Council for International Development (CID)

Newsletter

Date:4 March 2011

CONTENTS

  1. News from the CID office

·Thoughts from the Director

·NDRF Update from Christchurch

  1. News from CID members
·Pacific Society for Reproductive Health’s, 9th Biennial Conference
·Oxfam warns against trend in using aid for political & military purposes
·The Pacific Development and Conservation Trust
·2011 CWP Gender and Democracy Seminar
3.Government liaison

·New Zealand hands over 110,000 workbooks for Tongan children

·Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) Meeting

4.International development & civil society
·Fundraising for Nonprofits in a Time of Crisis!
·NZ Aid and Development Dialogue (NZADDs)
·Launch of the GHA country profiles
·Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat takes aboard new young professionals.
·Afghanistan: “Pay your taxes”, government tells NGOs
·Dr Keith Suter on increasing foreign aid
  1. Development Effectiveness

·UK: Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews

·PCFS holds Asia-wide CSO conference on aid and development effectiveness and agriculture and rural development

  1. News from the CID office

Thoughts from the Director

The tragic events in Christchurch have overshadowed all of our thoughts and priorities at work and home since 22nd February. We in the CID office, along with many other NGOs, have sent our messages of sympathy and support to Christchurch citizens and NGOs who have suffered the trauma and losses of loved ones or friends, destruction of property and have the uncertainties of employment and recovery to deal with. While we aregrateful and relieved that none of our NGO colleagues in Christchurch have been injured they have all been affected in various ways. We send our arohanui to them all.

I have received several messages of support from NGOs in the Pacific as well asAustralia, the USA and Europe to pass on to CID members in Christchurch. One came from our partner in the Pacific, PIANGO, and I’d like to repeat it for you:

Dear Wren and the CID Family

We add our thoughts and prayers to the message from Marc and ACFID. Many of us in the PIANGO network and the PacificIslands in general have strong NZfamily, study and work connections and Christchurch has been home at different times for us and our families and so it is traumatic to see on TV and hear through the news what has happened in the last 24 hours and the lives lost.

Aroha and our prayers,

Emele on the behalf of the PIANGO Board and Family

Out of tragedy have emerged many heroes and new ways of helping one another. Much has rightly been made of the resilience and resourcefulness of people in Christchurch and the way neighbours have helped one another. I’d like to say that the way CID members who make up the NDRF have come together to coordinate their activities and work together has been a wonderful example of cooperation. Jamila has compiled the following account of all their work over the past several days. I’m reluctant to single out individuals since everyone on the ground has made their particular contribution but I’d like to acknowledge Nick Clark and Stuart Batty, both from Christchurch-based NDRF members. As locals they have lived through both major quakes and have had to deal with all of the problems that come with that. CWS staff have lost the use of their central Christchurch offices. Yet they have both been flat out working with the NDRF people now in Christchurch and Nick has been busy coordinating activities. I hope they are able to take a break pretty soon, but as ‘locals’ who know their patch their input has been especially valued.

------

NDRF in Christchurch

Working under the umbrella of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF), members were on the ground shortly after the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck. The NDRF is an autonomous sub-committee of CID and meets regularly three times a year. Usually the focus of the group is on their work across the world on humanitarian disaster management but since last Tuesday Christchurch has been their emergency focus. The group has met four times since the quake struck and will continue to meet regularly in Christchurch.

CID convenes the NDRF and has worked closely with the group to get meetings up and running on the ground in Christchurch. Additionally, CID staff member Jamila Homayun who coordinates NDRF activities throughout the year has been representing the NDRF at the International Assistance Cell (IAC). The IAC facilitates all international offers of assistance into New Zealand and NDRF hold a permanent seat on this group at the Crisis Centre in Wellington.

The NDRF are working to ensure coordination amongst not only members but other international NGO’s that come to assist the government's earthquake response in an effective and meaningful way. Many members have linked into their international and local networks in their response efforts.

Below is a brief update from members working on the Christchurch earthquake response. NDRF have also released a press release detailing the cooperative nature of their work in Christchurch, this can be viewed on the NDRF website:

NDRF Members responding to the Christchurch Earthquake

ADRA

Food was initially provided to two Welfare Centres, in Cowles Stadium and BurnsideHigh School.

Water, sourced from a bore at Sanitarium was provided to residents who took it home in 10 litre collapsible bladders.

An ADRA warehouse has been setup to receive palletised food items from around the country, which are being distributed from an ADRA distribution point set up at the Aranui Seventh-day Adventist church.

For more information on ADRA’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

CARITAS

Caritas is supporting relief work by the St Vincent de Paul Society and counselling through Christchurch Catholic Social Services. It is also working with other primarily Church-based agencies to identify medium and longer term needs, probably in respect of counselling and trauma support.

For more information on Caritas work in Christchurch please visit their website:

CBM

cbm have a team of three disability experts in place who are acting as first response assessors and liaisons with relief support agencies. This on the ground team is supported by staff in their 0800 centre who are first receivers for any escalated disability specific issues , prioritising issues and working with their on the ground support team to provide the appropriate support for each case.

The service provided by cbm has been made available to all agencies working in the relief effort and they have been mandated by the Ministry of Health as their coordinating body acting on their behalf in Christchurch for this purpose.

For more information on cbm’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

CWS

The CWS office, based in central Christchurch, is currently closed due to the devastating earthquake of 22 February. Staff evacuated safely, some joining rescue efforts, others comforting shocked people on the streets. They are currently collecting donations for earthquake relief to support local church agencies working directly with vulnerable communities. Longer term they will assist with trauma counselling and community rebuilding.

For more information on CWS work in Christchurch please visit their website:

OXFAM

As the rescue operation continues in Christchurch, the work to provide basic needs for survivors is underway. Oxfam now has emergency water provision personnel working with Civil Defence in Christchurch.

For more information on Oxfam’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

ROTARY IN NZ

In association with Salvation Army Rotary in NZ is delivering food to residents who have no power, water or sanitation.

They are also linking families with families in other parts of New Zealand to enable them to spend some time away from the aftershocks.

Rotarians from other parts of New Zealand are sharing their caravans and mobile homes with people who have had their homes written off. This is a Rotary District 9980 initiative.

For more information on Rotary in NZ’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

Tearfund

TEAR Fund is providing financially through their limited emergency fund available for local church ministries working with high risk communities and groups.

They are sending and supporting counsellors and psycho-social specialists to work through local church ministries as requested and helping to mobilize volunteers on the ground.

For more information on TEARFund’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

UNICEF

With UNICEF Australia they are sending new toys, games and books to Barnardos in Chch who will distribute to families on their house visits. They have also sent children's toys and drawing materials to two of the Welfare centres. This encourages children to play, spend time with each other and regain some sense of normality in this time of crisis.

They have advice for parents and care-givers to help children suffering from trauma.UNICEF are encouraging people & donors to donate to the Mayoral Earthquake Appeal.

For more information on UNICEF’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

WORLDVISION

World Vision is working collaboratively with other international agencies, the Salvation Army and Parents Inc to respond to the disaster.

Their Christchurch team are doing a fantastic job working alongside the Salvation Army to distribute essential items and support to affected people. They are currently doing up to 250 deliveries per day and then supporting those who physically show up at the centre.

World Vision joined with church leaders to discuss how they are responding and their needs going forward. Chris Hannen did an excellent job contributing on behalf of World Vision and emphasized the need to work together and collaborate.

They are also partnering with Parents Inc, looking into ways we can help kids get over trauma triggered by the earthquake.

For more information on World Vision’s work in Christchurch please visit their website:

For more information about the work of NDRF in Christchurch please contact:

  1. News from CID members

Pacific Society for Reproductive Health’s, 9th Biennial Conference

Registrations are now open for the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health’s, 9th Biennial Conference in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Abstract policy – closing date: 31 March 2011

Conference Registration form “Draft” Conference Programme & PSRH Conf promotional flyer available by contacting or at: website

------

Oxfam warns against trend in using aid for political & military purposes

In a new report ‘Whose Aid is it Anyway?’ Oxfam found donor governments are now spending proportionately more aid on countries they consider politically and militarily important while overlooking equally severe needs in crises elsewhere. This type of aid often bypasses the poorest people and dangerously blurs the line between civilian and military activity.

Oxfam found that billions of dollars in international aid that could have transformed the lives of people in the poorest countries in the world was instead spent on unsustainable, expensive and sometimes dangerous aid projects, as international donor governments used aid to support their own short-term foreign policy and security objectives.

While aid flows rose towards meeting wealthy donors' international aid commitments between 2001 and 2008, more than 40 per cent of this increase in aid was spent in just two countries, Afghanistan and Iraq. The remainder was shared between 150 other poor countries.

------

The Pacific Development and Conservation Trust

The Pacific Development and Conservation Trust is committed to supporting the pillars of sustainable development, where communities are engaged and working in partnership with iwi, hapū, the local indigenous people and communities.

The Trust's vision is a peaceful, sustainable Pacific region where all cultures flourish and the natural environment is respected.

The Trust objectives are to encourage and promote

  • the enhancement, protection and conservation of the physical environment of the South Pacific and its natural and historic resources
  • the peaceful economic, physical and social development of the South Pacific and of its peoples
  • the peaceful conservation and development of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the South Pacific, and
  • peace, understanding and goodwill between the peoples of the South Pacific.

Expressions of Interest close 31 March. Organisations in New Zealand and the Pacific are eligible to apply if they meet the criteria.

Full Applications close 30 August.

------

2011 CWP Gender and Democracy Seminar to be held at the New Zealand Parliament in

Wellington from 27 to 31 March 2011.

The aim of the seminar is for women in the Pacific to work together to support potential women candidates and increase the representation of women in Pacific parliaments. The conference is designed to:

  • foster closer relationships and networks between women parliamentarians and potential candidates in the Pacific region;
  • provide the opportunity for the professional development of women parliamentarians and potential candidates in the Pacific region through knowledge sharing and capacity building;
  • establish strategies to strengthen and support women candidates in the Pacific region.

Workshop topics to be discussed include:

  • Gender and Democracy in the Pacific – Why do we need to increase women’s parliamentary representation in the region?
  • Strategies to increase women’s representation in Parliament, such as Temporary Special Measures, the Millennium Development Goals and CEDAW
  • Campaigning for Women Candidates: Logistics, Funding, Support and Training – What’s required?
  • Working with the media
  • The role of NGO’s
  • Conclusions and recommendations: Supporting Pacific Women as Agents of Change

All women members of Parliament, potential women parliamentary candidates and women with an interest in gender and democracy in the region are encouraged to attend the seminar. The seminar will open with a welcome reception on Sunday 27 March, followed by three days of workshop sessions, a closing dinner on Wednesday 30 March and an official departure day of Thursday 31 March. Registration fees for the conference are $350 NZD. Please advise if you would like to register or require further details.

  1. Government liaison

New Zealand hands over 110,000 workbooks for Tongan children

The workbooks support an updated curriculum for primary school students in Tonga and cover English, Maths, Science and Tongan. The rollout includes updated syllabi and teacher guides, as well as resource and reading materials.

“Tongans hold education in high regard and for years the government of New Zealand has been there to support young people in areas of scholarships, educational infrastructure, school grants, teacher training, and curriculum reform,” Dr Austin said.

------

Sustainable Development Fund (SDF)

MFAT invite NGOs to a meeting to discuss the process for the next funding round. Meeting times and venues are as follows:

Wellington Thursday, March 10 - Level 13 - MFATBuilding, 195 Lambton Quay. Report to Level 12.

Auckland Friday, 11 March - Oxfam New Zealand Meeting Room, 14 West Street, off Upper Queen Street

The deadline for applications from eligible NGOs will be 15 April 2011.

Note: NGOs who have received MFAT funding over the past two years are able to apply for this round.

Due to constraints in the available space, MFAT ask that representation from each NGO is kept to a limited number. Please RSVP to

  1. International development civil society

Fundraising for Nonprofits in a Time of Crisis

Budgets on social expenditure have been diverted to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and now we are going to pay the price. Donors (and government) are moving more and more toward very big nonprofits who can demonstrate big impact so that they can justify their appeals for raising funds from their sources (especially corporates and international donors). The effect is that more and more medium to smaller nonprofits are pushed to the periphery and being marginalised.

------

NZ Aid and Development Dialogue (NZADDs)

The following release has been received from NZADDs for your information.

"NZ Aid and Development Dialogue (NZADDs)is a group of people working together to promote dialogue and critical thinking about New Zealand's aid and international development work. We are experienced and knowledgeable in the challenges of eliminating poverty. Decisions we make in New Zealand have real impacts on the lives of poor people in other countries, be it through aid, trade, immigration or environmental policy (to name just a few). Our efforts to address poverty and protect our planet will only work if we make these decisions well, using the latest evidence, thinking carefully and consulting widely. NZADDs aims to promote the latest evidence, and integrating this information into careful thinking and discussion about NZ aid and international development work. If you would like to get involved with NZADDs or keep up to date with what we are doing, please head to our website to join up or contact us:

------

Launch of the GHA country profiles

The Global Humanitarian Assistance programme launched its humanitarian profiles this month, providing the first in a series of country-by-country perspectives on humanitarian funding.

The profiles provide key facts and figures in a highly accessible, easy-to-use format with downloadable data and graphs. Key indicators for each country form an up-to-the-minute view of the humanitarian aid architecture, essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how the system really works – and how countries are situated within it.