Sydney Anglicans have always had an obsession with God’s grace. It’s one of the things that makes us different – even the way we do aid.
We’re moved by the extravagance of God in Jesus. That’s why, this year, the Archbishop of Sydney’s Appeals Unit becomes Anglican Aid.
We still have our three funds: Overseas Relief and Aid Fund; Overseas Ministry Fund; and Community Care Fund but they will know be known as:
• Anglican Aid – Overseas Development;
• Anglican Aid – Overseas Ministry; and
• Anglican Aid – Community Care.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
ACFID's Federal Budget Analysis
ACFID’s Federal Budget analysis was revised and reissued to reflect feedback from members, AusAID and information from the Estimates hearing in June 2010. A summary from the analysis is as follows:
The 2010/11 Aid Budget is titled: A Good International Citizen. ACFID welcomes the increase in Australian overseas development assistance (ODA) to $4.349 million, a $530 million increase from the 2009/10 Aid Budget of $3,818.8 million. This is a real increase of 9% (a 14% nominal increase). The $500 million increase meets the key recommendation of ACFID’s pre-budget submission. Meeting the Millennium Development Goals remains the key focus of the aid program.
The ODA program for 2010/11 translates to 0.33% of Gross National Income (GNI) – an increase from 0.31% of GNI in 2009/10. These figures have been calculated using new international accounting standards, which increase Australian GNI by 4%. At the current rate of increase, the Rudd Government is on track to reach its target of 0.5% of GNI by 2015. ACFID has called on the government to announce a timetable for reaching the UN goal of 0.7% of GNI in the longer term.
The 2010/11 Aid Budget has a number of features of relevance including:
• a 17.9% increase in Australian NGO funding through the ANCP;
• further geographical expansion of the program to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South Asia;
• new funding for disability-inclusive development of $30.2 million over four years – ACFID welcomes this as a ‘first down-payment’ but calls for accelerated funding in future budgets to implement ‘Development for All’ policy;
• apparent decreased funding to health and HIV/AIDS as a sector by 10.6% after inflation;
• no new climate change initiatives for 2010/11 but $160 million to be spent from previously announced commitments (the value of the four multi-year measures announced is $350.4 million, with another $5 million from the current 2009-10 Contingency Reserve flagged in the press release); and
• microfinance funding doubled to $40 million over two years, as ACFID requested; and
• AusAID restructure announced to plan for upscale of aid program by 2015, which will focus on reforms to operational policy, management and workforce planning. The Aid Budget estimates $211.8 million to AusAID departmental costs, a 52.1% increase.
For the full ACFID analysis please visit: http://www.acfid.asn.au//resources/docs_resources/docs_papers/ACFID%20Budget%20Analysis%20revised%20June%202010.pdf
The 2010/11 Aid Budget is titled: A Good International Citizen. ACFID welcomes the increase in Australian overseas development assistance (ODA) to $4.349 million, a $530 million increase from the 2009/10 Aid Budget of $3,818.8 million. This is a real increase of 9% (a 14% nominal increase). The $500 million increase meets the key recommendation of ACFID’s pre-budget submission. Meeting the Millennium Development Goals remains the key focus of the aid program.
The ODA program for 2010/11 translates to 0.33% of Gross National Income (GNI) – an increase from 0.31% of GNI in 2009/10. These figures have been calculated using new international accounting standards, which increase Australian GNI by 4%. At the current rate of increase, the Rudd Government is on track to reach its target of 0.5% of GNI by 2015. ACFID has called on the government to announce a timetable for reaching the UN goal of 0.7% of GNI in the longer term.
The 2010/11 Aid Budget has a number of features of relevance including:
• a 17.9% increase in Australian NGO funding through the ANCP;
• further geographical expansion of the program to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and South Asia;
• new funding for disability-inclusive development of $30.2 million over four years – ACFID welcomes this as a ‘first down-payment’ but calls for accelerated funding in future budgets to implement ‘Development for All’ policy;
• apparent decreased funding to health and HIV/AIDS as a sector by 10.6% after inflation;
• no new climate change initiatives for 2010/11 but $160 million to be spent from previously announced commitments (the value of the four multi-year measures announced is $350.4 million, with another $5 million from the current 2009-10 Contingency Reserve flagged in the press release); and
• microfinance funding doubled to $40 million over two years, as ACFID requested; and
• AusAID restructure announced to plan for upscale of aid program by 2015, which will focus on reforms to operational policy, management and workforce planning. The Aid Budget estimates $211.8 million to AusAID departmental costs, a 52.1% increase.
For the full ACFID analysis please visit: http://www.acfid.asn.au//resources/docs_resources/docs_papers/ACFID%20Budget%20Analysis%20revised%20June%202010.pdf
Thank God! Cassava stems has changed my life.
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In February 2008, BRAC started to implement a three year project on multiplication and distribution of resistant cassava mosaic disease varieties. In the Mara region of Tanzania the food produced was insufficient households due to low production of cassava as a result of cassava Mosaic disease. Survey findings revealed that in order to increase production of cassava more effort was needed in the growth of varieties of cassava which are resistant to CMD and CBSD. Thus BRAC and ORAF through Cassava multiplication project embarked on three years contract. Mrs Moshi Erinest mother of seven children explain how cassava multiplication has helped community as well as increased her household income. Sunday, May 9, 2010
Field Notes from East Africa – Changing Perceptions of Development
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime!”
Joanna, our project manager, gave a talk at a recent Breakfast meeting on the changing perceptions of development and illustrated her talk with stories from her recent visit to East Africa.
We were introduced to the idea that development should be community driven and not donor driven. Donor driven usually focuses on activities that donors think the community want – like in the above adage “teach a man how to fish”. It runs the risk of not involving the community, in keeping with the fishing theme, the community knows how to fish but they need fishing rods, or unpolluted water or a market to sell the fish. Development is far more complicated than simple platitudes.
Joanna gave us good advice in that we should be asking how our donations to development agencies are being used. Are the funds going to projects:
Joanna, our project manager, gave a talk at a recent Breakfast meeting on the changing perceptions of development and illustrated her talk with stories from her recent visit to East Africa.
We were introduced to the idea that development should be community driven and not donor driven. Donor driven usually focuses on activities that donors think the community want – like in the above adage “teach a man how to fish”. It runs the risk of not involving the community, in keeping with the fishing theme, the community knows how to fish but they need fishing rods, or unpolluted water or a market to sell the fish. Development is far more complicated than simple platitudes.
Joanna gave us good advice in that we should be asking how our donations to development agencies are being used. Are the funds going to projects:
- that are community driven?
- that are sustainable?
- that are efficient and effective?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Food for Thought from David Mansfield
24,000 children die every day in our world before their fifth birthday from preventable causes. They die from starvation related illnesses or diseases for which there are cures.
• 24,000 children every day of every year
• Preventable (not mysterious) causes
• Before their fifth birthday
What would happen if 24 children died daily across Sydney, or even across Australia, or even if it was monthly and not daily, from a mystery illness? We would call it a national crisis, start a fundraising Foundation to support their families, pour millions of dollars into medical research and any less urgent action would be called a national disgrace!
If these 24 children died from known and preventable causes, we would sack the Federal Minister for Health, every State and Territory Minister for Health, call in DOCS, sack DOCS, spend billions of dollars on bureaucratic blame shifting and deck chair shuffling, and call for a Royal Commission. These measures would barely quieten the parents of healthy children or stop them storming Government buildings and demonstrating on the streets demanding action.
This deep of concern, spilling over into public outrage, would make compelling media footage which would be televised on news bulletins all over the world so that the whole planet would know that Australian people, Australian parents and Australian grandparents are not deaf to the cries of children and their traumatised parents.
But, but, 24,000 children every day of every year die from preventable causes before their fifth birthday!
• 24,000 children every day of every year
• Preventable (not mysterious) causes
• Before their fifth birthday
What would happen if 24 children died daily across Sydney, or even across Australia, or even if it was monthly and not daily, from a mystery illness? We would call it a national crisis, start a fundraising Foundation to support their families, pour millions of dollars into medical research and any less urgent action would be called a national disgrace!
If these 24 children died from known and preventable causes, we would sack the Federal Minister for Health, every State and Territory Minister for Health, call in DOCS, sack DOCS, spend billions of dollars on bureaucratic blame shifting and deck chair shuffling, and call for a Royal Commission. These measures would barely quieten the parents of healthy children or stop them storming Government buildings and demonstrating on the streets demanding action.
This deep of concern, spilling over into public outrage, would make compelling media footage which would be televised on news bulletins all over the world so that the whole planet would know that Australian people, Australian parents and Australian grandparents are not deaf to the cries of children and their traumatised parents.
But, but, 24,000 children every day of every year die from preventable causes before their fifth birthday!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
India – Education and Economic Development Project
This project is being implemented by our partner, the Indian Gospel League, and in their recent report they share the following story to demonstrate how the project is helping the local community. This is the story of Miss Kalaivani, a 13 year old girl. Her father died in an accident a year ago and after his death her mother was forced to work as a construction laborer to feed her three children including Miss Kalaivani.
Miss Kalaivani had low education and was unable to concentrate on her studies and so she stopped going to school. For the last year she has been working as child laborer along with her mother.
She was identified by one of our volunteers and brought to our community workers. Our community workers took efforts to meet with her mother and asked to admit Miss Kalaivani into school again. After two months of continuous efforts, Ms Kalaivani returned school. Now she is studying in 8th grade and attends our evening study center regularly. Our IGL-ORAF – Education and Economic Development Project help to helpless school dropouts in the target area.
ORAF has been funding this project since July 2008
Thursday, March 18, 2010
How the Sudan Micro Enterprise Development Project is Helping
Mrs Onesta Gaba’s Story
Onesta Gaba is the group secretary for Kaya Women Association. When interviewed to draw a line and look at her past life before joining the group, Onesta had this to say, “I am a mother of four children and always puzzled if I will be able to send them to school. And here came the Across Micro Enterprise D programme that opened up my minds so much so that I could now think outside (the box). (Note: ACROSS is the local partner running the project.)
Onesta joined Kaya Women group in 2006 and she began to experience positive socio-economic changes in her family. She was able to acquire enough household utensils and send her children to school in Uganda. As she progressed, the idea of constructing a permanent house came in, and she consulted with a retired reverend to learn how he managed to construct a house using the loans borrowed. In early 2008, Onesta begun gathering building materials and April 2009, she started her construction project. As it can be seen from the picture Onesta’s house is nearly complete.
What captures ones eyes when viewing Onesta’s house is the writing on the front wall, which reads, “A Good Family is a Gift From God” Luke 8:22-24. When asked why this writing was chosen, Onesta replied, “My husband was always behind my idea of starting this project and encouraged me to continue and when I engaged our children in the brick project which we moulded as a family all were cooperating. This was the major reason I chose this scripture to be reflected on the wall of our new house.
Onesta, confirmed that she had such a dream for many years and no single step was taken. However, with the trainings we got from ACROSS, and guidance from the Reverend who registered success on a similar project, it gave me the courage. At this moment I want to thank the Project Staff for their articulate trainings for us. Many of our group members have vowed to emulate this example and it was all possible because somebody had once done it.
Onesta Gaba is the group secretary for Kaya Women Association. When interviewed to draw a line and look at her past life before joining the group, Onesta had this to say, “I am a mother of four children and always puzzled if I will be able to send them to school. And here came the Across Micro Enterprise D programme that opened up my minds so much so that I could now think outside (the box). (Note: ACROSS is the local partner running the project.)
Onesta joined Kaya Women group in 2006 and she began to experience positive socio-economic changes in her family. She was able to acquire enough household utensils and send her children to school in Uganda. As she progressed, the idea of constructing a permanent house came in, and she consulted with a retired reverend to learn how he managed to construct a house using the loans borrowed. In early 2008, Onesta begun gathering building materials and April 2009, she started her construction project. As it can be seen from the picture Onesta’s house is nearly complete.
What captures ones eyes when viewing Onesta’s house is the writing on the front wall, which reads, “A Good Family is a Gift From God” Luke 8:22-24. When asked why this writing was chosen, Onesta replied, “My husband was always behind my idea of starting this project and encouraged me to continue and when I engaged our children in the brick project which we moulded as a family all were cooperating. This was the major reason I chose this scripture to be reflected on the wall of our new house.
Onesta, confirmed that she had such a dream for many years and no single step was taken. However, with the trainings we got from ACROSS, and guidance from the Reverend who registered success on a similar project, it gave me the courage. At this moment I want to thank the Project Staff for their articulate trainings for us. Many of our group members have vowed to emulate this example and it was all possible because somebody had once done it.
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