
Instead of arguing that Britain should stop playing its part, we should be focused on the efficiency of British aid and celebrating the impact it is already having.
The third piece in our aid series welcomes the Government’s commitment to Syria, and says that Britain should take five kids per Parliamentary seat.
The chaos theatre of Corbyn’s leadership may be making all the headlines now, but this autumn the Government will face fights over cuts.
The International Development Secretary tells Andrew Marr it is better to take Syrian refugees direct from the region – the first will arrive next week.
We are working to help the vast majority of refugees who are still in the countries around Syria, where they want to stay.
The latest example of DfID profligacy demonstrates the inadequacy of measuring Government initiatives by input rather than achievement.
As with aid, too many governments seem to have struck a Faustian pact with the third sector: money for good headlines, with no inconvenient scrutiny.
I believe the time has come for a broadening in the uses of the aid budget and a critical rethink of the way in which the department operates.
Earlier laxness suggested that ring-fencing DfID was about looking good, rather than doing good.
They should have to show that changes to the civil service’s departmental structures serve the public interest rather than party political or personnel management goals.
We will want to offer Parliament’s view of the extent of prerogative, and where we believe overt Parliamentary endorsement will be in the country’s interest.