CID Weekly: Timor-Leste Floods, UK Aid Racism Investigation

+ Vaccine roll out dashboard 

+ Investigation into Racism in the UK Aid Sector
 

UK's International Development Committee is launching the first sub-inquiry into racism within the UK aid sector. The Committee Chair, Sarah Champion MP stated; "The aid sector is here to provide humanitarian and development assistance for diverse communities around the world. As we explore the philosophy and culture of aid, our Committee is keen to investigate whether the sector’s culture could be undermining trust within communities and hampering development impact".

During that Committee’s inquiry on Sexual exploitation and abuse in the aid sector: next steps last year, members found that power dynamics relating to racism and sexism may have impeded efforts to implement effective measures to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.

This investigation has been launched the week prior to the publication of the Sewell commission report on race in Britain. This report found that the big challenge within the UK "is not overt racial prejudice, it is building on and advancing the progress won by the struggles of the past 50 years. It suggests a broader and dispassionate look at what has been holding some people back.

+ Seven Years of War in the Ukraine

As the Ukraine war enters its eighth year this week, the reduction of active violence in recent years has enabled people to rest a little easier and even to begin rebuilding destroyed infrastructure. But the deceptive calm of the conflict is pushing the war further and further away from political and humanitarian agendas, condemning millions of people to a silent suffering that is largely invisible to the rest of the world.

According to the UNHCR, approximately 13,200 people have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine, about a quarter of them civilians. In Europe's only active war zone, closed borders and a lack of resources are also impeding the fight against Covid-19.

+ Timor-Leste Facing Twin Crisis with Floods & COVID

Timor-Leste is facing a twin crisis, with the recent floods creating a humanitarian crisis alongside the current health crisis with rising COVID-19 case numbers.

At least 113 people have died after flash floods and landslides hit Indonesia and East Timor on Sunday. United Nations agencies in Timor-Leste are supporting response efforts, as floods and landslides left widespread damage across the country, including in the capital, Dili. 

Timor-Leste's national laboratory was also damaged in the floods, which has slowed down testing rates, however the equipment was mostly recovered by the facilities' workers. 

The floods have also raised concerns over the spread of waterborne diseases, alongside the cramped conditions creating a situation that is "ripe for transmission', according to an Australian doctor assisting with the testing plan in Timor-Leste.
 

+ Syria funds down

The United Nations hoped to raise $10 billion from governments and donors at a virtual two-day pledging conference for Syria last week.

It ended raising only $6.4 billion in total and $4.4 billion pledged for this year—far less than half the sum requested, reports Bethan McKernan of the UK Guardian.

Syrians and aid organisations have warned that “lives will be lost” as a result of the UK’s decision to cut aid funding to the conflict-stricken country.
 

+ Pope calls for more vaccines for poorest 

In his Easter message, Pope Francis has called on rich countries to distribute more vaccines to developing countries. 

Describing vaccines as an “essential tool” in the pandemic battle, Francis called for a “spirit of global responsibility” as he encouraged nations to overcome “delays in the distribution of vaccines” and ensure that the shots reached the poorest nations, reports Frances D'Emilio of the Associated Press.

He also denounced armed conflicts that continue in places like Yemen, Syria and Haiti, even as COVID has increased severe social and economic suffering, and swollen the ranks of the poor.

He offered encouragement to young people in Myanmar who are “committed to supporting democracy and making their voices heard peacefully”.

+ Big Hearts Connected World Petition Presented

A petition signed by over 3,000 New Zealanders calling on the government for a 20% increase in ODA, doubling finance for climate action and a timetable for aid spending to get to the 0.7% target, was presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta on Wednesday 24 March.  

CWS National Director, Pauline McKay, was in attendance and said "scheduled for 30 minutes, the Minister extended the meeting to 40 minutes and those present came away with the clear picture that we have a Minister who is very interested in ODA, and has strong people-centred views on what it’s about."

CID members represented at the meeting were Oxfam NZ, Christian World Service (CWS), World Vision and the Anglican Mission Board (AMB).  This week representatives from these organisations will meet with the Labour Pacific Caucus, to discuss the campaign. For more information about the campaign, please go to the Big Hearts Connected World website.
 

+ APPLY NOW! Nominations for Member Rep on CID Code Committee 

CID is looking for a new Member Representative for the Code of Conduct Committee, for a period of two (2) years (renewable) from May 2021 - May 2023.

The Code of Conduct Committee  provides assurance to CID members, donors, the public and partners that the CID Code is being implemented effectively and equitably. The next 12 months will be an exciting time as we continue with the implementation of recommendations from the Code Review.

The Member Representative will be nominated and elected by CID member organisations. The elected Member Representative can be:

• current staff or board members of CID organisations
• ex-staff and ex-board members of CID organisations
• fully elected CID board members but not the Chair of the CID board.

Please contact Aaron Davy if you require further information, including a copy of the Code of Conduct Committee ToR and nomination form. 

+ Manaaki Round 3 Workshop - This Week

MFAT are holding a workshop on 8 April 2021 to help interested NZNGOs prepare applications for Round Three of Manaaki. 

The two-hour workshop will provide information on what makes a strong application and offer an opportunity for questions.

Round Three was opened on 25 February 2021 with applications closing on 31 May 2021. Lessons learnt from Rounds One and Two have been incorporated into Round Three. Updated guidelines and a summary of the findings of the Manaaki end-of-pilot review can be found here.

The two-hour workshop will be held on Zoom, however NZNGOs are welcome to attend in person if they prefer.

Time/date: 1-3pm, Date 8 April 2021

Location: MFAT, 195 Lambton Quay, Te Aro, Wellington

If you wish to attend, please RSVP to partneringforimpact@mfat.govt.nz, indicating whether you will attend in person or would like to be sent the zoom link.

+ Vaccine rollout accelerated 

Almost half of the population of Wallis and Futuna have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and the rollout has begun in PNG, where CID Affiliate Member, International SOS, are facilitating the vaccinations in Port Moseby, where 8,000 doses have been made available from the Australian government.

+ Pacific Localisation: Walking Together in Partnership 

In 2018, PIANGO and Humanitarian Advisory Group begun to explore progress on locally-led/ localised humanitarian action in the Pacific. This was founded on the idea that it was both possible to track progress on localisation, and to influence change using the research evidence, with Pacific researchers and partners leading the way.

They have recently published an updated paper; Walking Together in Partnership: Exploring the Impact of Localisation of Humanitarian Action Research in the Pacific. This paper explores successes, challenges and lessons about partnership and research impact with the aim of promoting more equitable knowledge production and exchange in the humanitarian sector.

+ Papua New Guinea & Covid-19

Another six people in Papua New Guinea have died in the Covid-19 outbreak, raising the death toll to 67. The youngest to die yesterday was 28 years old.

The number of recorded Covid-19 infections passed 7,000 over Easter, more than doubling in the past two weeks. The Office of the Controller says in Western Province alone, another 108 new cases were detected in the 24 hours to yesterday.

+ No timeline yet for vaccine roll out to Pacific

Vaccines have been delivered to PNG, but there is no timeline yet for the roll out across the Pacific.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was recently reported as saying, "We're currently working alongside our Pacific neighbours, talking with them around their vaccination preferences. That includes whether or not Pfizer will be a possibility for rollout or whether or not they would prefer something that has slightly fewer logistical challenges.

In December last year the Government announced $75 million of Official Development Assistance to support Pacific and global vaccine access including purchasing, planning, and delivery.

A news article on 4 March reported, that the Ministry of Health wouldn't say which vaccines New Zealand was considering for the Pacific but that it has purchased sufficient vaccines to cover realm countries Tokelau, Niue and Cook Islands, and Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu should their Governments wish to take these up.