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JOAC
Reaches out
to a world in need JERSEY OVERSEAS AID COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT
2 0 1 0
JOAC
Jersey Overseas Aid Commission
Chairman: Deputy Ian Gorst , States Of Jersey Vice-Chairman: Mrs. Toni Roberts, MBA., ACIS., TEP.
Commissioners: Senator Paul Routier, MBE, States of Jersey
Deputy Carolyn Labey , States of Jersey
Mr. Peter Le Seelleur, BA, FCA, ACIM
Mr. Geoffrey Crill, Solicitor
Sub-Committee for Community Work Projects Chairman: Mrs. Toni Roberts, MBA., ACIS., TEP. Members: Mr. Ian Brown
Mr. David Ellis
Mr. David O'Brien
Mr. Brian Stuttard
Mr. Richard Richomme
Mrs. Catherine Murray
Miss. Clare Morvan
Mr. Allan Smith, MBE
Executive Officer Administrative Assistant Mrs. Kathryn Filipponi Miss. Karen Nisbet Beauvais
La Rue du Rondin
St. Mary
JERSEY JE3 3AE
Tel: 01534 484600
Fax: 01534 484044
Email: kfilipponi.joac@hotmail.com
www.jerseyoverseasaid.org.je
Front Cover Photo:
Courtesy of International Childcare Trust's 2010 Educational support for Vulnerable Children, Kenya
CONTENTS
Page
3 Chairman's Foreword
5 Financial Summary
6 Grant Aid
18 Disaster Aid
23 Guiton Group's Ambassador of the Year 2010
24 Community Work Projects
35 Grants made to Jersey Charities Working Overseas 37 Agencies acknowledge funding received from Jersey
2010 started with the devastating news from Haiti of unbelievable destruction and loss of both life and livelihood. The Commission responded both directly and by matching pound for pound the monies that the Bailiff s appeal raised from Islanders.
Also a very important milestone for developing communities, in September 2010, the world's leaders met in New York at the United Nations Headquarters to reaffirm their commitment to deliver the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) by 2015. It is a mark of the regard in which the work of the Commission is held that we were invited to take part in their discussions. Whilst it must be acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in meeting the aspirations of the goals set in 2000, some noted progress has been made. We can be proud of the projects which Jersey taxpayers have funded, some of which have been used as pilots to kick start much larger programmes, whilst not forgetting the thousands of lives we have transformed with clean water, shelter, food, education and health centres.
However we must not and cannot be complacent. Whilst I am grateful that the Commission's budget has been maintained, and that we have seen year on year growth during this recession, we as a community cannot be satisfied with our level of monetary aid. We must, as we come out of recession, prioritise our giving of both money and time to those in the developing community. I do recognise that many financial services parent company's provide substantial sums to help with disaster relief in development communities, but I still challenge those in the financial services industry to accept that they have a fundamental role to play in helping deliver the MDGS through encouraging and enabling investment in developing countries, in encouraging skills and knowledge transfer or in direct giving of aid as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes. Jersey Finance gives a lot back to our local community, but I hope it will also look further afield to the developing community. Finance is a necessary part of transforming the developing world. The developing world needs financial services. The President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick said,' the problem for the poor is not the dominance of market, but the absence of market'. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged businesses to take more action, he argues that 'an investment in the MDGS is an investment in growth, prosperity and the markets of the future'.
continued............
In August there was a "Grand Reunion" of volunteers who marked forty years of Jersey's participation in community work projects. It was a great celebration of all those who have been ambassadors for Jersey in the developing world. My special thanks go to the Governor, His Excellency, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Ridgway and Lady Ridgway for allowing us to use Government House to host a reception and to all those who kindly offered sponsorship throughout that weekend. The reunion would not have happened without the dedication, drive and hard work of Jean Le Maistre, ably helped by JOAC's Administrative Assistant, Karen Nisbet. My grateful thanks to them both.
Much work and preparation goes into delivering our community work programmes and I'd particularly like to thank the following who give their time freely to assisting our volunteers; Dr Simon Slaffer, John Gavey from St John's Ambulance, Charlotte Farrell from De Fayes the Chemist, Tracey Palmer from Infection Control at the Jersey General Hospital, Sarah Gray from ACET and Tony Allchurch from Jersey Health and Safety. As I've said before these projects not only transform the communities visited, but also build lifelong links with Jersey and help transform us.
2010 once again saw States Members who attend Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conferences, in developing countries, visit projects that the Commission has supported. I am grateful to Deputies Le Herrissier and Lewis for visiting a children's project in the slums of Nairobi and a small hospital just outside the city. They were able to build links and see firsthand the value that Jersey receives from it's funding.
The Commission is ever mindful of the changing nature of development aid and the continuing need to evaluate processes, governance and best value. With this in mind we have established an Audit Risk Review Committee, which is made up of the Non-States Commissioners to reassess our policies and procedures to ensure optimum value is achieved. If you have any doubt about the value that Jersey receives from its aid, then I can but commend to you the testimonials at the end of this report.
On behalf of all the communities where the Commission has worked in 2010, may I on their behalf say thank you to the taxpayers of Jersey who make it all possible.
Many thanks
May 2011
2010 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
Balance 1st January 77,295 States Grant 8,055,000
Net Expenditure
Grant Aid to Agencies
Disasters and Emergencies
Community Work Projects
Local Charities Working Overseas Administration
Balance 31st December
6,510,818 1,262,758 207,944 57,867 88,007 4,902
8,132,295
Official Aid Contribution from Jersey, 2010
Grant Aid £6,501,818
Disaster Aid £1,262,758
Administration Work Projects £88,007 £207,944 Grants to Local
Charities
£57,867
Three Year Programmes
GRANTS VOTED FOR PROJECTS COMMENCING 2010
DUE FOR COMPLETION END OF 2012
CONCERN
Drought preparedness Kenya £150,000 over three years
2010 (£50,000) 2011 (£50,000) 2012 (£50,000)
IMPACT
Provision of basic health, water sanitation and food security Nepal £148,108 over three years
2010 (£55,411) 2011 (£46,359) 2012(£46,338)
MARIE STOPES
Mobile outreach for improved health Zimbabwe £147,555 over three years
2010 (£49,753) 2011 (£48,441) 2012 (£49,361)
OXFAM
Improving access to water and sanitation Sierra Leone £148,878 over three years
2010 (£61,679) 2011(£71,554) 2012 (£13,645)
PLAN UK
Water and sanitation provision Benin £150,000 over three years
2010 (£71,044) 2011 (£53,961) 2012 (£24,994)
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Improving maternal and newborn health Ethiopia £149,900 over three years
2010 (£51,400) 2011 (£48,200) 2012 (£50,300)
In addition to the above three year grants funding was also released to some agencies for the second and third years of approved three year programmes as outlined in previous annual reports.
One Year Programmes
GRANT AID
One Year Programmes
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010
AbleChildAfrica
Inclusive facilities Tanzania 46,608 Mbeya centre Tanzania 22,000
ACORD
Community water reservoir project Sudan 38,200 Action Aid
Support to Foyer Saint Joseph Orphanage Burundi 58,512
AMREF
Maternal and child health Kenya 60,585 Water and sanitation Ethiopia 65,000
Basic Needs
Improving the well being of livestock Uganda 30,635 Farming and livelihoods project Tanzania 22,294 Ankaful garden project Ghana 29,705
British Red Cross
Livelihoods project Uganda 31,084 Community based healthcare and first aid Sierra Leone 58,549 Comprehensive community based health Afghanistan 63,635
CAFOD
Sustainable farming Nicaragua 45,000
Care International UK
Improving maternal and new born health Nepal 38,834 Safe drinking water and food security Lesotho 58,582 Improving sexual and reproductive health Pakistan 32,811
Care and Relief for the Young
Education, skills and recreation for children Albania 41,515 Waiting house for "at risk" pregnant women Cambodia 37,398
Childhope UK
Improving access to education for girls Kenya 27,901 Children in Crisis
Teacher training DRC 57,898
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Children of the Andes
Mine risk education for children Colombia 29,931 Education and livelihood support Uganda 44,202
Christian Aid
Post flooding food security Burkina Faso 62,900 Worm farming for poverty reduction Bolivia 63,500
Concern Worldwide UK
Education Nyanza rural education programme Kenya 65,000 Katanga water and environmental health DRC 65,000 Grand Bassa Watsan project Liberia 65,000
CONCERN WORLDWIDE UK Katanga water and environmental health
CORD
Increased access to clean water Burundi 27,530 Disability and Development Partners
Improving access to disabled people Mozambique 31,172
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Community development and management Madagascar 32,970 Community development and management Madagascar 31,900
GRANT AID
One Year Programmes
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Everychild
Children at risk of separation India 49,948
EVERCHILD Children at Risk of Separation, India Devadasi Federation Pressure Group now able to demand rights and entitlements for their children
Farm Africa
Water access project Kenya 26,418 Water access project Sudan 19,255
Global Care
Poultry for self sufficiency Kenya 9,030 Safe drinking water and food for children Zimbabwe 16,300 Clean water for children's home Honduras 17,700 Women's integration group Albania 15,400
Habitat for Humanity
Building readiness for predictable disasters Jamaica/Haiti 64,211 Disaster resilient houses Myanmar 50,008 Disaster reconstruction and economic recovery Haiti 49,134
Hands around the World
Vocational training centre Kenya 21,050 Muko school Rwanda 30,000 Zumbo and Ogenda schools Uganda 20,000
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Help Age International
Improved well being of older people Tanzania 62,192 Access to water, food security and healthcare Cambodia 45.850
Homeless International
Education set up Pakistan 23,112
Hope and Homes for Children
Placing abandoned babies with families Sudan 29,950 Community hub for vulnerable children South Africa 21,950 Support for teenage mothers Sierra Leone 21,350
Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust
Chin community health project India 56,815
Impact Foundation
Essential maternal care to remote areas Pakistan 38,047 Arsenic filters for safe drinking water Bangladesh 41,600 Mobile eye and ear outreach Zanzibar 26,985 Rural eye care service Nepal 40,399 Reversing disability Bangladesh/Cambodia 37,180 Emergency maternal, neonatal and child health Gambia 41,966
International Childcare Trust
Brighter futures for child labourers Nepal 48,542 Education support for vulnerable children Kenya 32,259
International Medical Corps
Increasing access to safe water Zimbabwe 64,525 International Rescue Committee
Support for provision of sanitation Africa 63,226
Leonard Cheshire International
Inclusive education for all Sudan 31,905 Sustainable livelihoods Papua New Guinea 65,000
Mercy Corps
Supporting food security Zimbabwe 60,000
Microloan Foundation
Farming and irrigation development Malawi 64,568 Chikwawa branch expansion Malawi 62,389
GRANT AID One Year Programmes
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Hangar repairs Papua New Guinea 65,000 Medical safaris Tanzania 33,671 Vehicle replacement Uganda 22,656
One World Action
Income generation for poor rural women El Salvador 13,062 Opportunity International
Youth apprenticeship programme Ghana 33,170 Orbis
Preventing childhood blindness India 64,830 Orphaids
Palliative care facilitator/Doctor Ecuador 19,889
Oxfam
Improving access to water and sanitation Kenya 61,965 Increasing access and quality of education Niger 56,699 Improving incomes for rural farmers Rwanda 63,609
Plan UK
Food security provision Philippines 64,995 Child survival and maternal health Sierra Leone 62,366 Access to primary education Liberia 60,958 Water and sanitation provision Senegal 65,000 Malaria control Sudan 43,500
Practical Action
Improving food security and livelihoods Sudan 38,551 Strengthening livelihoods for farmers Bolivia 38,291
Pump Aid
Clean water and improved nutrition Malawi 64,566 Clean water and improved nutrition Malawi 64,566 Clean water and improved nutrition Malawi 64,566 Clean water and improved nutrition Malawi 64,566 Sustainable supplies of clean water Zimbabwe 64,873 Sustainable supplies of clean water Zimbabwe 64,873
Save the Children
Health centres for remote communities Brazil 64,740 Provision of safe water at schools Sudan 64,939
Sense Internation
Access to education for deafblind children Tanzania 17,796
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Sight Savers International
Community directed treatment Cameroon 59,975 SOS Sahel
Shared management of natural resources Sudan 63,008
Sound Seekers International
Hark mobile clinic Namibia 61,100 Supporting deaf education Zimbabwe 10,852
Sue Ryder Care
Ryder Albania child bereavement project Albania 25,700 Transport capacity building project Malawi 27,613 Access to malaria prevention Malawi 27,158
Target TB
TB control India 30,758 TB control India 19,850
Target TB – Santosh Blatt, a survivor of TB, uses her puppets to deliver health education to others
TB Alert
Poverty reduction Burkina Faso 46,723
Tearfund
Water, sanitation and public health Afghanistan 62,169 Integrated water and sanitation DRC 64,896 Integrated water project Kenya 57,230
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
The Butterfly Tree
Kamwi education Zambia 18,355 Public health Zambia 14,000 Siamasimbi education Zambia 23,225 Mukuni education Zambia 19,575 Machenje education Zambia 11,050 Mandandi education Zambia 23,225
The Cambodia Trust
Assisting disabled people in rural areas Cambodia 27,093
The Good News Trust
Oyugis community education development Kenya 61,832 Oyugis community education development Kenya 62,498 Oyugis community education development Kenya 59,284 Koru community education development Kenya 63,982 Luweero training skills centre Uganda 64,627
The Leprosy Mission
Renovation of leprosy services centre Nepal 47,246 Improving livelihoods Ghana 15,100 Enhancing vision India 11,821
The Women's Council
Community initiatives Asia 20,333 Tools for Self Reliance
Fighting poverty through skills and enterprise Ghana 11,370
Toybox
Effective education for street children Bolivia/Peru 42,017 Child empowerment Bolivia 21,576 Improving facilities for street children Bolivia 16,152
UNICEF
Children and pregnant women immunisation Liberia 64,815 Rebuilding schools and sanitation Madagascar 60,598 Distribution of mosquito nets Guinea-Bissau 65,000
Wateraid
Improving livelihoods and public health Liberia 65,000 Community hygiene, water and sanitation Uganda 64,973
World Vision
Irrigation project Mozabique 52,850
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM AGENCY'S REPORT
SENSE INTERNATIONAL
Access to education for deafblind children, Tanzania
The project was aimed at promoting improved educational services for deafblind children in Tanzania with the overall objective to empower deafbind and multi-sensory impaired children and their families to take a full and active role in their community. Through awareness training courses for teachers and school house parents, their understanding about the needs of deafblind children was improved. As planned, the project also promoted more inclusive support by arranging sessions at school with parents where they developed Individual Education Plans.
The project responded to the needs identified at the outset. Deafblindness is a low-incidence and misunderstood disability. Analysis conducted in 2007 highlighted the exclusion of deafblind children from schooling, lack of awareness and understanding of professionals, government officials, NGOs and families. Whilst the Government of Tanzania had introduced free primary education, the barriers to access for deafblind children effectively excluded them. Deafblind children remain amongst the most marginalised groups, facing multiple burdens of disability, poverty and social stigma.
Overall, the project achieved all of the outcomes it set out to achieve in the 12 months from 1st April 2010-31st March 2011. In some cases targets were
exceeded, with the training of more teachers and school inspectors than envisaged, while less house parents than anticipated were trained. The project contributed to the activities of a European Union grant, with the JOAC grant providing co-funding. Significant progress was made towards a longer- term goal of schools having capacity to provide appropriate sustainable education services to over 70 deafblind children by 2013.
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM AGENCY'S REPORT
HOMELESS INTERNATIONAL Education set up, Pakistan
The aim of this project was to provide less privileged children access to appropriate, affordable and effective basic education. This was to be achieved by supporting local people to upgrade small schools within their own poor and disadvantaged communities in and around the town of Orangi in Karachi, Pakistan. The project has been a success with 106 schools operating effectively and benefiting 13,039 children, with links between schools strengthened, teacher training courses held, and the process documented so as to share the development lessons learnt.
Pakistan has been faced with complex development challenges in recent years. Over 1.2 million people live in informal settlements in towns on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. There is limited access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation and decent schooling, with minimal provision for these services by the government, particularly resources for education. In addition to the lack of adequate schools within these communities, the high cost of transport and school fees have kept many poor children from attending schools where available. Education indices for Pakistan are extremely poor when compared to countries of similar per capita income, with only 54% of the adult population
literate, as well as low enrolment rates (40%), high dropout rates and low transition to secondary education. Female literacy rates are particularly low. The end result is poor educational attainment for less privileged children and therefore poor job prospects.
Good quality, affordable and accessible education is now being provided to 13,039 children (3 – 15 years of age) from poor families living in disadvantaged communities in Karachi. They now have the opportunity to improve their lives and living conditions in the future. These children are attending 106 schools upgraded during the project. Support has also been extended to 617 college-educated, enthusiastic people living within the communities, thus improving their skills and employability as teachers. The project has built upon a proven and cost effective method for providing appropriate education to poor children through the provision of grants for materials, equipment and schooling space. With 46% of the students enrolled being female, and 71% of teachers also female, the project has significantly contributed to promoting gender equality by improving access to education for girls and by providing important employment opportunities for local women as teachers. The high percentage of female teachers has further generated parents' interest in sending their girls to school, thus tackling gender discrimination in school enrolment. Despite political insecurity in Karachi limiting the number of forums which could take place, the project has nevertheless contributed to strengthening school networks and facilitating 2 teacher training courses, where a number of teachers from schools across Karachi participated. These fora provide opportunities for issues such as the
GRANT AID
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM AGENCY'S REPORT
HOMELESS INTERNATIONAL Education set up, Pakistan ....continued
school curriculum, books, examinations, quality control, cheating and lobbying the government's education board to be discussed, with oversight provided by the Orangi Pilot Project, Homeless International's partner in Pakistan. Following the teacher training courses, participants have been sharing their learning with further teachers and schools. Through participating in these school networks and forums, and collaborating on joint activities, the confidence of teachers is being developed. In terms of documentation and the sharing of lessons learnt, pictorial profiles of over 30 schools have been produced, and detailed interviews have been conducted with some of the teachers, all of which have been shared through the schools network. Learning material has also been produced, circulated and now being used in schools.
All the schools supported by this project have been developed by young people from the communities themselves, and so community involvement has been central to this project. As well as building the capacity of young people to address the education challenge, it presents them with skills and job opportunities that they otherwise would not have. Physical improvements such as constructing classrooms, extra windows for ventilation, better roofing and toilets have all employed the use of appropriate, affordable and sustainable technologies, with oversight provided by the Orangi Pilot Project. Teacher training and supporting a learning forum for schools to share experiences and lessons has been important for sustaining the achievement of the project beyond the grant period. Through such networks, established schools have been able to link up with newly set up schools to share experiences, helping them to run effectively. When fully established, schools are then formally registered and integrated into the educational system of Pakistan.
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010
Tearfund – Earthquake, Malawi £ 30,000 Christian Aid – Flooding, Kenya £ 30,000 UNICEF – Earthquake, Haiti £ 50,000
"Despite reports in the media of aid not getting through to Haiti, several planes with UNICEF supplies have already arrived at the airport in Port-au-Prince. We have supplies pre-positioned in Panama and two cargo planes with UNICEF supplies have already arrived. The first landed on Wednesday. Further supplies were flown to the Dominican Republic last night and are being transported overland to Port-au- Prince. In the first instance we are providing supplies for clean water, sanitation and basic health care to meet people's immediate needs.
Conditions are very difficult, with limited access to the affected area. There has been massive damage - buildings, roads and other crucial infrastructure has been destroyed and debris is blocking many of the roads. There is no water supply and most communications are down. However, wherever possible UNICEF supplies are being distributed. UNICEF has already helped to provide clean water and food to 4,000 people seeking shelter at an airport in Jacmel city which has also been badly affected.
An emergency task force has been established to co-ordinate the relief effort. This is being led by the UN Country team and comprises staff from other agencies including UNICEF"
Frances Merivale Donor Relations Manager
15th January 2010
British Red Cross – Earthquake, Haiti
Save the Children – Extreme Weather, Mongolia UNICEF – Earthquake, Chile
Tearfund – Flooding, Angola
Plan – Food insecurity, Niger
Save the Children – Food insecurity, Niger Helpage – Flood response, Ethiopia
Christian Aid – Food insecurity, Niger
Christian Aid – Cyclone Laila, India
Concern – Flood response, Afghanistan
Christian Aid – Tropical storms, Guatemala
Plan – Tropical storms, Guatemala
Oxfam – Tropical storms, Guatemala
£ 50,000
£ 25,455
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 29,277
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 25,000
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Mercy Corps – Ethnic clashes, Kyrgyzstan £ 29,960 Tearfund – Drought, Pakistan £ 30,000 Christian Aid – Flooding, Burkina Faso £ 30,000 Tearfund – Flooding, Pakistan £ 30,000 UNICEF – Flooding, Pakistan £ 30,000 British Red Cross – Flooding, Pakistan £ 30,000 Christian Aid – Ethnic clashes, Kyrgyzstan £ 30,000 UNICEF – Ethnic clashes, Kyrgyzstan £ 30,000 Oxfam – Flooding, Niger £ 30,000 World Vision – Ethnic clashes, Senegal £ 25,887
"Here's a picture taken during the distribution to the flood victims. Would you mind forwarding it to the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission people and telling them thanks and how much the help means to the families who received the help?" Nathalie Fauveau, Project Manager, WV Senegal
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Christian Aid – Flooding, India £ 30,000 World Vision – Flooding, Ethiopia £ 29,574 Bailiff s Haiti Appeal £100,000 Plan – Flooding, Vietnam £ 30,000 Tearfund– Cyclone Giri, Myanmar (Burma) £ 30,000
Distribution of rice, Myanmar
Tearfund
UNICEF – Flooding, Benin
Save the Children – Flooding, Vietnam
Plan – Tsunami, Indonesia
Plan – Flooding, Benin
Christian Aid– Cyclone Giri, Myanmar (Burma) Oxfam – Flooding, Colombia
Save the Children – Flooding, Colombia World Vision– Flooding, Albania
£ 30,000
£ 29,311
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 30,000
£ 29,677
£ 30,000
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM AGENCY'S REPORT
OXFAM Flooding, Colombia
In late 2010, unusually heavy rains caused widespread flooding and landslides across Colombia. More than 2,325,000 people were affected and over 6,716 houses were destroyed, together with agricultural land, infrastructure and highways. All 32 departments in the country were affected, prompting the Government to declare a national calamity.
Oxfam's assessment showed that in the departments of Córdoba, Sucre, Bolivar and Chocó, 70 per cent of the flood-affected population did not have safe water, adequate sanitation or washing facilities, and had lost personal belongings and household items.
Oxfam has an established programme in Colombia, working in several areas of the country on health, livelihoods and protection projects. The current emergency response is in addition to their ongoing work, and they have been working with their established partners to implement the emergency response activities effectively.
Oxfam has provided emergency relief to over 45,300 people so far between December 2010 and March 2011, and their response is continuing. Oxfam is carrying out activities in the northern regions of Córdoba, Atlántico and La Mojana, and in Chocó in the remote north-west. Their response has included improving access to clean water, improving sanitation facilities, and promoting good health and hygiene to prevent the spread of disease. They have also provided emergency food and livelihoods support to some of the people affected worst by the flooding, to help them resume their income- generating activities. Many activities have been carried out in co-ordination with the Colombian Red Cross.
Oxfam's water, sanitation and hygiene response has reached 39,397 people so far.
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM AGENCY'S REPORT
Save the Children Food Insecurity, Niger
Low and erratic rainfall over the 2009/10 led to widespread crop failure and loss of livestock in Niger. More than half the population had used almost all their food reserves from the last harvest and were resorting to desperate measures to cope. Niger already has one of the worst child survival rates in the world with one in six children not living to their fifth birthday. Half of these deaths are linked to malnutrition.
With the generous support from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission Save the Children was able to provide nutrient rich peanut paste, a therapeutic food used to treat malnutrition, to health centres in Matameye and Magaria districts in Zinder. 750 boxes, each containing 150 sachets, were procured in France and transported to Niger. On average, a child suffering from severe acute malnutrition needs 14 sachets for a week's treatment and will need to be treated for 2-4 weeks.
Save the Children estimated that 2,678 children would be treated for severe acute malnutrition over the coming months with the supplies provided by the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission. The grant of £30,000 was used in collaboration with funding from other donors to maximise impact and ensure effectiveness. Initially Save the Children estimated that 600 children would benefit from Jersey Overseas Aid Commission's support, however, they secured funding for medical screening for malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia at each our health centres and therefore, anticipate that they will be able to reach over four times as many vulnerable children in Niger.
JOAC VOLUNTEERS WIN THE GUITON GROUP'S AWARD
FOR "AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR 2010"
2010 saw 40 years since the concept of overseas work projects was born and over this period Jersey has witnessed over 100 groups from the island assisting in projects in different parts of the world. This is an outstanding accomplishment for such a small community which the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, in unison with the Jersey One World Group, marked in a significant way by a weekend of celebration in August last year. The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission was delighted that the Guiton Group further marked this achievement by awarding the "2010 Ambassador of the Year Award" to all volunteers who have undertaken such projects at the Jersey Enterprise Awards Ceremony held at Fort Regent on Friday 4th March 2011. Mr Dennis Troy MBE, Mr Ian Brown and Mr David Ellis received the award on behalf of all the volunteers.
"Whether it has been part of an organised Jersey Overseas Aid Commission group or through another organisation or institution, it is individuals such as these who are the real ambassadors for our Island, who reach out and touch the lives of the poorest of the poor across the world. These individuals have brought positive change to developing communities by providing schools, health clinics and clean water which has not only created transformation in these communities, but has saved lives also. This has resulted in many, many communities within the developing world knowing about "Jersey" and the generosity and support given by its people."
Deputy Ian Gorst Chairman JOAC March 2011
COMMUNITY WORK PROJECTS
VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF "JERSEY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY WORK PROJECTS"
In August 2010, there was thought to have been more than 1,500 former volunteers who gathered for the "Grand Reunion" in celebration of Jersey's long standing commitment to overseas aid projects. Former project leaders, volunteers and international guests attended five events over the bank holiday weekend marking more than 100 trips taken by the aid workers.
Jean Le Maistre, a past President of Jersey's former Overseas Aid Committee and the first leader to undertake a trip back in 1972, undertook the task, assisted by the Commission's Administrative Assistant and former volunteer herself, Karen Nisbet, of trying to get in touch with as many past volunteers as possible.
Jersey's Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Ridgway opened the gardens of Government House for the first event of the weekend where those in attendance were thanked for being Jersey's aid ambassadors in flying the flag for the Island in foreign countries over the years. Special guests included Bill Latham from the charity Tearfund who was instrumental in organising the very first trip and Dr Francis Omaswa,
a surgeon and aid worker from Uganda.
VOLUNTEERS COME TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF "JERSEY'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY WORK PROJECTS"
....continued
Later that day participants and all Islanders were invited to a free and more informal event at Howard Davis Park for a family style picnic. Entertainment was supplied by the Ashiki, a Jersey based African drumming band and singer Liz Shea also entertained the crowds with the Jersey Gospel Choir. Several speakers also took to the stage to outline the
importance of Jersey's overseas aid contributions.
On the Sunday there was a sponsored walk which had been organised by the Lions Club in aid of a clean water project in Malawi and the celebration concluded with a Gala dinner in the evening, where those attending enjoyed the experience of eating "Around the World" with each course celebrating food from a different culture. Fourteen local charities working overseas were also given the opportunity to showcase their work and monies raised from the events over the weekend were evenly distributed amongst them in further support of their work.
MONGOLIA
The project was to build a school for an organisation called The Fraternite de Notre Dame, a French Roman Catholic order that had been working amongst the very poorest people in the country for 8 years. Sister Françoise of the order was running a small orphanage in a slum area of the capital city, taking in children abandoned by their parents who could not afford to feed them. In order to educate them the order had been renting a building to use as a school but due to the cost of renting had appealed to JOAC for a new building.
In early June a team of 10 volunteers from Jersey travelled to Mongolia to help with the building work. The team were accommodated in two Gers (traditional tents) in the grounds of the orphanage and were quite spoilt by having electricity, hot showers and flush toilets.
The local builders had all but finished the foundations when the team arrived. The main work was moving every one of the 90,000 bricks used in the building from where the lorry dropped them to the various locations around the site to where the local "brickies" needed them.
The team also helped with all the little unskilled tasks around the site
and helped to build "The Jersey Wall" as a partition between two classrooms.
At weekends we were able to see quite a bit of the countryside, including spending a day with a herder family and experiencing a little of their way of life. Idyllic on a warm summers day to be living in a tent miles from anywhere but in a 9 month winter when temperatures regularly drop below minus 30 I suspect the novelty soon wears off!
During the first week they had three days rain, unheard of in a normally very dry climate, and with a cold wind straight off Siberia it was so cold that they had to borrow coats. By the end of the second week the temperature had climbed to 42 degrees before dropping to average between 27 and 30 in the day time!
MONGOLIA
Dave Ellis reported "The children of the orphanage were delightful and obviously well cared for and loved dearly by the incredible Sister "Mamon". They enjoyed playing with us despite the language barrier and it is sobering to realise that without the Fraternite, many would have died or at best been incarcerated in the State Orphanage, reminiscent of the work houses of old.
The language barrier, cultural differences, the weather and the unaccustomed hard labour at times were testing but the team all came back fit and well with no illnesses or injuries and all delighted with their experience and proud of the achievement."
Team Members – Dave Ellis, Betty Ellis, Sue Gillespie, Martin O'Neill, Ann Dove, Stacy Danks, Beth Vibert , Debra Flaguel, Archie McLean and Michael Wright.
APPROXIMATE COST
Materials 52,215 Group/Travel Expenses 23,800 Less Volunteer contributions/unspent contingency 8,360
TOTAL £67,655
UGANDA
On Thursday 22nd July 2010, a team of sixteen volunteers departed Jersey for Uganda to provide food storage facilities, accommodation, latrines and a borehole for the Luweero community farming cooperative. The team additionally supplied beehives, poultry and other livestock pens and assisted in the harvesting and cultivation of crops, and tree planting.
The development of the 25 acre site had been in progress since 2007. JOAC funding has resulted in the rapid development this year of all aspects of the project, the recent works on both the buildings and the cultivation of the land have enabled the community to put the farm to use for the purpose of implementing the proposed school feeding programme. The first crops for school use were harvested during the first week of the teams stay.
The team members were able to engage in a wide range of both building and agricultural works, always within small task teams including local supervisors and workers. In addition to the site works the team enjoyed the tasks that they carried out assisting vulnerable and underprivileged families within the community.
Dick Richomme reported "We were privileged to work and socialise with so many wonderful people at the work site, the guest house accommodation, and the local schools and throughout the local community. By the end of the three weeks many team members returned to Jersey fluent in Lugandan to a remarkable degree!"
UGANDA
JOAC funding was sufficient to provide the basics to get the farm underway. The team left some additional funds to be used for the purchase of more livestock, animal feed and seed/rootstock. Farming can be a precarious business at the best of times even in a developed country. In Uganda the farmer always remains at the mercy of a wide range of weather extremes, financial subsidies to compensate for these events do not exist and work is carried out manually. However with the skills and knowledge of the existing farm management team and careful nurturing there is optimism for the future success of this fertile 25 acres of land.
Team Members – Dick Richomme, Carol Rafferty, Bob Auffret, Sam Eastwood , Lynsey Beahan, Matt Daly, Carly de Moulpied, Ben Dupre, Laura Elcock, Maurice Marquer, Alisdair MacLeod, Martina O'Neill, Sindy Boleat, Toni Roberts, Paul Mourant, Dennis Troy .
APPROXIMATE COST
Materials 42,977 Group/Travel Expenses 38,253 Less Volunteer contributions/unspent contingency 17,355
TOTAL £63,875
GHANA
Under the leadership of Alan and Sandra Cameron, Ghana was the final project to be undertaken in 2010 which departed Jersey on Saturday 16th
October. The aim was to work alongside local volunteers building a school for underprivileged children with physical and mental disabilities, carrying out as much work as possible before returning to Jersey.
When the team arrived on site, as planned the concrete over site had been laid and most of the reinforced concrete columns had been cast in readiness for the team's arrival. The team worked with about fourteen local labourers and workmanship overall was good. Thousands of 6" concrete blocks had been handmade and the team had to move them into the building so that they could start blocklaying. Temperatures were in the high 30s so it was extremely hot but together they managed to get the building loaded up ready for the next morning.
During the project team members were also given the chance to visit the Orphanage which was a great treat and also had the opportunity to visit schools and the clinics in the area.
Accommodation was good with all rooms having the luxury of running water showers and toilets. Life at night was good with the team settling down into a routine of salsa lessons, quiz nights, choir practise and games most evenings.
GHANA
Alan Cameron reported "The school is for the children in a very poor area and is a great boost for them. There are many children who did not attend any school due to parents being unable to pay, the children being orphaned, or with a disability. At least now these children will have the opportunity the same as others".
Team Members – Alan Cameron, Sandra Cameron, Christopher Halsey, Myfanwy Halsey, Glynn Williams, Mark Watts, Sharon Varley, Mick Ryall, Suzie Ruffley, Peter Le Boustoullier, Kevin Romeril, Matt Lucas, Matthew Witherington, Tabitha Vincent-De La Haye, Anna-Louise Godel and Hayley Duffield
APPROXIMATE COST
Materials 49,000 Group/Travel Expenses 41,511 Less Volunteer contributions/unspent contingency 16,950
TOTAL £73,561
JERSEY'S OVERSEAS AID PROJECT LINKS MONGOLIA, JERSEY AND FRANCE!
"In June 2010 I led a JOAC work project team to Mongolia to help to build a school for orphans and underprivileged children. The project was on behalf of the Fraternite de Notre Dame and the team was accommodated in the grounds of their orphanage in Ulaan Bataar. The lady in charge of the orphanage was sister Marie Francoise, a French Roman Catholic nun.
Soon after arrival the team was welcomed by the children with a display of dancing and singing and it was very obvious that they enjoyed themselves very much. One of the project team members, Ann Dove, was a professional dance teacher and she undertook to write and choreograph a Christmas production for the children and taught it to them. She spent a great deal of her spare time during the trip engaged in this mammoth task and some of the other team members decided that it would be good if the children had proper costumes for the parts and some team members clubbed together and purchased the material from the local market.
The material was duly transported home and for a while my wife Betty, also a team member and Janice Letty, Ann's cousin worked away to produce two clowns costumes and ten other assorted Christmas costumes.
How to get the costumes back to Mongolia safely concerned us but that problem was solved when I learnt that one of the senior members of staff of a local Mongolian firm was French who frequently travelled between France and Mongolia and had offered to be a "courier" for us so Betty and I agreed to take them as far as Versailles. Two weeks later we heard that they had arrived safely!
Whilst we were in France we decided we would visit Sister Marie Francois' parents who live near Nerac, just south of the Dordogne region. They were thrilled to have first hand news of their daughter who had not been home for 8 years, and we gave them photos of their daughter and of the work she is doing in Mongolia.
Going on an Overseas Aid trip always brings you into contact with some very special people and this occasion was an added bonus".
Dave Ellis, JOAC Sub-Committee Member and Community Work project Leader to Mongolia 2009
14th October 2010
In 2005 JOAC sent a team to OLA parish in Bolgatanga Ghana to build a training centre. The leaders of that project were Alan and Sandra Cameron both of which have returned several times in the last couple of years. Completed after the team left, it has been in use since 2007.
Dressmaking, tie-n-dye and basket making are all studied and students are also taught to crochet with all crafts included in their exams.
Basic maths and business studies are also taught to enable the pupils to have an understanding of running their own business once they have completed their studies.
The centre has not always been able to buy new material for the class to practice on, and to save money, they recycled old cement bags to make outfits for the first year-end exams; which they passed.
The materials and clothes that are produced during the training are sold outside the local church to raise an income.
The class sat their final exams in November, and it is hoped to have the results at the beginning of May 2011.
A new group will start studying at Easter 2011, and will undertake a three year course.
Island Aid for World Children a charity established by Alan and Sandra have paid the teacher's salary since the start and continue to do so, and have also provided all the equipment needed; sewing machines, desks, materials etc.
A small computer workshop has also been set up by the local youth committee in the Training Centre, and this is used to teach basic computer skills and also to generate money by printing documents and charging a small fee for internet use.
It is hoped to start cycle repair, building or carpentry courses in the near future.
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In 2006, Island Aid for World Children applied to JOAC for to send a team of ten volunteers to assist with the provision of a training centre in Adankwame, a village outside Kumasi, Ghana. The centre was to be used to train the local male youth in carpentry and bicycle repairs. These are young people that have been through school, but have unfortunately not gained any qualifications.
When the team arrived on site, they found that the foundations had not yet been dug or laid, so the task was to start digging! This was very hard work as the ground was solid due to lack of rainfall. Problems also occurred with the delivery of the sand, cement and chippings due to the poor road leading to the site, but the team was able to resolve this by showing the site foremen how to use rubble from the site to form a new road.
When the team left after three 3 weeks, the concrete foundations were down and they had built up the block work to ground floor level.
Since leaving Adankwame, Alan and Sandra have been in constant communication with Br. Francis Dometrio, of the Spiritian Mission, who was the site foremen and is now the caretaker of the training centre. The building was completed within a year of the team leaving Adankwame and has since provided great benefit and opportunities to the community to maintain self sustainability.
GRANTS AWARDED TO
JERSEY CHARITIES WORKING OVERSEAS
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010
Ngora Trust - Completion of Borehole, Uganda £ 1,000 WASOT-UK - Classroom provision, Kenya £10,000
WASOT-UK Classroom provision, Kenya
St Clements Church - Operating Theatre, Kenya £ 2,000
St Clements Church Operating theatre restoration, Kenya
GRANTS AWARDED TO
JERSEY CHARITIES WORKING OVERSEAS
GRANTS VOTED DURING 2010....continued
Jersey Gambia Schools Trust - Farming equipment, Gambia £ 5,000 Kisumu Education Orphans Fund – Hand Dug Well, Kenya £ 3,580 St Clements Church - Rehabilitation of water supply, Kenya £ 1,450 The Good News Trust – Classroom provision, Kenya £10,000 St Clements Church – Restoration of Kaloleni Hospital, Kenya £13,175 WASOT-UK (Mifumi) – Provision of changing rooms, Uganda £ 1,852 Island Aid For World Children - Borehole, Ghana £ 5,000 Kisumu Orphans Education Fund – Education, Kenya £ 1,000
"The most important news is that two of our boys have gained university entrance and will go to Nairobi in September. They are jubilant and send thanks to all in Jersey who have enabled them to achieve this through educating them"
Sue Deans Kisumu Orphans Education Fund
March 2011
St Clements Church – Classroom, Kenya £ 2,100 Jersey Gambia Schools Trust - Container, Gambia £ 1,710
AGENCIES ACKNOWLEDGE JERSEY'S OVERSEAS AID PROGRAMME
BRITISH RED CROSS
The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has been an important and generous donor to the British Red Cross for many, many years, both through annual grant aid and through its allocation towards disaster and emergency relief funding.
When natural disasters or emergencies occur, the Red Cross responds immediately with relief items including food, water, shelter and medical supplies, as well as search and rescue operations. To save lives, we must act quickly: The generous amount awarded by the Commission for emergency operations has an enormous impact, helping us provide vital relief supplies to many thousands of people, and the speed with which they make funding decisions is crucial for us to get the aid to where it is needed, when it is needed. The size of the Island and population makes the level of grant- making through JOAC even more notable.
Through annual grant aid, the British Red Cross received grants totalling just over £153,000 this year in support of three projects in Sierra Leone, Uganda and Afghanistan. Opportunities for securing funding for our work in Afghanistan, in particular, are limited, making the Commission's grant vital in enabling us to carry out community based health work in this desperately poor country, and preventing avoidable deaths. Funding awarded by the Commission this year is enabling us to provide health and livelihoods support to a targeted 58,000 beneficiaries, demonstrating value for money for the people of Jersey and their investment in development and achieving life- saving changes for people in need.
We currently have applications of over £190,000 under consideration by the Commission. Of particular concern are the projects being considered for work in Zimbabwe and Afghanistan that are difficult to fund from other sources because of the political and security context in each country - JOAC is a key funder for countries such as these.
The Commission's broad funding guidelines mean we are able to submit projects that are needs-led, and to respond to needs in the most appropriate way for our beneficiaries. Reporting requirements are also reasonable compared to some other funders.
Helen Pott Senior Trusts and Statutory Fundraiser British Red Cross
6th September 2010
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CHRISTIAN AID
Since 1991, the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has supported Christian Aid with grants totalling over £3,100,000. This very significant and generous support has enabled work around the world to be undertaken in countries including Ethiopia., Rwanda, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Peru and many more. Without the support of JOAC many of these projects simply would not have happened. This means that many thousands of people would not have been lifted out of poverty, received clean water, had enough food to eat, received education or had access to health centres. In the last two years alone, Christian Aid estimates that support from Jersey has transformed the lives of over 100,000 people.
Examples of the direct impact JOAC's support has had on communities around the world are numerous. JOAC is also willing to provide support to projects where there are other donors such as the European Commission. This leverage effect means that a donation can be worth many times as much to beneficiaries, making even greater impact. The people that JOAC has helped are frequently those with the least. They often survive off less than US$1 or US$2 per day, do not have sufficient food, clean water or adequate housing. In Mali, a country that JOAC has supported through working with Christian Aid, life expectancy is just 48 years and only a quarter of all adults are literate. In Kenya, another country that JOAC has supported, more than half the population live below the national poverty line and over 40% do not have a good quality source of clean water.
JOAC's application process guarantees that support requested goes directly to a specific project. The application format is detailed and requests the type of information that is relevant to project work, without being unnecessarily lengthy and onerous. This process ensures that projects are focused with activities and corresponding budgets provided. This helps project teams to be clear on what they are requesting funding for, and the impact that this support will have on communities. Christian Aid hopes that the details provided give reassurance to JOAC that the work has been well thought out and thoroughly costed.
Since 1995, JOAC has supported 35 emergencies appeals through Christian Aid. This has enabled an immediate response to emergencies, meaning that our humanitarian team can begin supporting people and communities as soon as a disaster has occurred. One of the unique elements of this support is the speed with which JOAC are able to respond. Unlike many other donors, the process is extremely fast, meaning Christian Aid can provide support when the need is at its most acute. In addition, JOAC is willing to support emergencies that do not reach the media and the headlines, but where the need is still significant.
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CHRISTIAN AID
Support from JOAC frequently makes up a large portion of the budget in these emergencies, evidencing the importance of the donation. Recent support from JOAC to Christian Aid has included responding to food shortages in Niger and conflict in Kyrgyzstan. These give excellent examples of the range of countries and issues that JOAC are willing to respond to. The humanitarian need in both cases was immense. The support from JOAC on these occasions had a huge impact thanks to the generosity of the support and the speed at which the support was provided.
The support that JOAC has provided to Christian Aid has been of real importance. The long-term support has enabled many projects to be undertaken that otherwise would not have occurred. The emergency support has been vital in providing a fast and generous response to communities who are in sudden and desperate need. Leaving aside the British and Irish government contributions, the support from Jersey stands out as being one of the most important and generous to Christian Aid over the last 5 years. Support from Jersey is regularly more than that from other similarly sized islands for both emergency and long-term project support. For this reason alone it is a vital source of support for Christian Aid's work around the world.
Christian Aid's International Director Paul Valentin commented, "Christian Aid depends on its supporters to be able to undertake work around the world. The regular and generous donations from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission have enabled a significant number of long-term projects and emergency interventions to take place. These have undoubtedly saved lives and helped to lift thousands of communities out of poverty. Christian Aid is extremely grateful for this support."
Mike Annison Trusts and Foundations Manager Christian Aid
6th September 2010
IMPACT FOUNDATION
The work of the IMPACT Foundation to prevent and treat needless disability in some of the poorest parts of the world has benefited enormously from the support of Jersey Overseas Aid since 1988, which has been absolutely pivotal in the development and expansion of our programme from very small beginnings in 1985. Indeed, the States of Jersey is our largest single supporter, having contributed close to £3 million over the past 22 years. This equates to almost 14% of IMPACT's total income to date.
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IMPACT FOUNDATION
The States of Jersey's support for IMPACT's work belies the size of the island. For example, IMPACT has received £2,815,932 in grants from you. This compares to £187,702 from the States of Guernsey; £90,635 from the Isle of Man; and £90,357 from the UK's Department for International Development. Calculated on a per capita' basis, we have been given £30.73 for every person on Jersey; £2.86 for every person on Guernsey; £1.13 for every person on the Isle of Man and just a tenth of a penny in DFID funding for every British person.
It is at the individual and community levels that the real impact of your support is felt by impoverished people who, for the first time have access to basic health care and medical treatment which can prevent the needless disability affecting tens of millions of people in our world, or can restore sight, hearing, mobility or repair cleft lip. Such care is readily available to each of us living in the UK and on Jersey but is rare or inadequate, particularly in the remote and rural parts of Asia and Africa where IMPACT works. In the last five years alone, more than six million men, women and children have benefited as a result of Jersey Overseas Aid's grants to IMPACT. Many of your gifts have established health facilities, mobile clinics or purchased essential equipment which make an on-going contribution to the community. It is almost impossible to know how many people will also benefit in the coming years.
In addition to the relief of human suffering that comes from alleviating needlessly disabling conditions, your support has also helped to reduce impoverishment since disability traps people in the developing world in abject poverty by hindering their opportunity to earn a living or attend school. Although accurate figures are hard to come by, it is estimated that as few as 1% of disabled people are employed or in school in some areas.
Jersey Overseas Aid Commission's support for IMPACT is making an important contribution towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, in particular, Goals 1, 4, and 5 (End Poverty and Hunger, Child Health and Maternal Health) and your rapid and generous response during times of natural disaster has enabled IMPACT to assist people affected by flooding in Bangladesh in 2000, 2004 and 2007 and The Philippines in 2009 in the critical early days after the event. During any such crisis, speed counts and the fact that the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has procedures in place to react quickly makes meeting the immediate needs of affected people much more effective, especially when working in partnership with a small and flexible organisation such as IMPACT.
There is no doubt that without the enduring support of the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, IMPACT's programme would not be as widespread and successful as it is and that your support has enabled us to create a strong
AGENCIES ACKNOWLEDGE JERSEY'S OVERSEAS AID PROGRAMME ....continued
IMPACT FOUNDATION
track record with which to leverage grants from many more funders. We now have vibrant projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, The Philippines and Zanzibar assisting millions of people each year.
Thank you.
The Trustees, Chief Executive and Staff of IMPACT Foundation 3rd September 2010
OXFAM GB
The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission (JOAC) and Oxfam have been working together since 1967, and in this time the Commission has granted almost £4 million to support both Oxfam's emergency and development work. We greatly appreciate the Commission's ongoing commitment to our work and are proud to be associated with the Island of Jersey.
The public debate throughout the UK is currently dominated by the cuts and deficits agenda, and this has resulted in a backlash against the UK aid budget. Oxfam believes however that when times are hard we have a responsibility to help the poorest people, at home or abroad. Millions of people struggling to survive in poor countries do not have a welfare states to fall back on, and as a result of the economic crisis around 50 million more people will be pushed into extreme poverty, forced to live on just 75p a day.
Overseas aid has transformed the lives of millions of poor people across the world. Amongst other achievements, aid has helped to reduce the number of children who die before their fifth birthday by 4 million since 1990, put 33 million more children in the classroom, and increased the number of people receiving HIV medication by tenfold. Without the support of government aid, these vast accomplishments could not have been achieved; and with Oxfam calculating that the world needs an extra six million well-trained doctors, teachers and nurses in developing countries, now is the time to be increasing overseas aid, not reducing it.
Since 2001 alone, Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has made an immense contribution to changing the lives of poor people in more than 34 countries. JOAC development grants have enabled more than 236,000 women, men and children to make vital improvements to their lives through development projects, and your emergency grants have helped to save the lives of 1.2 million people via humanitarian assistance.
....continued
OXFAM GB
Development projects are at the heart of Oxfam's work, and are essential to help people find lasting answers to chronic poverty. Luckson Bastien from Haiti sums up the hugely positive and often very tangible impact your grants have had on poor people's lives well. Luckson leads the RECOCARNO supervising committee, a coffee producers' co-operative that Oxfam has supported with product development and marketing training, with funding from the States of Jersey. He explains, "Before we formed the co-operative we used to sell a pound of coffee for 1-1.5 gourdes (US$0.02-0.04), and were struggling to survive. Now, when we export, they buy at 30 gourdes (US$.075) and sell at US$1.26. Our members now have a lot more income, which is very encouraging".
Collectively, the projects Commission has funded have enabled millions of people to work their way out of poverty and create a positive future for them and their families.
When a disaster strikes, JOAC is one of the first funders Oxfam approaches. The emergency grants criterion allows us to spend the funds where the need is greatest - this reduces the time and money spent on preparing proposals and administering a grant. The process of submitting an emergency grants is simple and the turnaround from the Commission is very quick, which is important when you are dealing with fast moving situations.
For many funders, media interest in a disaster does play a part when making decisions, which means many smaller emergencies are forgotten. We rely on JOAC to understand that the urgency of these less-publicised emergencies is just as great as those that hit the headlines. The States of Jersey have sometimes been the first and only government to fund some of our lower- profile emergency responses, such as the Philippines typhoon in 2006 and the more recent floods in Guatemala. Without Jersey's support, we could not have reached so many people.
The current Jersey funding criteria for development grants is clear, concise and broad enough for most potential applicants to meet successfully. The wide criteria enables Oxfam to submit a range of work from all parts of world, including those areas which are not always popular with funders, such as the former Soviet Republics. The proposal template and submission process is straightforward and we appreciate the opportunity to meet the Commission to discuss the projects during the meetings in London.
The inclusion of a rolling three-year grant following the previous Jersey Overseas Aid review has been particularly welcome. Long term programmes such as these allows Oxfam to invest in projects which will help many more people over a longer period and gives Oxfam time to prepare beneficiaries to become self sufficient once the project ends. We hope that other Island
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OXFAM GB
governments will be looking to replicate the same with their own aid funds in the future.
Dame Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive, Oxfam
"The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission is one of Oxfam's most long- standing and committed partners, and we are extremely grateful to you for providing such incredible support to both our programme beneficiaries and international staff. I would of course encourage the States of Jersey to continue to build on their excellent reputation for recognising and responding to the needs of poor people across the world. More aid is vital now to enable the international community to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015."
Thank you
Juliet Chalmers Head of Trusts and Foundations Oxfam GB
6th September 2010
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Jersey's support of Save the Children is quite simply life-saving. The continued generosity of the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has allowed Save the Children to reach hundreds of thousands of the world's most vulnerable children and their families. Jersey's annual overseas aid grant programme makes a massive difference to the lives of the people Save the Children works with, from the construction of health centres in remote rural areas that have no medical facilities, to refurbishing classrooms that have been destroyed by conflict. Jersey's Emergency Relief Funding also allows Save the Children to react swiftly and effectively in the aftermath of a disaster. The faster we can act following an emergency the more lives we can save and JOAC is one of our key donors in responding to disasters.
The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission is a valuable contributor to Save the Children's overseas work. JOAC's generosity is particularly significant given the relatively small size of the island and its population and is a powerful example to our other potential and existing donors. A cut in Jersey's overseas aid budget would have a huge impact on our overseas work. Jersey is also influential on other similar donors, such as GOAC and the Isle of Man; if Jersey were to cut its overseas budget it might prompt others to follow suit.
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SAVE THE CHILDREN
Every year, nearly 9 million children under the age of five die, most of them from preventable causes. The deadline for meeting the international community's targets to reduce the mortality rate among children by two- thirds, and among women in pregnancy and childbirth by three-quarters is now just five years away. Support from Jersey is more important now than ever in helping agencies such as Save the Children to work with the world's governments to reach these targets.
At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, the international community signed up to eight targets to reduce poverty, hunger and disease by 2015. These are the Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs. Ten years on, there has been significant progress on many of the targets. However, the goals to reduce the deaths of young children and mothers are the furthest off track. Just one third of the necessary progress has been made on MDG4, to cut the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds, and just 10% towards achieving MDG5, to reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio.
Projects supported by Jersey, such as the construction of health clinics in Burera District, Rwanda serving a population of 30,000, and the refurbishment of forest community houses as health centres to reach a population of over 10,000 in the Amazon, Brazil, have a twofold impact. These projects reach vulnerable communities with direct work and services, but also allow us to demonstrate to international governments how this work can be successfully replicated and scaled up in order to contribute to reaching the MDG targets. JOAC supported programmes have also provided training to hundreds of health workers in areas such as maternal health, neo-natal care, immunisations and hygiene practise. This learning will serve communities for generations to come.
More than half of all children who are out of school in the world today live in conflict-affected fragile states (CAFS), 39 million children out of a total of 72 million children are not in school. While there has been an impressive reduction in the overall number of children left out of school since 2006, progress has been much slower in CAFS. It is possible to get children in CAFS into education, as Save the Children's "Rewrite the Future" campaign has demonstrated, but without urgent action to help these hardest-to-reach children, MDG2 (that all children get a full course of primary schooling by 2015) will not be met.
The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has had a huge impact on providing education to children in CAFS. In 2009, with JOAC's support, we were able to rehabilitate and refurbish classrooms and provide educational opportunities for over 1,000 children in Odienne, Cote D'Ivoire. In the same year with JOAC's support we were able to provide water boreholes in five schools,
AGENCIES ACKNOWLEDGE JERSEY'S OVERSEAS AID PROGRAMME ....continued
SAVE THE CHILDREN
providing clean water in a safe learning environment for children who wouldn't normally access school.
Jersey's Emergency Relief Funding is invaluable to Save the Children. As we know, disasters can happen at any time, and knowing there is funding available each month from JOAC means we can apply for funding as soon as a disaster strikes. JOAC's Emergency Relief Funding has also proved to be hugely important for emergency responses that don't necessarily make the headlines, have huge media coverage, or have been forgotten'.
Another particular advantage of Jersey's Emergency Relief Fund is how quickly the Commission responds to funding applications. In an emergency, the biggest factor is always time; the faster we can respond to a disaster, the more lives we can save and the more people we can reach. The fact that Jersey can reply to an emergency application within a couple of days makes their support all the more important, as other supporters can take weeks to respond.
Kes Seymour Trusts Development Manager Philanthropy & Partnerships 6TH September 2010