Aid should bypass corrupt leaders

THE millions of volunteers raising money to relieve acute poverty in many communities in the developing world will welcome the determination of Justine Greening, the new Secretary of State for International Development, as reported in the View from Westminster (The Press, October 3) to stop UK Government development aid money going to despotic governments.

The Government is beginning to recognise that the surest way of giving poverty- stricken communities in Africa, India and South America a helping hand to work their way to a better life is to bypass governments, and work through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international charities.

The European Union has adopted this approach for many years, in some cases match-funding – by as much as ten to one – public donated funds raised by NGOs, such as Christian Aid, for community-run development projects. It is not clear why Chris Moncrieff favours government-to-government aid which is generally preferred by national governments and which too often falls into the hands of despots and the corrupt.

Maurice Vassie, Chair, York Christian Aid, Deighton, York.

Comments(8)

Matt_S says...
11:20am Fri 5 Oct 12

This is a fair point.

I would also encourage volunteers to donate to the most cost-effective charities possible.

Sites like www.givewell.org and www.givingwhatwecan compare charities in order to determine which charities have the greatest impact per donation as well as excellent accountability.

CHISSY1 says...
1:05pm Fri 5 Oct 12

"Lets start with Cancer Research,Age Uk,the list is endless in this country".

sheps lad says...
1:25pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Remember Wilfred Pickles taking £100's of £'s from Cancer research when he was president or something?

CHISSY1 says...
2:12pm Fri 5 Oct 12

sheps lad wrote:
Remember Wilfred Pickles taking £100's of £'s from Cancer research when he was president or something?
"And you point is?".

sheps lad says...
2:58pm Fri 5 Oct 12

CHISSY1 wrote:
sheps lad wrote:
Remember Wilfred Pickles taking £100's of £'s from Cancer research when he was president or something?
"And you point is?".
He was supposed to be doing it for charity.Good enough even for you?

ColdAsChristmas says...
7:29pm Fri 5 Oct 12

Maybe Justine Greening is trying to find a way to pay back some of the £40+ Billion she lost through the **** up of the West coast rail franchise contract?

CHISSY1 says...
7:34pm Fri 5 Oct 12

sheps lad wrote:
CHISSY1 wrote:
sheps lad wrote:
Remember Wilfred Pickles taking £100's of £'s from Cancer research when he was president or something?
"And you point is?".
He was supposed to be doing it for charity.Good enough even for you?
"Cancer UK and other important charity's in this country deserve all the money they can get,you got a problem with that?".

sheps lad says...
8:07pm Fri 5 Oct 12

CHISSY1 wrote:
sheps lad wrote:
CHISSY1 wrote:
sheps lad wrote:
Remember Wilfred Pickles taking £100's of £'s from Cancer research when he was president or something?
"And you point is?".
He was supposed to be doing it for charity.Good enough even for you?
"Cancer UK and other important charity's in this country deserve all the money they can get,you got a problem with that?".
Not at all,the point was he was taking thousands off the charity he was supposed to be promoting. Now go to bed!

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