Three Self Help directors resign in merger dispute

THREE DIRECTORS of Self Help Development International have resigned following a fresh outbreak of disagreements over the future direction of the aid agency.

The latest dispute centres on plans to merge with a British aid agency, Harvest Help, to create a new organisation to be known as Self Help Africa.

A long-running row within the organisation seemed to have ended last year when a new chief executive, former Goal employee Ray Jordan, was appointed and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) decided to re-endorse Self Help as its favoured Third World charity.

Irish Aid, which was deeply embarrassed by the disputes in one of the main recipients for State aid, then agreed to withdraw an earlier threat to suspend funding. However, last month, the longest-serving board member, barrister David Burke, tendered his resignation, to be followed earlier this month by two other board members, barrister Cormac Ó Dúlacháin and PR consultant Peter White. Their departure follows disagreement over the merger with Harvest Help, which also specialises in rural development assistance in Africa.

The dissenting directors, while not opposed to the merger, felt it was proceeding too fast and without due diligence. There were also rows over access to financial information and the accuracy of board minutes.

One source claimed "the subterranean presence of the IFA" was to be felt in every issue discussed by the board.

However, Mr Jordan defended the merger, saying the two organisations were a "fantastic fit" with a virtually identical ethos. "We see it as the start of a positive process of growth," he said, "to create an umbrella group of development organisations under the Self Help name."

Self Help moved last December to Portlaoise, where its new offices are due to be opened by taoiseach-elect Brian Cowen next week.