Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), the island’s official, publicly funded relief and development agency, has today published its five-year strategic plan.
The plan sets out 11 core objectives and 15 pledges that reaffirms JOA’s commitment to alleviating suffering in some of the world’s poorest countries whilst increasing both the impact of its funding and its accountability to taxpayers.
The strategic plan, which has this week been presented to the States Assembly by Deputy Carolyn Labey, Jersey’s Minister for International Development and Chair of the JOA Commission, outlines JOA’s principles, approach and highlights the value that Jersey’s generosity and compassion delivers to the recipients of its aid.
Speaking at its launch, Deputy Labey said, “It is also our moral obligation to ensure we target those most in need whilst managing our overseas aid budget as carefully as possible. This strategic plan highlights JOA’s principles and approach and demonstrates what a well governed, effective, professionally-staffed donor organisation it has become,”
JOA delivers assistance through four core work streams: international development, humanitarian and emergency relief, Jersey charities engaged overseas and local outreach, including Community Work Projects and bursaries.
Highlighted in the strategy is JOA’s long term development focus on three carefully chosen themes:
- Dairy for Development,
- Financial Inclusion and
- Conservation Livelihoods.
Selected for their effectiveness in bringing lasting change to the lives of the poor, these themes have also been identified as areas where Jersey can add considerable skills and knowledge therefore maximizing value.
“We believe that we can effect more lasting change for greater numbers of people by narrowing and intensifying our development assistance, implementing larger, longer-term programmes. We also realise that we can achieve greater impact by focusing our development grants in ways that enable Jersey to add more value than just the funds we contribute, promoting sustainable economic and human development in some of the poorest countries on earth through carefully-chosen interventions which play to our strengths as an island,” added Deputy Labey.
Under the strategy, JOA’s humanitarian and emergency relief will continue to reach civilians affected by armed conflict, earthquakes and other natural disasters. It will increasingly do so through mechanisms that maximise the value and effectiveness of contributions, such as pooled funds managed by the UN’s Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It will also prioritise under-funded and ‘orphaned’ emergencies as well as providing flexible funding that contributes to a swifter and more efficient humanitarian response.
“Jersey has provided emergency food and shelter in the rubble of multiple earthquakes and airstrikes, and given hope and dignity to millions of hungry, sick and displaced people. As a recipient of life-saving assistance ourselves, I think it is both fitting and poignant that Jersey is now supporting those who find themselves in need” added Deputy Labey.
Other key objectives identified in the strategy include furthering JOA’s support of Jersey charities working abroad as well as local outreach. Over the next five years JOA will expand Jersey’s overseas aid footprint on the world stage by providing funds for projects led by local charities such as the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey, as well as providing training and support in key areas such as impact measurement, governance, decision-making and finance.
The main image shows Deputy Carolyn Labey, Jersey’s International Development Minister and Chair of the JOA Commission, on an official JOA visit to Lebanon in 2017.
