2 days ago
Jersey becomes first non-member of United Nations to host humanitarian aid meeting
Jersey has become the first non-member of the United Nations (UN) to host international talks, addressing humanitarian aid for those in crisis.
The island was selected to co-chair the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Pooled Fund Working Group (PFWG) to discuss how smaller donors can reach the most severely affected countries through a coordinated approach.
Officials from across the globe have joined discussions which include key decisions on how taxpayers' money in Jersey can provide life-saving support.
Edward Lewis, Executive Director of Jersey Overseas Aid, explains: "Jersey is seen in the international sector; they wouldn't come here if they didn't think we had something to say and something to contribute.
"The whole idea is widening the donor base and getting a broader constituency, which is really important in terms of having an effective response.
"And for the next couple of days at least, Jersey is going to play a leading role."
Currently, the island allocates approximately 0.3% of its budget to overseas aid - more than £17 million.
Jersey Overseas Aid has also sent more than £7 million of aid to countries including Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine since 2016.
David Throp, Chief of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), says: "The system as a whole has been going through financial difficulties.
"We have seen cuts from big players, such as the Americans and other big European countries; every pound helps us save another life.
"By putting the money together, we can do something bigger, better, more thought-out, and more influential on the beneficiaries and populations we're trying to assist.
"Jersey has been very good at bringing leadership to the discussions. The island has been punching above its weight in guiding us."
Alice Armanni-Sequi, one of the senior UN officials, says she's enjoyed the talks in Jersey so far, adding that getting the pooled funds right is vital for those in need.
She explains: "We cover a range from food, shelter, health services, water, which is so critical and nutrition.
"The list goes on, but the formula will depend on the location, so the great thing about the pooled funds is that we can really come up with the right recipe at the local level that really represents what people need."
David adds: "Most of the funds, in particular the larger funds, are located in some of the more protracted emergencies.
"We do have countries like the democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territories, where it is not a sudden onset and a quick finish - a more fundamental structural problem in the society.
"The good thing about the model is that we can put these funds in place and phase them out as and when needed, depending on the changes in the situation."
Mazen Fadhl Maddi represents the Field Medical Foundation (FMF) Yemen, and knows first hand how overseas aid is a lifeline for those who need it.
He explains: "It saves lives. I have seen it personally - I have gone to the camps.
"We are also giving communities resilience. The money translates into a lot of sectors, a lot of assistance, such as food assistance and nutrition. We have huge numbers of acute malnutrition in Yemen."
Chair of Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, Carolyn Labey, says that while Jersey's contribution increases in line with the island's GDP, contributions can go further.
She says: "We have connected our budget to GDP, so when the economy grows, our budget grows.
"Our budget is currently fixed at 0.3% of GDP, and that isn't quite the OECD average, which is 0.36%.
"The overall aim is to reach 0.7%, but there is a way to go there."
The States of Guernsey aims to allocated 0.2% of its budget to overseas aid by 2030, however it is not part of the Pooled Fund Working Group, hence why no officials are attending this weeks meeting.
