VSO responds to 'Fake Aid'

11/09/2009 10:28:00

VSO’s International Programmes Director, Richard Hawkes, responds to International Policy Network’s research report, Fake Aid and explores how, with the support of the British Government, VSO is helping more people work their way out of poverty.

Debate about the value of aid expenditure is just and the British public has the right to expect their Government and the charities it supports to be spending taxpayers’ money wisely and effectively.  But the public also has the right to understand fully just how effective Britain has been in lifting thousands of men, women and children out of poverty every year.

In its recent report Fake Aid: How foreign aid is being used to support the self-serving political activities of NGOs, the International Policy Network referenced VSO’s involvement in encouraging the Gambian Government to ban all-inclusive hotels, suggesting it undermined the earning potential of Gambians and was at odds with Secretary of State Douglas Alexander’s commitment to developing the private sector in the poorest countries.

It only told half the story. 

We were actually involved in an important campaign, along with Tourism Concern in the UK and Gambia Tourism Concern, to uncover the hugely detrimental impact package tours were having on the livelihoods of local people.  A massive 99% of Gambians were opposed to all-inclusive holidays because local guest houses, restaurants, bars, guides and taxi-drivers were losing business to the resorts, which are mainly controlled by foreign companies. 

In short the poorest people in The Gambia were not feeling the benefit of the lucrative tourist dollar.  We were trying to change that.  In 1999 the Gambian Government banned all-inclusive hotels but one year later, under pressure from international tour operators, it reversed the decision. 

But our commitment to enterprise development in The Gambia is still strong.  Recent examples of success include our work with women’s groups to develop basic agricultural skills that enable women to set up small businesses that provide the money and independence they need to feed their families and send their children to school. 

In the area of income generation our impact is diverse and far reaching; from helping ex-child soldiers in Sierra Leone to set up their businesses to supporting Malawian farmers to secure coveted organic certification, we have helped thousands of individuals work their way out of poverty. 

These achievements are possible because of the commitment of hundreds of professionals who volunteer their time and skills every year.  VSO volunteers come from all walks of life and professional backgrounds.  They range from small business advisers with expertise in developing marketable products to farmers who can share practical agricultural skills.

We staunchly believe the most effective way to tackle poverty is to give poor people the skills and expertise they need to help themselves.  What is common to all VSO volunteers is that they are recruited for their skills, not for their ability to pay.  In the age of expensive ‘voluntourism’ packages VSO stands out for its commitment to the value of an individual’s skills not wallet.

The Department of International Development (DFID) believes in our approach and gives us the financial backing we need to recruit the best volunteers for the job.   Not just from business but from education and health too.

Because of its hands-on activities and support for charities like VSO, DFID is recognised around the world as the leading government aid agency fighting poverty and it is very positive news for poor people around the world that all UK political parties share that commitment.

But let’s not assume this is a one way street.  British people volunteering is good for Britain too.  Volunteers are proven to return to the UK with enhanced professional skills and a global perspective that strengthens our own economy and public services. 

And at a local level the experiences and insights of individuals who have lived and worked in vastly different cultures help challenge pejorative and harmful stereotypes about other countries and foster greater understanding between communities. 

Before we challenge the British Government’s support for charities let’s consider the impact it has on tackling global poverty and making the UK a fairer and safer place to live.