It’s a tough time for international development, especially with cuts in government funding, so Action Through Enterprise was grateful for the opportunity to feed into the International Development Select Committee’s latest inquiry: Future of UK aid and development assistance.
We welcomed the Committee’s focus on local provision: ‘We believe the only route to enabling long-lasting change in ultra rural communities is through excellent, locally-led organisations who can listen closely, be agile – and stay the course. This is how ATE operates – and it’s also a brilliant starting point for any partnership.’
However, we warned that a suggested move ‘from grants to expertise’ risks becoming paternalism by another name: ‘…we cannot live by expertise alone. Whilst hugely valuable, it’s not currency for the essentials we need to deliver our work. We know it’s a balancing act, but a certain level of financial commitment will be necessary. Advice without funding is simply not enough.’
Calling for modest but long-term funding for smaller NGOs, we promised outstanding results – and a new and empowering model for the future: ‘Action Through Enterprise is already creating generational change in rural northern Ghana. With the security and support of a trusting and long-term partner, the Upper West will be a beacon, a shining light of good development – and proof that local work can be a value-for-money way to uplift whole regions. In time, a relatively small financial outlay and some low-cost, thoughtful partnering will result in breathtaking transformation.’
Read our full submission on the Uk Parliament website here (scroll down to underneath Written Evidence)– and let us know what you think!