Gib Bulloch says that rather than turn their backs on international aid groups, they but should give more
The public should double donations to charities in the wake of the abuse scandal that has engulfed aid organisations – instead of pulling their support.
That’s the view of one well known commentator on the sector, who says now is the time to rally behind charities and to help them improve governance and safeguarding.
Calls have been made for individuals and companies to cut the cash they give to international NGOs as the sector continues to reel from the aftershocks of the Haiti sex scandal.
However, rather than turn their back on charities, Scots born not-for-profit expert Gib Bulloch says people shouldn’t cancel their donations – they should give more.
The aid sector has endured a torrid six months since revelations were made about Oxfam workers conducting orgies with prostitutes amidst the devastation of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Senior figures have been toppled and a string of follow up revelations have wracked the sector.
This crystalised recently with the publication of a damning UK government report which said that international aid organisations were “verging on complicity” over sexual abuse.
However, Bulloch, a former corporate high-flyer who now works with the third sector as well as helping businesses further their social reach, says charities need people to help now more than ever.
He said: “Yes there have been abuses but I would judge the sector now on what it actually does in terms of putting its house in order. That might mean we have to accept that some of our money goes to strengthen organisations and systems and some of the UK government’s aid money goes into strengthening the sector to make it robust and make sure these sort of abuses don’t happen.
“Rather than stopping donating, which is the knee-jerk popular response by many, we should double up our donations. Now is the time to invest in the sector, which may come across as counter-intuitive but I would say we have been somewhat naïve as the giving public and the charities have been somewhat complicit in this – they make us believe that every pence in every pound is going to the front line and that has led to a culture of under-investment in the safeguarding and audits that are needed but also in things like human capital and training.”
Bulloch’s view is not shared by other commentators on the sector, however.
Gina Miller – best known for her legal challenge to the UK government over Brexit – has argued that corporate donors should look at pulling the plug until the sector “gets its house in order”. Miller, who set up the True and fair Foundation to promote philanthropy, said: “We need to look at drastic action as we cannot let another day go by where people are being exploited and this starts with a cultural change and for that to happen it’s up to the major donors. Large donors and corporates have the ability to act very quickly.”
In Scotland four charities issued statements relating to misconduct and the Scottish Government warned that funds would be at stake if it discovered allegations of wrongdoing.
Responding to the UK Government report, which recommended an ombudsman for the aid sector, Jane Salmonson, chief executive of Scotland’s International Development Alliance, said it “makes a powerful and unambiguous statement which represents a milestone for us, as we all work to further build and strengthen a positive, safeguarding culture.”
