Speeches by Rushworth.

“Do you feel we are getting the balance right, though? There is a tension, I think. You are absolutely right: there needs to be due diligence. There needs to be accountability. There needs to be some assurance that whatever is being spent is sustainable. Equally, the due diligence is time-consuming and costly. Do you fe…”

“This is to Ms Mtonga. What recommendations would you give to the UK Government as they consider how to approach their support of local organisations?”

“Could I just quickly ask about grassroots decision making? Obviously, a community is not entirely homogenous. There are still power dynamics at play in a community, so when you are using aid locally what is being done in your experience, for example, to ensure that women and youth are included in decision making about …”

“I think Dr Ahmed was just trying to come in as well.”

“First, to Dr Ahmed, in your experience, what difference does localisation make to the effectiveness of development projects?”

“When it is spent at such a local level then—I appreciate I am asking you for an estimate here—how much is overheads as opposed to funds reaching people on the ground?”

“I can see Mrs Mtonga there and I will bring you in in a moment. What has been your experience of accountability from larger NGOs and institutions in terms of reporting? Obviously, that is often quite a cumbersome part of being a small NGO or a grassroots organisation in receipt of aid. What has been your experience?”

“Thank you. I can see that Ms Mtonga wants to come in as well.”

“Do you feel we are getting the balance right, though? There is a tension, I think. You are absolutely right: there needs to be due diligence. There needs to be accountability. There needs to be some assurance that whatever is being spent is sustainable. Equally, the due diligence is time-consuming and costly. Do you fe…”

“This is to Ms Mtonga. What recommendations would you give to the UK Government as they consider how to approach their support of local organisations?”

“Could I just quickly ask about grassroots decision making? Obviously, a community is not entirely homogenous. There are still power dynamics at play in a community, so when you are using aid locally what is being done in your experience, for example, to ensure that women and youth are included in decision making about …”

“Thank you. I can see that Ms Mtonga wants to come in as well.”

“I can see Mrs Mtonga there and I will bring you in in a moment. What has been your experience of accountability from larger NGOs and institutions in terms of reporting? Obviously, that is often quite a cumbersome part of being a small NGO or a grassroots organisation in receipt of aid. What has been your experience?”

“When it is spent at such a local level then—I appreciate I am asking you for an estimate here—how much is overheads as opposed to funds reaching people on the ground?”

“First, to Dr Ahmed, in your experience, what difference does localisation make to the effectiveness of development projects?”

“Do you feel that local needs are always taken into account, or is it sometimes the case that those who are giving the funds from above still have a particular agenda that they expect you to work towards?”

“I think Dr Ahmed was just trying to come in as well.”

“Do you feel we are getting the balance right, though? There is a tension, I think. You are absolutely right: there needs to be due diligence. There needs to be accountability. There needs to be some assurance that whatever is being spent is sustainable. Equally, the due diligence is time-consuming and costly. Do you fe…”

“This is to Ms Mtonga. What recommendations would you give to the UK Government as they consider how to approach their support of local organisations?”

“Do you feel that local needs are always taken into account, or is it sometimes the case that those who are giving the funds from above still have a particular agenda that they expect you to work towards?”