The impacts of COVID on aid charities will be 'extremely challenging’, and could mean an ‘existential’ threat to the
existence of some agencies, says a new report into New Zealand’s aid sector.
'Business as usual or operations as we used to know them, have gone forever.’
This comes at a time when famines are predicted to increase globally. In some countries, hunger could kill more people
than COVID.
Development in the Pacific is being thrust back decades, thanks to closed borders.
The 'Health of the New Zealand International NGO Sector’ was written by independent consultants, Craig Fisher
specialising in governance and organisational development, and Darren Ward managing partner of Direct Impact Group, a
social impact consultancy.
Many of the challenges are not new, but have been accelerated by COVID. There are opportunities to improve the
effectiveness of aid for those organisations that can adapt quickly, concludes the report.Key findings:46% of aid charities said that COVID is a serious threat to their survivalThe most reported challenges include funding and programme continuityThese were expected to peak later this year and remain as moderate threats through 2021.The traditional operating model for aid charities is no longer sustainableOrganisations will need to adapt to a much more uncertain operating environmentCOVID has accelerated 10-year’s of change into a 3 to 5 year period, if not soonerThere are fears that the aid sector will fare worse with both the public and government because in tough economic times,
‘charity begins at home…and may now stay at home’.
The authors ‘expect there will be casualties’, but the crisis is a 'perfect opportunity to …implement new structural,
operational, and potentially more impactful models of operating.’Recommendations include:Identify and articulate each organisation’s unique valueIncrease collaborations which will increase impactConsider shared services and even mergersLeverage our uniqueness as New Zealanders (practical, innovative and from a small country)Further leverage our location in the PacificIncrease the successful local ownership of aid, accelerated by COVID border closuresAgree common measurements of impact and make impact the core focus.
The report is based on desk research, interviews with CEOs, key stakeholders (in New Zealand and across the region), as
well as online surveys. It was commissioned by CID.
Read the full report here