Finishing a year of volunteerism

from the BBC

The leader of one of Britain's biggest insurance companies is now back now urging government to do more. - Kale
By Gareth Jones

The former head of one of the world's biggest insurance companies has just come to the end of a year working for charity in Africa.

Richard Harvey, who as chief executive of Aviva ran a global operation employing 60,000 people, has been casting a critical business eye over the aid industry.

This time last year Richard Harvey was still enjoying the perks of office.

His chauffeur-driven limo had dropped him off at Aviva Tower, an executive lift had whisked him non-stop to the luxurious 23rd floor where he was greeted by his top team.

High above the City of London Mr Harvey spoke to his staff, gathered for his leaving do, about his impending departure.

"I never had a gap year before university," he joked. "But the kids have grown up and the mortgage is paid off. So now's the time."

A few months before, Mr Harvey had surprised the City by announcing his early retirement after 10 years at the top of insurance giant Norwich Union and then parent company Aviva.

The 56-year old said he was giving up his million-pound a year job to work in Africa for Hereford-based charity Concern Universal.

He said he wanted to use his 'gap year' to find out how best the continent could be helped to solve its problems.

'Bright future'

So what is his conclusion twelve months on?

"Africa has a bright future if it can be helped to trade its way out of poverty," he believes. "But the West - individuals and organisations- is still making mistakes."

Mr Harvey has been in Africa at a time when the interest of private philanthropists is very high.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the world's richest men, are putting billions of dollars into helping the continent.

I still hear people talking about how many drugs they've delivered, how many injections they've given. That's not what you want to be measuring
Richard Harvey

One of Africa's poorest countries, Malawi - where Mr Harvey spent the last three months of his sabbatical - is also benefiting from money and effort donated by the likes of Scottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter, UK-based hedge fund financier Christopher Hohn and former US President Bill Clinton's Foundation.

Richard Harvey had been keen to discover whether all this new funding and that spent by more established charities and governmental organisations was being put to good effect.

"Working for Concern Universal has taught me the importance of preparing communities to receive aid," he says.

"When they help sink a well for example, they get that community to buy into the project by preparing them for six months beforehand with education and training. This means villagers feel they own the project and will look after it when the donor has gone away."

Focus on outcomes

In Malawi, as in other parts of Africa where Mr Harvey worked, erratic rains have been leading to crop failure, hunger and disease.

Villagers and their fields need clean, reliable supplies of water from wells and simple irrigation systems. He says he has noticed how donors are still making mistakes.

"You see them all around you.

"The disused pumps for example. I have spoken to individuals here who, in a very good-natured way, have seen a community in need and rushed out and written a cheque and drilled a borehole in the ground.

"Then it's fallen into disuse either because no-one knew how to repair it or it was in the wrong place and was causing disputes in the village or a dozen different reasons because there was no fundamental ownership."

Western donors need to stop talking about inputs and focus on outcomes instead, he argues.

"I still hear people talking about how many drugs they've delivered, how many injections they've given. That's not what you want to be measuring."

Looking to the future, Mr Harvey said that while current increases in world food prices were a serious threat to Africa's poor, in the longer term they could be to their benefit.

"If African farmers can be helped to take advantage of simple techniques to boost food production, their income will rise significantly, relieving poverty especially in rural areas."

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