Sections:
Watching UK aid work
9 February 2007
Transcript - Aid Works
[From a black screen, we cut to a noisy shot of a busy, modern highway, crowded
with traffic]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
In Britain, first-class roads take our goods to market.
[From a long-shot of a supermarket, we cut to several shots of customers packing
their trolleys with goods of all kinds]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
…and the choice of goods available to us is staggering.
[A modern school or college]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Education is free…
[A large hospital or perhaps a modern multi-practice GP clinic]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Healthcare is free…
[A light clicks on in a kitchen. In close up, a glass is rinsed under the tap,
and we pan down to see the water swirling down the plug-hole]
Jon Snow: (Voice over) We have electricity…we have clean water to drink…and we have sewers to keep our
cities clean.
[Commuters crowding over a London bridge in the morning rush-hour]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
We have these things, because people here have jobs, but they also pay taxes and
the government spends their taxes on public services.
[Cut to a sequence in Mozambique, where we can see that things are markedly
different]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
But in poor countries, or in countries with poor governments, there simply isn’t
enough money to go round to pay for teachers or civil servants, or to build
hospitals and roads and sewers.
But things are changing.
[Children filing into a school in Tanzania]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
And slowly, the deep shadows of poverty are lifting. Schools are being built and
staffed properly. Some are even over-subscribed…
[A woman being treated in a Bangladesh clinic]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Local clinics are extending the lives of children and their families…
[A road construction project in Vietnam]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Cart-tracks are becoming roads.
Jon Snow: (Now on-camera, near Lambeth Bridge, looking across Thames to Houses
of Parliament)
Britain, through its Department for International Development, DFID, aids these
poorer countries not just in times of natural disaster or conflict, but also to
achieve and sustain higher standards of living. We help governments so that in
turn they may help themselves and their people to become less dependant on
handouts from the west.
Now of course, DFID doesn’t work alone. Other wealthier countries like he
European Union, America, Japan, we all work together.
And many other aid agencies are involved too, DFID helps fund organisations like
Oxfam, Action Aid and VSO, and of course we help fund the United Nations itself.
[Shots of a building being erected]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Nowadays, Britain will only help governments in poor countries if they agree to
make long -term and lasting improvements to vital services, like education or
health-care. And not only welfare. The governments must also encourage the
private sector to prosper in their countries; to generate jobs and money. These
governments are held to account. They are constantly reviewed and forward
regular reports on progress.
Jon Snow: (Now on-camera, near Lambeth Bridge, looking across Thames to Houses
of Parliament)
But there are poor countries that are unable to make these changes for
themselves. Perhaps they are emerging from conflict or they have ineffective
governments. In these cases, DFID tries to aid the people themselves. They do
this by working through charities and aid agencies like Comic Relief and Oxfam,
or through respected aid agencies like the United Nations itself.
[A new and successful school project in Tanzania]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
But here in Tanzania, the President was personally involved in the introduction
of a free education programme. With more schools and teachers, one-and-a-half
million more children now attend primary School…and at no cost whatever to their
families. Britain helped the government to do this.
Jasper: (sitting under a tree)
My school friends would like everyone to go to school. Without going to school
you’ll miss out on a lot of things. Life will not be good, resulting in joining
bad street gangs and in the end, big trouble.
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
In Bangladesh, child mortality has been drastically reduced both through
improvements in living conditions, and the widespread use of inoculation at
localised clinics.
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, but drastic reforms
have made an encouraging improvement in poverty levels.
A Farmer:
“This crop is rice. It is the first time we have grown it. We were given three
bags to use as seeds. When we harvest, we have to give three bags back. The
expert will tell us what to do with the rest, but we think we will sell it to
the factory.”
President Joaquin Chisano:
“The fight to eradicate absolute poverty will continue to be our main priority”
Jon Snow: (Now on-camera, near Lambeth Bridge, looking down the Thames)
Aid does work.
But there is an undercurrent of public cynicism that undermines even the best
efforts. Many people are convinced that much of the aid money ends up in the
pockets of corrupt politicians or officials. It’s difficult, it’s true, to
monitor and control the situation. But three things enormously help in the
administration of aid money.
[Mozambique. Parliamentary meeting]
Jon Snow: (Voice-over)
Firstly, the fact that we now give money directly to governments in exchange,
not only for assurances, but for regular reports of expenditure, progress, and
results.
[A meeting in a hall of village residents]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
Secondly, making local people totally aware of what they are supposed to be
getting, and giving them a mechanism for complaint if they don’t get it.
Jon Snow: (Now on-camera, near Lambeth Bridge, looking down the Thames)
And lastly, encouraging tough and uncompromising action against anyone caught
siphoning off funds for their own use. Already, a number of corrupt politicians
have been jailed for such abuses.
Bella Bird: Head of DFID Vietnam
Corruption is a real issue of concern to DFID. Corruption is an issue in many,
if not all of the countries that we work in. And we have frequent dialogue with
the governments that we work with to ensure that we are happy with their
approach to tackling corruption.
Mr Vu Khoan: Deputy Prime Minster of Vietnam:
In our opinion, corruption is a social evil which should actively combated. The
National Assembly of Vietnam has adopted a law against corruption in late 2005
by which we shall be establishing a national committee headed by the prime
minister himself.
Jon Snow: (Now on-camera, outside DFID)
Of course, some people ask why we should give any aid at all to any country that
is manifestly corrupt.
[A Bangladesh clinic]
Jon Snow: (Voice-over)
But why should a child be denied education, or a mother healthcare just because
some people in their government are corrupt?
[Hilary Benn speaking in Parliament and cut to exterior shots of Houses of Parliament]
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
This government believes that we cannot and should not walk away from our
responsibilities.
And a strong light shining in a dark corner can help to stamp out corruption
quicker than anything.
[A montage of successful working schemes in as wide a variety of countries as is
possible]
Ms Ha THi La: Mother
My kids can now go to school more easily. And they can also have access to the
health station when they are ill for treatment and medicine. The program has
also brought about good achievements for family and my village so that out lives
are now better than before.
Jon Snow: (Voice over)
The goal is to halve world poverty by 2015. It’s a tough call, but slowly, we
are beginning to make a big difference. It’s estimated that every year, the
British government, through DFID, helps to pull 2 million people out of
poverty…but there is still so much more to be done.
Jon Snow: (On-camera inside DFID building)
What we have shown you is only a small example of what we have achieved already.
We must still resolve to do more.
[Children in Tanzanian school singing]
Jon Snow: (Voice-over)
There is no doubt…Aid Works.
[On the last two words, the title is again superimposed over the picture]