Aid Agencies Slash Budgets, Cut Jobs

Published April 21, 2009 @ 05:49PM PT

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. John Donne to speak to us all about the global financial crisis - send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for aid agencies everywhere.

(Thanks, thanks - I'll be here all week.)

Anyhows, the bastardization of early English poetry aside, yet another week of depressing disclosures about aid agency budget cuts and layoffs:

- CARE - CARE USA is reducing pay for all US staff - everyone is losing the equivalent of one week's salary, with the reductions spread over the balance of the year. (To compensate, the organization is providing additional paid days-off this year and next.)

- Catholic Relief Services - The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that CRS cut its international work force by about 8%, and that total private giving has declined by over 13%. According to IRIN, however, CRS has not laid off international staff, but has cut "several hundred" national staff. IRIN also reports that CRS has cut international salaries on a sliding scale from 1.5 to 10%.

- International Rescue Committee - The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that IRC expects its private donations to fall by 10%. According to IRIN, IRC has instituted a hiring freeze, only filling critical positions.

- Mercy Corps - The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that unrestricted support has fallen by 8%.

- Oxfam - The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that Oxfam America has eliminated 9% of its jobs - the organization expects its unrestricted support to fall by 7 - 12% this year. According to IRIN, Oxfam GB is cutting 50 posts in its 2009-2010 budget.

- Save the Children - Save the Children US has instituted a hiring freeze and deferred salary increases, as well as cut travel.

- World Vision - According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, World Vision expects its support from private donors to remain steady.

For more in-depth information, please see these articles from the Chronicle of Philanthropy and from IRIN.

[Photo from narcist11.wordpress.com]

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Comments (3)

What do you think is special about World Vision?

Posted by Alanna Shaikh on 04/22/2009 @ 02:05AM PT
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Perhaps divine intervention

Posted by Michael Bear on 04/22/2009 @ 08:20AM PT
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My contract in Afghanistan is up in about 5 months. Was looking forward to a break, but now doesnt seem like the best time... maybe I should extend.

As IRIN said about CRS, they're hoping to make up the shortfall with a few 'pretty pleases' to a few very very wealthy people. Maybe it's the same for WV. The benefits of private religous donors.

Posted by Harry Rud on 04/22/2009 @ 06:14AM PT
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Michael has worked for NGOs in Afghanistan, across east and central Africa, and Iraq. Prior to going overseas, he worked on a project providing assistance to the United Nations on the application of International Humanitarian Law to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.