Oxfam calls for fight against global poverty to be stepped up

from The Nyasa Times

A major international aid agency has called for Scottish politicians to increase their commitment to fighting global poverty, despite criticism that money is not being spent properly.

Oxfam wants the parties preparing their election manifestoes for the May 3 Holyrood election to do much more to back up the initiative which began two years ago to focus effort on Malawi.

The southern African state of 12 million people, which has strong historical links to Scottish churches, has been the main target of First Minister Jack McConnell in opening up a small development aid programme, worth £4.5 million each year.

This has been publicly criticised by Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs for pushing Holyrood beyond the limits of its devolved powers, while Labour MPs have been privately critical that the First Minister has spent time on Malawi instead of domestic issues. Last week, BBC Scotland broadcast a documentary that argued money is not being properly spent, with 31% of spending so far allocated to what it called "administration".

While this was disputed by those behind the Scotland-Malawi project, Oxfam has followed up on the controversy by pushing for Scotland to go further. But it carried a warning that the policy must not reflect the priorities of Scottish politics, but should be driven by Malawian poverty and needs.

Having worked in the country since 1987, the agency claims 65% of Malawians live below the poverty line with 40% attempting to survive on an income of less than 15 pence per day.

Judith Robertson, head of Oxfam in Scotland, said the McConnell administration has made a good start by engaging with Malawian government and society and by funding the work of organisations in working against poverty. "However, the depth of poverty there demands a much greater financial commitment from Scotland if the cross-party support and political rhetoric is to really make a difference," she added.

The major parties have promised the aid agency that they want to retain the existing policy, but they are now being challenged to go further.

The Scottish National Party has already committed to double the £4.5m aid budget, while Mr McConnell is scheduled to address an Oxfam reception at Holyrood tomorrow night. - The Herald