CID Weekly: Revolt against UK aid cut, Pasifika NZers honoured for Queen's Birthday

+ Vaccine roll out dashboard - last 7 days

+ Revolt against cut to 0.7% aid in UK

Boris Johnson's attempt to cut the UK's commitment to 0.7% of GNI for aid is being challenged.

Yesterday in the House of Commons, speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said Boris Johnson must commit to giving MPs a vote on foreign aid cuts, reports The Times.

'An amendment seeking to reverse the cuts and reinstate the 0.7 per cent target did not get selected for a vote yesterday because it was “out of scope”.

However he told the government that it must give MPs a vote on the decision to cut foreign aid to 0.5 per cent and said he could allow a non-binding emergency debate on the issue in the Commons tomorrow.'

A cut in UK aid could see Covid vaccinations in developing countries slowed, and cut British funding for other vaccinations by 95 per cent as part.

This could put the eradication of polio at risk.

This is “balancing the books on the backs of the starving people” of Yemen by cutting aid to the country by nearly 50 per cent, according to Sir Mark Lowcock, head of the United Nations’ Office for the Co- ordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Support for maternal and reproductive health for women and girls overseas would be cut by 90 per cent, the United Nations Population Fund has confirmed.

New Zealand's aid budget stayed the same and even slightly increased, although primarily for operational expenditure, in this year's budget. That was welcomed by the aid sector, although it remains low compared to other OECD countries at around 0.33% of GNI. 

+ Staying with the UK - 5 take aways from BOND's conference

The UK's umbrella organisation for the aid sector held its first online annual conference last week.

5 key takeaways:

• We have the power to change our models

Explore new approaches to funding through social enterprises and innovative finance, and do more activities online. Get better at evidence and measuring success by using indigenous communities' learnings to collect evidence.

• Opportunities to influence lie ahead

Advocate for change. Covid has shown that civil society activism still has a role to play in making change happen.

• Everyone, including leaders must continue learning

CEOs need to recognise that their leadership is personal: we can only change what we do if we change ourselves.

• We need to reconnect in solidarity and act now to transform

To truly transform, global organisations need to reconnect with social movements, civil society groups under pressure, marginalised and racialised communities.

• We need to actively listen and understand

By listening well, we can build a future that embraces human rights, inclusion and community knowledge.
 

+ Pasifika New Zealanders honoured in Queens Birthday

Pasifika leaders in education, health, community development and the arts have been celebrated in this year's Queens Birthday Honours.

It's a tribute not only to their community work in New Zealand, but also the Whanaungatanga (connectedness and shared sense of humanity) that links New Zealand and the Pacific. 

It reminds us that we really do share a 'Pacific Identity.'

Congratulations to:

• Reverend Iliafi Talotusitusi Esera, for services to the Samoan community and Christian ministry.
• Itamua Muaiao’omalo Mataiva Dorothy Robertson, for services to women, youth and the Pacific community.
• Siale Katoa Latu Pasa Faitotonu, JP, for services to Pacific education.
• Mr Posenai Samoa Mavaega and Ms Tanya Soliali'i Mavaega, for services to Pacific performing arts.
• Ms Phillis-Jean Meti, for services to sport, particularly golf.
• Mrs Karoline Fuarosa Park-Tamati (Ladi6), for services to music.
• Ms Teremoana Veronica Rapley, for services to music and television
• Reverend Victor Siaosi Pouesi, for services to the Samoan community
• Mrs Taualoa Lalopua Sanele, for services to the Union movement and Samoan community

+ The start of a global minimum tax?

Currently, multinational companies can set up local branches in countries that have relatively low corporate tax rates and declare profits there so that they only pay the local rate of tax, even if the profits mainly come from sales made elsewhere.

They often have the accountants and lobbing clout to be able to pay an even lower amount, usually much lower than individuals.

The G7 is proposing two steps, firstly the G7 will aim to make multinational companies pay more tax in the countries where they are selling their products or services.

Secondly, they want a global minimum tax rate so as to avoid countries undercutting each other.

Enforcing at least a 15% tax rate globally will mean a lot more tax money going to governments, although it is set to benefit the G7 countries (where companies are headquartered) rather than being distributed globally.

Oxfam International is also criticizing the rate for being far too low, saying that leading economists call for 25%.

As a comparison - New Zealand corporate income tax (CIT) rate is 28%, Fiji 20%, Vanuatu (a tax haven) has 0%.
 

+ Anglican Mission: Get One. Give One Campaign

Anglican Missions invites you to join their Get one. Give one. campaign!

As vaccines roll out across Aotearoa New Zealand, in many low-income countries vaccines may not be available; there may not be enough of them to go around; and their cost will significantly impact availability thereby increasing inequality.  

In being thankful for the availability of vaccines in our country, we are aware that many people are not so fortunate. The Get One, Give One campaign aims to protect and support the poorest and most vulnerable.  

Through this campaign, New Zealanders can contribute to a broad global initiative that aims to fund support for vaccine equality in countries that would otherwise miss out.  

The Facts:

• Funding will be captured through Givealittle to direct donors to a central location that will include all participating partners logos.
• Funding will be directed straight through to UNICEFs COVAX fund.
• Social media and communications materials will be made available via dropbox for partners to add their own logos.
• Launch will be the 14th of June.

This is an opportunity to show unity across the sector and can be used to complement current COVID appeals. Further information is available here.

+ Stuart Batty (Rotary New Zealand) is new CID Code Committee Member Representative

CID is please to announce that Stuart Batty from Rotary New Zealand Community World Service (RNZCWS) is the new Member Representative for the CID Code of Conduct Committee (CCC). This is for a 2 year tenure.

Stuart has spent the past 43 years working in the INGO sector  including most South Pacific countries in addition to India, Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland and South Africa. He is a Hon. Consul for Tanzania and holds a Certificate in Core Development Practise. He is currently Executive Director of an RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand) and former board member of New Zealand’s Council for International Development. 

The aim of the CCC is to provide assurance to CID members and partners that the Code of Conduct is being implemented effectively, and to consider matters of Code compliance. Stuart's experience in compliance and astute eye for detail, and ability to ask the ;hard questions' will be greatly appreciated. We wish to thank him, and look forward to his support of the Code Committee.

+ Welcome to our new CID Affiliate Member - FCG ANZDEC
 

FCG ANZDEC is regarded as New Zealand’s leading international development consultancy firm specializing in the sustainable development and management of natural resources. It has over 45 years' experience providing consulting and project management services across Asia and Pacific. The core sectors include: agriculture and rural development, natural resources management, and environmental and social development. FCG ANZDEC’s services cover feasibility studies; sector studies, project planning and preparation; project appraisal, review and evaluation; technical assistance and project management.

We are thrilled to have FCG ANZDEC in the CID network, and we look forward to further engagement!

+ Fiji Covid crisis worsens
Fiji has recorded 147 new cases over the past two days, with one positive case dying yesterday in Suva. 

Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Frank Bainimarama sent out a statement of hope and encouragement - and called on Fiji to unite in its fight against the virus.

He reassured the island nation that Covid's hold of their home will dissipate.

"It will weaken. And the light at the end of the tunnel will glow brighter and brighter.

For us, let us recall together that light broke through some of the darkest moments in the history of our country because we Fijians stood united. Even in the division - we conquered."

It is believed that all cases are linked to current community clusters, but 11 cases have unknown origins. 

Precautionary measures are being taken to prevent further spread, including cordoning off the Suva CWM hospital.