A MAJOR increase in overseas aid funding is at least two years away. Peter Roffey, the newly-elected chairman of the new Overseas Aid Commission, said it should have its membership agreed by the States later this month. Non-States members could feature heavily.

But the new body will have no chance to influence the level of funding for two years because the States has already agreed that it will increase by inflation, plus £100,000, during that period.

The island falls short of the United Nations funding target of 0.7% of GDP on aid. It currently spends about 0.42%.

Deputy Roffey admitted that early meetings of the commission would centre on policy.

But he was aware of the wish to increase aid funding in line with the UN target.

ActionAid, Cafod and Oxfam are all backing a campaign to get the UK Government to set a timetable to meet the UN goal.

‘What the timetable should be in Guernsey is something we’ll discuss in a year or two’s time when the package changes,’ he said.

Currently Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Luxembourg and Denmark reach the target.

Those with a timetable to reach it included France, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and Finland.

‘I would hope before too long that Guernsey would be rivalling them – it’s a matter for the States to discuss in two years’ time. We have made progress but we are well short of what Jersey gives,’ said Deputy Roffey.

Guernsey ActionAid chairman Glyn Allen said that indirect contributions from charity groups helped enhance Guernsey’s aid total.

‘While the States has got quite a big shortfall, I think the support groups that exist are making up for that. People respond to us because they know the money is going directly to the projects we support,’ he said.

‘We would like – as I’m sure all the groups would – the States to give more.’

Former Overseas Aid Committee president Jonathan Le Tocq said that the States contribution should increase.

‘We were well below years ago, around £50,000 for a number of years, but we have increased this now to a rate which is better,’ he said.

Last year the island contributed £1,229,058 in overseas aid and the rate has been increasing in real terms by about £100,000 each year.

‘These are under UN targets and I don’t see why we do not exceed it because we are a rich jurisdiction,’ said Deputy Le Tocq.

He also wanted the commission to consider new ideas for supporting aid and funding.

‘We wanted to be more creative with the way funding occurs. In Jersey they allocate some money to smaller projects that can get overlooked.’

These are initiatives where joint funding of a few thousand pounds would be beneficial.

‘There’s a lot of good things going on in Guernsey already, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do more.’

Deputy Le Tocq has also supported sending overseas teams of skilled people, such as builders or nurses.

‘In linking up our young people and making them aware first-hand of the reality of life in somewhere like Zambia, we are helping our society and the new generation to appreciate the life we have, be better stewards of our resources and learn to share more with those who have little.’

Guernsey’s contribution to overseas aid began only in the late 1980s with a budget of £50,000.