An organization called Valid International has produced a report criticizing aid charities for overstating the prospect of serious famine in southern African states. The majority of charities involved in the region have accepted the criticism, apparently ignoring the fact that Valid International, a commercial organization, has its own agenda in that it is critical of the way that food aid is currently distributed by most charities. Nevertheless, the fact that the aid organizations, who must know Valid International’s agenda, have accepted that they have made too much of the dangers of a catastrophe demonstrate that there is indeed merit in the organization’s criticisms.
Valid International has pointed out that there is a danger that if donors discover that their support has yet again been mobilized but this time on the basis of false data, their readiness to give in future will be seriously undermined. On the face of it, this is a reasonable analysis until one considers the immense disparity in wealth and living standards between the rich First World and the poor developing Third World. The amount of aid given by governments in Europe and North America is a fraction of their annual budgets. The sums that private individuals give in response to charity appeals are also usually trifling when compared to the amount of money that they themselves spend on food. Indeed, one of the great obscenities of the developed world is the amount of food that is regularly prepared but goes uneaten and is tossed into the trash. Over and above this, people in wealthy countries eat far more than their bodies require for the physical activities that they do. The result is obesity and poor health.
There may be a point at which charitable giving exceeds a sensible level for individuals and families in the First World. But that point is miles away. Sustaining the current level of giving and even increasing it by a significant proportion is in truth going to present little in the way of hardship to an overfed and luxury-surrounded First World. What matter that charities exaggerate the dangers of famine from time to time? It is not really foolishly crying wolf because in truth, much of the money given to nongovernmental organizations can find an extremely rewarding use, if not feeding people facing starvation, then helping them with bore holes, irrigation and farming technology that will enable them to look after themselves in future years.
Let us hope therefore that comfortable families who read Valid International’s critical report will not use it as an excuse to put away their checkbooks. For sure, the charities should get their facts right and use less hyperbole and be more measured in their assessments. But past donors should be sure and understand that they have actually given too little, not too much.
