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The big boys

IF ALL THOSE BIG AID CHARITIES  look the same, it’s generally because they are the same.

They all:
  • Cover a huge range of needs
  • Operate using local staff as much as possible in regional offices (eg Nairobi for East Africa)
  • Find local charities to fund, train and monitor
  • Consult the locals to find out what work needs doing (if the locals are lucky)

As importantly, they also talk to each other a lot, share work, and agree principles for working together. Umbrella organisations like the Sphere Project, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and British Overseas NGO’s for Development (BOND) help structure these conversations.

No-one's going to pretend that they are perfect, but their cooperative approach has to increase efficiency and professionalism. It certainly shows in the quality of their annual reports, which are the best of any charitable sector we have seen. And generally they are keen on transparency projects like Intelligent Giving.

So take comfort that among the big names there is little overlap in the work carried out - and collaboration between them is probably much higher than in other areas of the charity world.

So how to decide who to support? Well, first of all, don’t forget the little charities which perform specialist work - but only follow through if you feel confident they have the professionalism and track record to do it right; it’s much harder to be effective in foreign countries.

Otherwise, having satisfied yourself that they look OK in their IG profiles, base your decision on:
  • Where they work – you may have an affinity with a particular part of the world
  • The kind of work they emphasize – women, HIV/AIDS, children…?
  • How they present themselves – does their style work for you?
Whichever you choose, it’s unlikely you’ve made a bad decision.