Why is DFID appointing a chief scientific adviser?

Full Article for Science and Public Affairs September 2004

"Science holds out the opportunity of bringing major benefits to the poor. But for these opportunities to be seized, every country has to have working systems of government and of commerce. The Department for International Development (DFID) is determined to back both the science and systems that together can make a real difference to people's lives.

"DFID has already committed substantial resources to scientific research, and ranks as the third highest research spender among development agencies worldwide. The DFID Central Research Department spent 80 million British Pounds last year, including 30 million British Pounds on agriculture, 26 million on health, and 10 million on infrastructure. I recently announced another 30 million over three years for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research."