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WQ.460/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY DEPUTY J.H. PERCHARD OF ST. SAVIOUR
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 22nd OCTOBER 2019
Question
When schools are built in countries such as Ghana and Zambia, as a result of Jersey Overseas Aid (J.O.A.) projects, is teacher-training, curriculum-development, safeguarding and child protection training also funded and / or delivered by J.O.A. in partnership with the respective nation's Education department or Ministry in order to help establish safe, high-quality educational establishments in such countries?
Answer
Under our International Development funding stream, JOA no longer funds educational projects – instead we support projects that focus on Jersey's strengths and where the Island can add value (Dairy for Development, Financial Services for the Poor and Conservation Livelihoods). When education did feature, in recent years, it was not through the construction of schools, teacher training or curriculum development but by supporting projects that focused on improving education, health and gender-equality through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). JOA funds have improved educational outcomes by reducing absenteeism due to diarrhoea and other illnesses, improving attendance for adolescent girls through safe, gender-specific WASH facilities and ensuring lasting change by sharing activities and good practice with teachers, parents and the wider community.
JOA funds are occasionally still used for educational infrastructure, but only through match-funded local Jersey charity grants or community volunteer work projects (CWPs). Prior to any grant being awarded, local Jersey charities must now demonstrate clear sustainability and good coordination as well as clarifying such issues as landownership and ongoing responsibility for salaries. All our CWPs are now done in partnership with respected charities that bring with them decades of experience of delivering development programmes overseas.
We are not a bilateral donor and therefore give no money to Government Departments or Ministries. However, cooperation and coordination are some of our key criteria and, regardless of theme, we expect a high level of engagement with local and national governments, NGOs and charities in the field. This also applies to any local charity or Community Work Project funded by JOA.
Time of policy officer to compile answer: £100