Wednesday 25 September 2024
General Update
Sir
As Members know, I often take this opportunity to provide some context for the work of the Commission. I usually refer to facts and statistics which highlight that millions of people in developing countries do not just face financial hardship, but also appalling suffering on a daily basis. On this occasion I do not feel the need to do so, as the serious challenges facing people living in the developing world are tragically obvious for anyone who takes an interest in current international news. This is particularly so for those 49 countries in the lowest quartile of the United Nations Human Development Index, on which the Commission focuses its limited resources to assist the 'poorest of the poor'.
Instead, I wish to give the positive message that Guernsey, through the Commission's work, is doing its part to help alleviate suffering in the developing world. Also, by making a worthwhile contribution, Guernsey is fulfilling its moral obligation and international responsibilities as an independent and mature jurisdiction.
In regard to immediate aid, and through its Disaster and Emergency Relief programme, the Commission has so far in 2024 donated £60,000 each to the UK for UNHCR and Samaritan's Purse to provide life-saving assistance to internally displaced people affected by famine and conflict in Sudan. Sudan is currently the world's largest humanitarian crises with 10 million displaced people. On 1 st August, famine was declared in North Dafur. Across Sudan 8 million people are acutely hungry, including 3.6 million children. The funds donated are providing food, shelter and equipment to those desperately in need. As a small jurisdiction, the contribution that can be made by Guernsey is limited but our help is saving lives. Other emergency awards in 2024 include support for refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, food assistance following mass crop failure In Malawi due to drought and then flooding, and help for the victims of recent floods in Bangladesh.
Sir, this year the Commission has placed more emphasis on engaging with the public. This is to demonstrate how Guernsey's support can make a significant difference to the lives of individuals on the ground, with comparative small sums of money. In this vein, I wish to provide examples of our single and multi-year sustainable project work.
Single-Year projects are at the heart of the Commission's programmes. In 2024, this included a project with the Charity 'Practical Tools Initiative' to install a peanut and sesame mill to combat malnutrition in Sierra Leone with a grant of £50,000. This initiative will support 2,000 community farmers and their families to grow, process and supply locally produced peanut butter, sesame paste and other nutritious food. The Charity states it will be a 'game changer' in the fight against severe food deprivation in the area, with UNICEF reporting that 33% of under-fives in Sierra Leone have stunted growth. The Commission always looks to fund sustainable projects and this one is no different. Funds for the operation of the mill will come from the sale of products to government feeding programmes for malnourished children and lactating mothers, and to the public. Overall, the project will improve food security, assist with community cohesion including those with disabilities, improve health for children and mothers, provide a sustainable income for growers, and promote peace and economic change through self-reliance. This single-year project is just one of the 56 being funded in 19 countries in 2024.
Since 2022, the Commission has also funded six to eight multi-year projects each year, which are undertaken over a three year period. It has previously been shown that projects over a longer period can often have a greater sustainable impact on the future of developing communities. These awards favour the themes of ' reaching the furthest first' OR ' mitigating the impact of climate change'. The former means that the majority of beneficiaries of the projects are from a marginalised group. The latter relates to protecting agricultural land from desertification, land irrigation, and the use of solar energy.
An example of an ongoing 2022 multi-year project is the 'Adolescents-led Resilient Livelihoods for Terai Dalit Farmers in Nepal' being undertaken by the International Nepal Fellowship UK. The grant is for £150,000. The Dalit ethic group are often landless and suffer exclusion from education and employment due to their lower caste status. Year 1 of the project has allowed 191 adolescent girls, including disabled participants, to become change makers by establishing groups to receive training on literacy, numeracy, climate change and income generating skills. These changemakers then supported community health initiatives for 522 households, or 2,800 people, including building communal toilets, installing boreholes, supplying improved cooking stoves and water filters, and hygiene training. Year 2 saw the 522 families formed into farmers' groups to provide sustainable livings, lease land for farming, and undertake agricultural training including sustainable soil management. Two solar irrigation systems were also installed. Year 3 will look to replicate the resilient livelihoods scheme through policy formation at local government level. Rina is just one of the female participants and works as a change maker by imparting guidance to a group of adolescents. She is physically disabled and as such was treated poorly, both in her household and by society. She says " Although I am physically disabled, I am very happy that I got the opportunity to learn skills and earn income, and those who looked at me badly are now behaving well. This course has helped me build my future. Now, I wish to enter the civil service to serve society".
Sir,In this statement I have focussed on the Commission's project work, but other workstreams continue. The Commission's Community Partnerships have included matched funding initiatives with Guernsey Aid for maternity equipment in Malawi, the World Aid Walk, and projects with the French Department of Ille-et-Vilaine. The Guernsey International Development Network has also been revitalised this year with a meeting between the Association of Guernsey Charities, Guernsey based international development charities, and Commission representatives to discuss matters of mutual interest. Under the Network, the Commission has also organised two public events. In March, British Red Cross 'Past & Present' celebrated the Charity's long-standing relationship with Guernsey. There were talks and displays on the relief provided during the Occupation and the modern work of the Red Cross. It was a sell out! At the same time a senior delegation from the British Red Cross visited the Island and were kindly hosted by His Excellency The Lieutenant-Governor. Over the Summer, the Commission partnered with Art for Guernsey to provide a 6 week exhibition on the impact of the Commission's work in Madagascar. It included a display of Malagasy marquetry and needlework alongside information on Commission-funded education projects. As well as the general public, a number of school groups visited the exhibition and undertook activities. There was also a linked public event when the Charities SEED Madagascar and Feedback Madagascar gave presentations on their work, which I know a number of States Members kindly attended.
These events were supported by Fairtrade Guernsey which provided refreshments. The Commission supports Fairtrade in the Island. Guernsey as a whole was reaccredited as a Fairtrade Island in December 2023 for another three years due to the excellent work of the Guernsey Fairtrade Steering Group volunteers. In 2024 the Fairtrade Mark is also celebrating its 30 th Anniversary. As you know, the Mark certifies that products have been produced in conditions which meet certain ethical and environmental standards. I am therefore delighted to report that in a joint initiative between the Steering Group, the Committee for Health & Social Care and the Commission, the Princess Elizabeth Hospital has switched to a supply of Fairtrade tea, coffee and bananas which will result in an annual increase of over 180,000 servings of Fairtrade products. In particular, the Committee established that there has been a significant reduction in the pricing of Fairtrade products, which has resulted in pricing alignment between Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade products, so there will be no additional cost to its budget. To celebrate this and the recent Fairtrade Fortnight, Fairtrade refreshments will be available to States Members during the lunchtime recess in The Grand Hall when there will also be an opportunity to sign the Fairtrade 'Be the Change' Pledge.
Sir, during the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 the Commission will continue with its core grant work, introduce updated operational policies, bring into service new grants management software, organise further events to engage the public, and commence work on a Skills Strategy which will look to use Guernsey's particular expertise to benefit international development charities. It has been and will continue to be a busy year for the six volunteer Commissioners and for that I sincerely thank them for their hard work.