The network for international development

News and issues

Bond and NGOs respond to article in The Times

6 October 2009

World poverty and awareness of overseas aid

Now is not the time to cut British aid to the world's poorest

Sir, It is disappointing that Carl Mortished views Britain's promises to the world's poorest as no more than a "meaningless number" ("Home truths on overseas aid", Business, Oct 3). His article rests on two core arguments: that Britain should break its word to the world's poorest during a year when the World Bank estimates that 50 million more will be forced into extreme poverty; and that public money should not be used to inform schoolchildren about the lives of people in poor countries.

We disagree. Increases in British aid have played a crucial role in helping millions of children into school, providing medicines for the sick and strengthening local communities' ability to stand on their own feet. Teaching children in the UK about the lives of poor people abroad and the wider consequences of poverty is far from "political" but an important part of a well-rounded education.

The real home truth about overseas aid is that hundreds of British charities, large and small, work relentlessly to make sure that people in the developing world are not trapped in needless poverty. We do that by tackling poverty's causes as well as its symptoms. This approach to aid is something to celebrate not denigrate and rightly enjoys widespread support from millions of citizens across all sections of society.

Richard Miller, Chief Executive, ActionAid UK

Nick Roseveare, Chief Executive, Bond

Chris Bain, Chief Executive, Cafod

Dr Daleep Mukarji, Director, Christian Aid

Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive, Oxfam GB

Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive, Save the Children

Marge Mayne, Chief Executive, VSO

Sir, It is wrong to suggest that the Department for International Development can do "little good" in the fight against world poverty. In the past year alone, UK aid has helped to train more than 100,000 teachers, deliver almost seven million anti-malaria bednets, train 60,000 doctors and nurses and provide almost one million people with clean water in the developing world.

But global poverty will never be eradicated without strong support and engagement from the public. This is why events such as Live Aid make such an important impact.

We have a duty under the International Development Act 2002 to raise public awareness of our work, and, in a recent report, the cross-party International Development Committee recommended we should do more, rather than less, of this.

Gareth Thomas, MP

International Development Minister

Sir, Carl Mortished wrongly argues that government efforts to educate people in the UK about development are a waste of money. In an economic downturn it would be easy for us to turn inwards and forget that one in six people worldwide lives in absolute poverty. We should be proud that we are historically a country where the people - not just NGOs and the Government - have cared about the fortunes of the most vulnerable.

We need to continue to promote global learning for UK people to help them to learn more about development issues and to come to their own conclusions about how to make a difference.

Hetan Shah

Chief Executive, Development Education Association

Read the letter in The Times, 6 October 2009.

< Back