Comment: Overseas volunteers deserve shelter from cuts
Big real terms cuts are on the way for voluntary organisations abroad. Their vital work should be preserved.
By Angus MacNeil MP
The overseas voluntary sector is a very sterile name for a very compassionate and selfless occupation.
Two years ago I was invited by the VSO to visit Cambodia and during that time I served as an advocate to bring about change in education practices in Cambodia.
Ultimately, the work of VSO and, the work which I helped with to a slight extent, have brought about an increase in teachers’ salaries making them less prone to corruption and thus exam results more believable an important fact in an emerging economy where trust in skills and professionalism are needed.
This organisation and others like it provide us with an opportunity to see what happens outside of the sphere of the ‘Western World’.
This is why I was so pleased to get a debate on this subject.
Our debate was focused on the funding of these groups and the hard work that they do. We wanted to question to practices of the government and insure that the cuts to come were not so harsh that they would seriously hamper the good work that they do.
Ever since their creation in 1958 with a £9,000 grant the VSO have blossomed into one of the foremost aid organisations in the world aiding countries with training of health workers in Sri Lanka and, increasing numbers of health workers in Malawi as well as operations in 44 countries worldwide reaching out to 26 million people in those countries.
Some might wonder why I am concerned about overseas voluntary sector funding. Some would say this because the Department for International Development is seeing an increase in funding over the next Parliament.
Those people would be right. DFID is receiving an increase in funding. In fact they are or just one of four Whitehall departments that are receiving any increase at all and one of just two departments that saw an increase in funding in the double digits.
On the surface, that would seem to bode well for all organisations that use DFID funds but, in increase in the departmental and administration budgets does not guarantee the safety of the funds that go to the overseas voluntary sector.
In reality, they have been told that no organisation will be allowed to get more than 40 percent of what they received, as an average, over the last three years. This means real terms cuts and this also means they will come quickly.
Should those cuts come quickly international volunteer services could see a serious cut in the services that are provided to people that live in a world that most of us could not fathom.
During the debate several MPs sounded their support for the overseas voluntary sector. In fact, Jo Swinson MP, Roger Gale MP and, David Amess MP traded stories about their experiences with the sector each feeling enriched for their time working with the sector.
Overall, the feeling was that the sector provided great value for money and, I hope the minister heard the other MPs in the room as we gave our support to a worthy cause.
We are very lucky to have these organisations working on our behalf – giving people an opportunity to help and, most importantly, giving others a helping hand up- to make the world a better place.
They are doing this without the need for weapons and without the need for sanctions. Some of these people are doing their jobs at great danger to themselves and at times they make great sacrifices.
International volunteers are not just gap year students but professionals who are removing themselves from the general comfort of their homeland and donating to another. They are doing all of this out of the kindness of their hearts and their work should be supported by all facets of our society.
Angus MacNeil is the SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
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