Say What?

Amidst all the compassion and confusion swirling around the relief efforts in Haiti these days came a rather bizarre announcement from Stephen Harper yesterday. Prior to heading off to Davos and the World Economic Forum, the PM announced that the focus in Canadian aid for the foreseeable future will be to "improve the health of women and children in the world's poorest regions." He went on to say that stressing such a campaign will become a significant part of Canada's lead in the upcoming G8 and G20 meetings held in Ontario in June.On the surface, this is welcome news. given that 500,000 women die each year and slightly over 9 million children perish before reaching their fifth birthday. But the initial response to the announcement was confusion among aid agencies. Three main areas of that confusion emerged quickly.Who Knew? - The announcement yesterday continued the ongoing pattern of surprise announcements concerning aid allocations from the government. Aid agencies have increasingly complained in the last number of years that decisions are being made in secret, with no consultations with the aid groups that have traditionally formed a partnership with CIDA development efforts. The CIDA minister confirmed that consultations will now take place, but that comes a little late in the game.Whence Africa? - This past year witnessed CIDA pull most of its development funds out of 8 African nations, much to the ire of development agencies themselves. There had been no consultations with its partners with that announcement either. But now with Mr. Harper's suggestion that "the world's poorest countries" will be benefitted by Canada's new resolve, confusion again results because the vast majority of the world's most destitute live in the African continent. Does that mean CIDA will now get back to Africa, increasing aid to the region? Likely not, but the point is that no one knows.Development or Relief? - This is a vital question. Most development agencies will tell you that while CIDA remains committed to emergency and relief causes, its handling of long-term development assistance has been poor. Let's be clear: women and children's health is a long-term matter, involving years of work with development agencies, along with the health and education ministries of host governments. It takes planning that sometimes is decades long if it is to have true effect. Child and maternal health are not emergency or even relief challenges, serious though they are. They are development opportunities, the kind CIDA has shied away from these last few years.Next Tuesday, February 2nd, I'm hosting a roundtable in Ottawa on the future prospects of Canadian aid and development. In preparation, I've consulted with a large number of NGOs who know this field well and have performed with distinction despite their problems with CIDA. To a person, they expressed frustration and confusion with the PM's announcement. This can't be a good thing, when it is agencies such as these that will form the delivery mechanisms for the initiative. Their phrases were similar to the ones heard for the last few years now - no consultation, no clarity, no transparency. And ultimately, no financial accountability. Will such dedicated funds be taken away from other development programs and locked away in the labyrinthian account books , continuing a similar pattern of breaking off historical relationships with groups like KAIROS and others? The confusion is just too much.It's likely most development groups would applaud the intent of the PM's announcement yesterday, but they can't trust what they can't see. In development assistance you have to play the long game and development agencies, jaded by recent experience, have great difficulty rejoicing at announcements that come both as a surprise and without consultation, or even a plan as to how they will be delivered. That's valid. Stay tuned.