Aid in an austere climate: Should we still spend overseas?
The Coalition government has made it clear that there are going to be austere times ahead. In order to reduce the country’s deficit, wholesale cuts will have to happen. Not surprising then that many are questioning the effectiveness of international aid, one area the government has decided to ring-fence. So does aid really work?
The questions are valid: is aid effective in relieving poverty? Does it go to the right sources? What about stories of aid falling into the wrong hands, or funding the arms trade or corruption in some countries? At CAFOD, we believe you deserve answers, and we work hard to ensure transparency and trust in all our overseas development and humanitarian work. We strongly believe in being accountable to the communities we serve, both in the England and Wales and in the developing world. This means that that transparent, accountable aid is a vital part of the work to alleviate poverty and suffering of the world’s poorest countries.
The advances in technology have enabled us to be more efficient and robust in our monitoring procedures, and we remain committed to reviewing our guidelines and monitoring systems. With the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review, it’s more important than ever to ensure commitments to overseas aid don’t slip.
Why protecting aid matters now
Aid is directly responsible for major steps forward in the fight against poverty and inequality.
• It has eradicated smallpox
• It has reduced polio to near nothing
• It has ensured 41 million more children worldwide received a primary education in 2005 than they did in 1999.
• Without aid, the number of children surviving past the age of five would be half what it is.
It’s welcome news that the government is standing by the long-term commitment to dedicate 0.7 per cent of the budget to overseas aid. The UK has a strong tradition of supporting the world’s poorest people as part of one global family. But although all three major parties have upheld the 0.7 per cent figure, the commitment has not been enshrined in law. And there’s still a risk that other considerations will have an effect on the aid budget.
What makes good aid?
We’re clear that aid is an essential tool. But we also recognise that especially in these financially difficult times, we need to ensure that we are open and accountable for the money given so generously by the general public. To us that means not only holding the government to account over where and how they distribute the aid budget, but ensuring we work with reliable, trustworthy partners, helping them to be transparent and to spend funds wisely.
One such project is the Local Funds Monitoring Group in Dukana, one of the poorest rural districts in forgotten northern Kenya. The group is made up of 40 community members who have been trained in capacity building and accountability, and are responsible for ensuring the community development fund is allocated and run without corruption.
Group member Adhi Idhena says that before the group was set up, politically elected officials would distribute the funds "without consulting us, or accounting to us. We did not even know where they got the money they were using on projects and what's more, these people were growing rich as the days go by!” Now with the help of CAFOD's diocesan partners, the group is ensuring a transparent and efficient fund, for the good of the community, not for the few.
As the global economic downturn hits even the wealthiest countries, it’s also hitting the poorest in the developing world. Children are being taken out of school, because parents can no longer afford the standard school fees. Families struggling to buy medicines and basic foods. Now more than ever, we need to ensure the aid budget is maintained, and reaches those in greatest need.
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