Jersey Overseas Aid

Background

The Island of Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, which lie close to the French coast. It is part of the British Isles but not of the United Kingdom. It has its own separate history and traditions, its own government (the States of Jersey) and its own laws. In almost all respects Jersey is a self-governing community.

The States Assembly consists of 53 members who are elected by the people for terms of 3 or 6 years. There are no party politics and each member has the right to speak and vote according to his or her conscience. The practical affairs of government are carried out by executive (Council of Ministers) and non-executive (Scrutiny) arms of government, which covers all areas of public administration.

On 16 th March 2005, the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission (Jersey) Law 2005 (P.14 2005) was adopted by the States of Jersey for effect in 2006 and beyond. The objectives of the Commission are to manage and administer the monies voted by the States of Jersey for overseas aid.

The Commission stands as an independent body now that Jersey has moved to ministerial government. The Commission consists of three States members and three non - States members with the policies and procedures of the previous Overseas Aid Committee predominantly remaining the same. The Commission may bring legislation or other matters relating to its area of responsibility to the States Assembly for debate and acceptance, modification or rejection. Individual States members may also present propositions to the States Assembly for debate.

It was not until 1968 that the States Assembly agreed to vote money for overseas aid and a Committee was set up to administer the vote of £14,000 and subsequent votes. Today the Overseas Aid Commission continues with that work and firmly believes that:

i)	it is our moral duty to care about other people and to help them help themselves;
ii)	it is our duty to our children and grandchildren to address issues of poverty which may in the long-term threaten global security;
iii)	it is our duty to provide an example of good governance for others to follow;
iv)	it is our duty to meet existing international obligations. Jersey is a signatory to Agenda 21 which commits Jersey to moving to a target of overseas aid funding which is comparable with that of other nation states, but is currently based on taxation revenue rather than GNP.

That there is a great need for overseas aid is illustrated by the following:-

i)	There are 1.3 billion people who continue to live in extreme poverty, seeking to eke out an existence on less than the equivalent of US $1 or 60 pence per day. Even if expressed as 15 million times the entire population of Jersey it is impossible for most of us to envisage the degree of poverty in the world and other following problems.
ii)	Over 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.
iii)	Over 750 million people lack access to health services.
iv)	Over 150 million children under the age of five are malnourished.
v)	Over 500 million people are not expected to reach 40 years of age.
vi)	Over 840 million adults are illiterate of which two thirds are women.