Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



British aid creating “poverty barons"
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 09 - 2012


By Joel Gulhane
An investigation by British newspapers The Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph has alleged aid funded by the British taxpayer, is helping to create “poverty barons.” Something The Telegraph defines as consultants who have become millionaires through international aid programs.
The British Department for International Development (DfID) funds British consultants, many of whom, The Telegraph believes, are “on six- or even seven- figure personal incomes paid in large by the aid budget.” Reports of the salaries of these consultants has put the British government under pressure to reform aid spending.
The Sunday Telegraph revealed its findings last week, causing the development secretary, Justine Greening, to order an internal review. The review was then postponed as the investigation would be carried out by consultancy firms, suggesting conflict of interest.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that at an event held for aid consultants last Thursday, Graham Hand, the chairman of the meeting declared, “There's lots of money! We've all got money!” British diplomats and officials based in various countries were in attendance.
According to The Telegraph, over four years the Caribbean region received £75 million in aid despite most nations in the region being classified as middle-income. Haiti, the poorest nation in the region, hardly received any of the allocated aid. When The Telegraph reporter told Mr. Howell that the Caribbean wasn't a poor region he replied “there are always elements of poverty in any country."
The DFID budget in the Caribbean is spent on climate change and improving governance, and these areas require the largest amount of consultants.
The Telegraph said that there was a chance for networking at which point the consultants swapped lifestyle stories, one example give was “'the $2000-a-day ‘expert' who demanded (successfully) that a new Mercedes be shipped to East Timor for him."
The Telegraph accused British consultants of using “an old-style handout approach" which reduces the capacity for making longer lasting and genuine change. It believes “that aid is increasingly serving Western and corporate interests, rather than the interests of the developing world."
These revelations have come at a time of recession in Britain and of major cuts to government services.


Clic here to read the story from its source.