Comic Relief 2009 update

I guess since we are perhaps the most global children's charity (and myself as an old Africa hand) we should be commenting on the choice of programs which Comic Relief are funding. This year Comic Relief is funding a lot of UK projects: charity perhaps begins at home but Children in Need is 100% UK so it seems a bit unfair that the BBC's second fundraiser in the year is increasing pushing money into UK programs. Perhaps it is government pressure to try to take pressure off Social Services but the amount Comic Relief raises compared to the billions we all pay in taxes seems a bit inconsequential: if they cannot afford to look after our own children with so much cash what difference does the extra make?

Anyway on the programs which they are highlighting.

The best in our view is Fred's story in Kenya. This is very familiar and the kind of thing we do. Indeed we have a project for street kids in Nairobi and help many to get and education and live independent lives.

Next best: Grey's story about children dying from malaria is spot on. Malaria denes children their childhood on a huge scale. True situation, one which can be changed and a fairly positive approach (except that it is trying to improve access to facilities rather than build and run additional ones which is what arguably is needed more). I guess improving the efficiency of an under-resourced system is good but improving the resources is also needed. Which is what we do.

Third best: Moussa's fairtrade and community development story is the sort of thing Christian Aid do really well. How good depends on how well it is done but its a positive thing and part of what is needed.

Most questionable: Amina's story is about the terrible childbirth fatalities in Africa. This is a hugely important issue and one we work on a lot with Hospitals, mother and child clinics and education programs. In some places 80% of the orphans we give a family to come from maternal childbirth fatalities. Unfortunately Comic Relief seems set on doing none of these positive things, just on trying to publicize the issue to politicians and leaders. We work at this too, including in a consortium meeting in the House of Commons next week but we know politicians and leaders have zero track record on solving problems in Africa. You have to actually help as well as talk about it so we would have to mark this down a bit compared to directly helping. Advocacy is always a leap of faith with a high risk of failure: it is worth a little effort if you have the expertise anyway but it will never become a major focus for us.

As for all the UK stories, we think they should be sent to the chancellor with a comment that this is what our huge welfare state should be paying for. But that's just our view, perhaps we should give up on government and fix it all ourselves as Comic Relief propose.