Wine & cheese & desperate poverty

Tonight I went to a reception for Oxfam donors. I was a big Oxfam supporter in the U.S., when I had a big salary. Here, I’m not a regular contributor to anything, just the occasional donation to a refugee support group. But David contributes to Oxfam and, as he’s in Paris this week, I took his place at a reception in Belfast. It was a bit bizarre drinking wine and eating cheese as the humanitarian program officer showed us the materials Oxfam supplies in refugee camps.
Washable, reusable sanitary pads.
A solar powered light (for going to the toilet at night or reading in tents with no electricity)
A plastic water jug with a built-in filter.
Rehydration kits for use in fighting cholera.
We were also surrounded by poster-sized photos of emaciated people hauling water or trying to eke out a living in some climate-scorched part of the world.

Meanwhile the selection of cheeses, crackers, and wine was excellent.

I had a long chat with the programme officer about Oxfam’s organisational structure. I’m amazed that it’s only been two years since it vertically integrated. Meaning that, instead of Oxfam GB, Oxfam Ireland, Oxfam America each supporting programs in South Sudan, for instance, Oxfam now has a program director and staff in Sudan that makes up Oxfam Sudan. The other Oxfams supply funds to Oxfam Sudan, and research and expertise. But a single team in Sudan is responsible for prioritising, partnering with local organisations, outcomes, etc. My guess is they only accomplished that in the wake of the Haiti scandal (Oxfam staff hiring prostitutes and a Dutch serial NGO manager who was a pedophile), when funding dropped and they had to get real about the best way to use funds.
8-22