The largest Irish Third World agency, Concern, has announced a 10 per cent increase in public donations over the past year. The agency's new chief executive, Mr David Begg, yesterday promised a "root and branch" review of the organisation to increase effectiveness. A strategic plan would be drawn up by next year.
Mr Begg said there were many new factors which non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had to allow for to increase effectiveness. These included increased competition for funds, growing world insecurity and greater media scrutiny of aid agencies.
Governments in the developing world were also no longer willing to accept "top-down" development solutions and human rights issues could not easily be separated from humanitarian assistance.
He also referred to "highly vocal and articulate critics, sometimes with their own agendas", who were challenging the efficacy of aid.
Concern's annual report, published yesterday, shows that donations grew by 10.3 per cent last year to £7,478,000. A further £9.17 million was raised in co-financing projects with the British and Irish governments, the EU and other international bodies. Donated goods and services accounted for £7.5 million.
Total income for the year exceeded £24.6 million. Total expenditure was £27.5 million, with the balance funded from reserves.
About half of Concern's income is spent on emergency programmes, mainly in Africa. Some 40 per cent goes on long-term development and development education work.
Mr Begg stressed that armed conflict was a major factor in creating poverty. "During 1996, the number of refugees throughout the world has risen from 10 million to 27 million, mainly as a result of armed conflict. Women and children are always disproportionately affected by these conflicts."
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