Aid commitments announced in the UK budget today are great news for poor countries. Ian Sullivan explains why and how Oxfam campaigners have helped achieve this fantastic result.
So, Wednesday was budget day. And after some frenetic work from activists over the last seven days, the numbers have been crunched, the totals tallied, and the usual political booing and cheering is over. A decision has been made on how much aid money will be provided to poor countries over the coming years.
The good news? Well, it’s incredible news.
Thanks to the efforts of campaigners up and down the UK, the government has stuck to the commitments that were made in the last spending review. This is fantastic news for people in developing countries.
With minimum notice, letters were sent to the treasury and constituency MPs were lobbied hard. And all this pressure has made a difference.
And because of you, thousands more children will get an education and millions more poor people will benefit from improved healthcare. In short, lives will be changed - for the better.
This also sends out a clear and strong message to our European partners: in times of hardship, whether in rich or poor nations, it’s the poorest people who suffer first, and that hard times are no excuse for not sticking to commitments on aid.
There was one small note of caution when the chancellor mentioned efficiency savings in the Department for Inernational Development. The £155 million of them shouldn’t become aid cuts under another name.
But today is about celebrating. We’ve even heard from Secretary of State for International Development, Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP. He said: “I am proud that, despite the difficult global economic circumstances, this government has made the choice to keep our pledges to the world’s poorest people – and that we will continue to be well on track to meet the historic 0.7% aid commitment. Oxfam campaigners will have a key role to play going forward to raise awareness of why these commitments are so vital.”
If you were involved in this big push in any way, you have every reason to feel proud - because of you, poor people weren’t forgotten in this vital budget.
UK budget: Oxfam’s official response
Tags: aid commitments, UK budget 09
I sent a fax at the weekend after hearing about this campaign from a friend on Facebook. Well done everyone. This is rare good news in dark days.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 pmYup, good news indeed. Wasn’t expecting this.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 pmGreat news on the aid budget, nice campaigning.
BUT sadly far less good for poor people in the UK. A missed opportunity, in fact. And for poor children in the UK, a rather pathetic 38p extra per week.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 amThis is excellent and heartwarming news. We share a planet and need to look out for others as best we can. Well done Oxfam.
April 24th, 2009 at 5:07 pmThe best way to love our neighbour, is to stand up and lend a hand in the hour of need.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:42 pmOn behalf of the needy.
Thanks Oxfam for the support
Hi guys,
Due to timely dissemination by Oxfam of the information regarding the negative action the UK Government was about to take, our joint action promptly taken has again demonstrated the postive impact of Oxfam’s campaign effort. Let us keep up the good work!
Regards,
Arthur Carew
April 24th, 2009 at 7:22 pmIt is wonderful reading the works of mercy and charity you acchord humanity in their vulnerable situations. Keep it up.
April 25th, 2009 at 9:34 amYaa! I think and I believe that at present you are on the right path to work for those marginalized people due to various circumstances, such as war, discrimination(Political, Social, Cultural, etc) All over the world here and their. Your current Initiative and related advocacy result would confirm me that, nothing is impossible within the policy advocacy strategy of OXFAM. I am a witness here from Ethiopia how OXFAM effort brought a change within the frame work of world market to secure the Ethiopian poor coffee farmers to secure their reasonable price for the product they brought to the world coffee market. Keep it up! We shall and we keep work in the line to realize Justice, Fairness, and Rationality, in this fast global world, may largely affect the voice less. I am highly impressed about the achievements.
April 25th, 2009 at 1:48 pmMelaku Geleta Wakjira,
Ethiopia
I am sure that OXfam hasn’t forgotten the UK poor grace, but if they have you have just reminded us all. Thank You.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:32 pmwell done everone let hope keep there promies in furture.
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 pm