The Overseas Aid & Development Commission (the Commission) has published its Annual Report for 2015.
The Report provides an overview of the Commission's work during 2015, including:
- Details of the 76 development projects it funded from its £2.6 million Grant Aid budgets;
- Case studies on the delivery and impact for change from some of the project reports;
- Updates on how the Commission used its £200,000 Disaster and Emergency Relief budget to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies in some of the world's poorest countries; and
- Details of how it has sought to develop programmes with Guernsey businesses and charities to foster partnerships for delivering overseas aid.
The Commission's President, Deputy Emilie Yerby said,
"The Annual Report reflects the life-changing impact of projects supported by the Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission in some of the poorest regions of the world."
"The Commission aims to support sustainable change within communities, focusing on the fundamental areas of health, sanitation, education and food security. But many of the projects also have a wider benefit - for example, protecting women from sexual assault by removing the need to travel long distances to collect water; or empowering disabled people by providing appropriate education. There is also a multiplier effect in these projects - for example, one project, which focused on training 30 literacy facilitators, ultimately gave more than 200 people the opportunity to learn literacy skills from them."
"Great credit is due to former Deputy Mike O'Hara and his team for their commitment to the work of the Commission during 2015, and the projects which Guernsey has been able to support as a consequence."
"As I take up this role, I am now looking forward to getting to know the Commissioners and continuing to develop the work of the Overseas Aid and Development Commission. One of the challenges for me will be to develop our relationships with the private sector, and fulfil the second part of the Commission's mandate. I know that Guernsey is a generous and engaged community, which will make the work of the Commission a joy to do. Meanwhile, I hope that this Annual Report will help to give islanders a clear picture of the amazing impact that their generosity can have on the lives of others around the world."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
The Commission's first meeting with the new President, Deputy Yerby, will be on Thursday 26th May 2016 at 4.30pm at Sir Charles Frossard. Any members of the media who would like to take the opportunity for a photo call with the Commission and short interviews, in asked to contact the Commission's Secretary.
The Commission's mandate is:
- To distribute funds voted by the States for aid and development overseas by making contributions to ongoing programmes and to emergency and disaster relief.
- To develop programmes relating to the collection and distribution of funds involving the private sector.
- To carry out the duties and powers above in accordance with policies set out by the Policy & Resources Committee
The underlying approach adopted by the Commission, on behalf of the States of Guernsey, is to support projects which will help to provide the basic needs of the world's least developed countries or to help the indigenous population to provide those needs. Basic needs includes medical and health facilities, educational programmes and facilities, housing, water and sanitation provision and the means of sustaining a living, e.g. through agriculture, horticulture or through training in sustainable employment skills.
The Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission has an annual budget of £2.885 million to support specific development and humanitarian projects in the world's least developed countries. This money is distributed through its annual grant aid funding rounds where individual charities are invited to submit project proposals which seek to address, in a sustainable way, one of more of the above basic needs.
In addition, the Commission is working hard to identify opportunities to work closely with local businesses, organisations and charities that will mean that Guernsey' annual contribution to overseas development is maximised.
