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Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) has committed £180,000 in response to the ongoing emergency in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe following Cyclone Idai’s landfall earlier this month.

The Island’s contribution will be split between the British Red Cross (£73,333) CARE International (£70,000) and UNICEF (£36,667) and will support ongoing efforts in providing life-saving assistance including interventions in health, shelter, protection, nutrition and education.

Jersey’s Minister for International Development and Chair of JOA, Deputy Carolyn Labey, said ‘Cyclone Idai’s impact has had a devastating effect on communities in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe with a significant number of deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced. There has been widespread destruction of households and infrastructure as well as livelihoods and farmland which is of huge concern. These funds will support the humanitarian agencies at the frontline and I am, as always, proud that our Island has responded.’

The British Red Cross, CARE International and UNICEF are longstanding partners of JOA and all have the necessary country knowledge, resources and expertise to ensure that the aid is delivered effectively and as quickly as possible. Since its landfall on the 14^th March Cyclone Idai has claimed nearly 700 lives and it is estimated that 1.85 million people are in need of urgent assistance.

JOA continues to closely monitor the situation following the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai and is in contact with several humanitarian agencies working on the ground in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It is likely that casualty figures will increase considerably in the next few days, and flood waters are continuing to rise. We are currently assessing where JOA funds will be best spent and will make an official announcement next week.

Jersey are thanked by Health and Hope for their support in training traditional midwives and health workers in rural communities to create a network of community-led healthcare.

Policy Officer

Jersey Overseas Aid is looking for a Policy Officer to join its small professional team.

Based in St Helier, this new role will help ensure that Jersey’s contribution to international aid provides both the maximum benefit for the world’s poor and the highest level of accountability for Jersey’s taxpayers. Reporting to the Director, the Policy Officer will contribute to developing and implementing Jersey’s aid policy, and supporting the Minister for International Development and JOA on the national and global stage. They will also play a key role in the monitoring and oversight of JOA grants, and helping to communicate what we do to the Jersey public and the wider world.

Requirements

We are seeking a candidate with demonstrable experience of relief and development, in either a field or HQ context. You will have a thorough understanding of the architecture, actors, financing and methodologies of international aid, ideally with some experience of creating, analysing or implementing development policy. Specifically:

1. At least four years’ experience working for an international NGO, UN Agency, donor or private-sector development organisation;
2. Excellent communication skills;
3. Proven analytical and research skills;
4. Education to degree level in a relevant discipline;
5. Legal entitlement to work in Jersey (this job does NOT come with a Licence)

The deadline for applications is 31^st December 2018.

For more information, please visit our jobs section or email s.boas@joa.je

Students attending the fifth Annual Rotary Student Peace Debate today voted overwhelmingly to increase Jersey’s overseas aid budget. After a lively debate, covering a wide range of topics including the efficacy of aid and Jersey’s place in the world, 69% of students voted in favour of increasing Jersey’s overseas aid budget, whilst 21% voted for the budget to remain the same and only 10% voted for it to be reduced.

The Debate, which was attended by students from seven local secondary schools, was chaired by the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, with the keynote speech being delivered by the Minister for International Development, Carolyn Labey. After the debate, Minister Carolyn Labey stated:

“Jersey’s compassion and generosity is a key part of our island identity. It has been wonderful today to hear Jersey’s youth engage in, and vote in support of, Jersey’s international aid contributions. It is highly reassuring to know that the Island’s youth – tomorrow’s leaders – not only acknowledge the important role development plays, but that they also wish to do more.”

Jersey currently allocates just under £10.4 million every year to overseas aid. At 0.25% of Jersey’s GDP, this is significantly below the OECD average and short of the 0.7% target agreed at the United Nations and in place since 1970.

For Jersey residents interested in volunteering overseas, or a career in international development, Jersey Overseas Aid offers individuals the chance to apply for a General Bursary, Professional Bursary or Internship. Further information is available at www.joa.je

We are now seeking a Non-States Commissioner to join our six-member governing board in 2019. Subject to your confirmation by the States Assembly, you will serve a renewable three-year term of office, joining a dedicated group of highly-motivated volunteers in overseeing and setting the direction of the Island’s international relief and development programme.

This non-remunerated position requires you to attend monthly meetings and to review grant applications for a range of emergency and development projects. We are looking for a Jersey resident with demonstrable interest in overseas aid, coupled with relevant transferable skills from your professional or personal experience.

Please send your CV and a covering letter to Deputy Carolyn Labey at enquiries@joa.je by Friday 9^th November.

Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA) has committed £350,000 in response to the ongoing emergency in Indonesia following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the central Sulawesi region at the end of September.

The Island’s contribution will be split between the British Red Cross (£200,000) CARE International (£75,000) and UNICEF (£75,000) and will address the immediate needs of those affected by the disaster including assisting with search and rescue efforts, the distribution of emergency supplies, the provision of shelter and water and providing psychosocial support and counselling to children affected by the disaster.

Speaking of Jersey’s commitment to emergency and humanitarian relief, the Island’s Minister for International Development and Chair of JOA, Deputy Carolyn Labey, said ‘It is right that Jersey joins the international community in helping those worse affected by the recent disasters in Sulawesi and I am proud of the Island’s record in answering the call of those in need. These funds will make a significant difference to thousands of individuals.”

All three agencies, in addition to being longstanding partners of JOA, have the necessary country knowledge, resources and expertise to ensure that the aid is delivered effectively and as quickly as possible. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami has claimed nearly 2,000 lives and affected up to 1.5 million individuals including 75,000 who have lost their homes.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has mentioned Jersey, alongside other governments including the Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Luxemburg, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland, for its contribution to Central African Republic Humanitarian Fund. The fund, established to provide emergency response in the most affected areas will target an estimated 650,000 people in the following sectors: shelter/non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, telecommunications, logistics, livelihoods and community stabilization, nutrition, protection, health, and food security.

Najat Rochdi, Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic, said “I thank the donors who continue to support the humanitarian response in CAR, as well as for their support to the CAR HF. The latter remains an effective and vital funding mechanism to ensure a coordinated and effective humanitarian response and to respond to humanitarian emergencies while ensuring accountability to affected populations”

The full press release can be found here

Jersey Overseas Aid and St John Ambulance Jersey are to welcome a Jersey-sponsored nurse working for the Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group for a four day visit. Established in 1882, the Group is the only charitable provider of expert eye care in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem (approximately 4.6million inhabitants) and through this partnership a full-time nurse, Muyassar Ghanem, is sponsored to contribute towards the vital care needed.

The visit is an opportunity for some Islanders to hear about the life-changing work being by Jersey charities working abroad and how JOA supports them.

You can read the full press release here