‘States must commit to increasing overseas aid’
AN OUTGOING member of the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission has said he hoped the States keeps to its commitment to increase the commission’s funding, having seen the benefits the money has had across the world.
Retired GP Nick Paluch stepped down from the commission in July after 10 years’ service.
In that time he has visited eight of the countries where Guernsey has funded projects, paying for the flights himself and spending up to four months in some countries volunteering his medical expertise.
‘Travelling to theses places allowed me to see what worked and what was good value for money,’ he said.
‘Visiting was proof that the money was well spent.
‘Projects such as boreholes, which bring clean water, or a new school, can make huge difference to an area.’
The commission, which has a budget of 0.15% of Guernseys GDP – approximately £3m. a year – gives grants of up to £50,000 to projects around the world to UK and Guernsey-based charities working overseas.
In 2019 the States resolved that Guernsey should adopt a target for its overseas aid giving of 0.2% of GDP by 2030.
Even then Guernsey will be behind other countries, with the UN suggesting that developed nations donate 0.7% of GDP, something the UK managed before Covid, although it currently donates 0.5%.
Jersey contributes 0.26% and is hoping to increase that to 0.28% by 2023.
Dr Paluch said he would welcome an increase in funding support and hoped the States would keep to their commitment to increase funding.
‘If it goes up we can do more good,’ he said.
‘The commission never had a problem finding places that needed our help.’
Dr Paluch spent 35 years as a GP on the island, after he married his wife Claudine, a nurse and a midwife from Guernsey, who has often accompanied him on overseas trips, lending her own medical skills to those in need.
Dr Paluch is busy planning trips to volunteer again in Cambodia and Malawi and is hoping to develop a Guernsey-based charity to continue working with some of the projects and people he has close links to.
As well as his wife, he also hopes to involve his five children, two of whom are doctors, in his charity work.
Interview, pages 14 & 15
