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26/07/2010
Maltese
Parliament debate on International Development Aid 12.07.10
Noel Farrugia MP,
Labour Party (Malta) Spokesperson For Development Aid
Malta ghandha tghamel dak kollu
possibbli sabiex tkun fuq quddiem fejn jidhol l-izvilupp u
l-immaniggjar ta’ programmi u progetti li jhaddmu l-finanzjamenti taht
programmi ta’ ghajnuna ghall-izvilupp bhal nghidu ahna l-‘International
Development Aid’
Zgur li l-posizzjoni geografika ta
Malta fin-nofsinhar (isfel nett) ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea, l-istorja taghha
mibnija madwar punt ta inkontru bejn kulturi differenti,
il-popolazzjoni taghha – mghallma diversi snajja u teknologiji u kapaci
titkellem u tikkomunika b’lingwi differenti, popolazzjoni maghrufa
wkoll ghas-sens ta generosita u ospitalita taghha li sa miz-zminijiet
imbeghda dejjem kienet maghrufa ghall-ghajnuna li lesta w kapaci taghti
lejn dawk fil-bzonn; huma kollha fatturi mportanti li jaghtu stampa
cara ta kemm il-partecipazzjoni ta’ Malta fi programmi ta ghajnuna
internazzjonali tmur mal-karattru taghna l-Maltin.
Izda, irridu nkunu wkoll realistici u
nammettu li s-sitwazzjoni socjali w ekonomika taghna, ma taghmiliex
possibbli li Malta tista qatt tkun f’posizzjoni fejn wahedha
tistabbilixxi l-programmi u l-finazjamenti necessarji sabiex jintlahqu
l-obbligi ul-miri internazzjonali kif espressi taht il-Millenium
Development Goals.
Ghalhekk jaghmel aktar sens jekk
nidentifikaw l-ahjar kompetenzi taghna, u noffru dawn il-kopetenzi taht
parterships f’ inizjattivi ohra internazzjonali u b’hekk inkunu qed
niffukaw l-impenn taghna f’dawk is-setturi fejn ahna kapaci nghamlu
d-differenza. Dan ghandu jsir pero minghajr ma jigu mwarrba ghal kollox
dawk is-setturi u ‘issues’ li ma humiex centrali fil-kompetenza taghna.
F’dan l-isfond, huwa mportanti wkoll li
nkunu kapaci nippartecipaw f’dawn l-inizjattivi regjonali w
internazzjonali u namministraw il-fondi involuti, minghajr ma ssir
pressjoni finanzjaraja fuq il-gvern centrali. Ghalhekk ikun jenhtieg
jitwaqqaf sa mill-bidu ambjent ta’ kooperazzjoni ma Ghaqdiet Volontarji
Nazzjonali w Internazzjonali.
Ejja nharsu ftit lejn il-komptenzi taghna
bhala Maltin. Ahna zgur kapaci sabiex niddedikaw ir-risorsi taghna
sabiex inkabbru l-edukazzjoni. Ahna wkoll kapaci nikkordinaw Programmi
ta Zvilupp dwar il-kummerc. Dawn huma setturi fejn il-kontribuzzjoni
ta’ Malta tista taghmel id-differenza.
Setturi ohra fejn l-esperjenza ta’ Malta
tista tkun effettiva jinkudu dawk ta’ l-energija alternattiva,
telekomunikazzjoni, IT u wkoll is-settur tal-produzzjoni tal-ikel u
t-tessuti. Hawnhekk zgur li ghandna l-kapacita necessarja sabiex
norganizzaw konsorzja li jiggwidaw l-investiment fi progretti
nfrastrutturali f’pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw. Is-Sahha u l-Ghajnuna
Umanitarja huma setturi ohra mportanti li fihom Malta tista wkoll
toffri l-esperjenza taghha.
Dan kif jista jsir? Zgur li din il-bicca
xoghol ma hix facli – pero bil-kapacitajiet u l-esperjenzi taghna
l-Maltin dan possibbli ssir. Jibqa pero d-dettall importanti dwar kif
ghandhom jigu organizzati l-progetti specifici, u dan sabiex l-impenn
taghna ikun effettiv.
Nibda billi nghid li kull impenn f’dawn
l-oqsma ghandu jsir bis-support tal-Gvern Centrali, li ghandu jaddotta
l-principji wara din l-inizjattiva, u jahdem sabiex jinfluenza lil
partners taghna fl-Unjoni Ewropea sabiex jippermettu lil Malta tmexxi
programmi ta’ ghajnuna regjonali w internazzjonali. L-esperjenza ta’
Malta f’dan il-qasam ghandha twassal sabiex jitkabbar l-impatt reali
ta’ dawn il-progetti u ghalhekk effettivament Malta tkun qed
tikkontribwixxi sabiex jintlahqu l-miri u l-obbligi stabiliti taht
il-Millenium Development Goals.
Sabiex jinbeda dan il-process ghandu jigi
stabbilit Kumitat li l-ghan specifiku tieghu ikun dak li jahdem sabiex
jidentifika l-mekkaniżmi ezistenti ta’ fondi ghall-ghajnuna
internazzjonali ghall-izvilupp u jipproponi/jizviluppa sistemi
ghall-thaddim ahjar tad-distribuzzjoni tal-ghajnuna internazzjoniali.
Dan il-kumitat ghalhekk ghandu jipprepara pjan ta hidma li jwassal lejn
it-twaqqif ta’ Agenzija Internazzjonali b’sede f’Malta. B’hekk jirnexxielna
mhux biss nilhqu l-obbligi taghna izda wkoll ikollna l-possibilita li
niggwidaw il-hidma internazzjonali sabiex jintlahqu l-obbligi marbuta
mal-Millenium Development Goals, kemm taghna u w’kif ukoll tal-partners
taghna.
Din l-Organizzazzjoni ghandha ghalhekk
tmexxi agenda favur l-izvilupp sostenibbli f’pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw
sabiex tnaqqas il-faqar u ghalhekk tkkonribwixxi lejn dinja aktar
sigura u prospera. Ghandha tiffoka fuq l-izvilupp sostenibbli, pero
b’interess partikolari ghar-regjun taghna – dak Mediterranju, li
jghaqqad flimkien l-Ewropa, l-Afrika u l-Lvant Nofsani.
Dawn ir-regjuni ghanhom jircevu l-akbar
attenzjoni ta’ l-ghajnuna ghall-izvilupp li tmexxi din
l-Organizzazzjoni.
Zgur li ‘t-tnaqqis tal-faqar’ ghandu jkun
l-iktar punt ta’ hidma importanti ghal din l-Organizzazzjoni. Ghandha
ghalhekk tizviluppa w timmaniggja serje ta programmi b’hidmiet
specifici indirizzati lejn il-bzonnijiet tad-diversi pajjizi
tar-regjun. Kull wiehed minn dawn il-programmi ghandu jkollu,
identifikati b’mod car, l-ogettivi ghall-izvilupp specifici tieghu.
Il-progetti individwali b’hekk ikunu
specifici ghal kull pajjiz u ghandhom ukoll jinkorporaw strategiji
individwali, iffukati madwar l-ispecificitajiet partikolari tas-setturi
ekonomici w socjali tal-pajjiz li ghalih il-progett ikun gie sviluppat.
F’dan ir-rigward, tajjeb li ninnutaw li
ghalkemm sar progress kbir fid-dinja sabiex jitnaqqas il-faqar u l-guh,
ghad baqa mal-biljun ruh jghixu f’faqar estrem u mat-800 miljun ruh
b’nuqqasijiet ta’ ikel. Il-faqar huwa kkawzat minn diversi fatturi li,
izda ghandhom diversi relazzjonijiet bejniethom.
Ghalhekk kull azzjoni sabiex jitnaqqas
il-faqar ghandha tkun mibnija b’tali mod li tinidirizza il-problema
b’mod holistiku u dan billi tikkunsidra dawn il-fatturi diversi
flimkien.
Ikun mehtieg wkoll li nifhmu li jekk
nahdmu sabiex innaqqsu il-problemi relatati mal-faqar fil-pajjizi fejn
tar-regjun taghna, inkunu wkoll b’mod indirett qed nindirizzaw il-fenomenu
tal-immigrazzjoni ta’ persuni li sabiex ikollhom hajja ahjar qed
jaffrontaw vjaggi w perikli kbar biex jigu jghixu fil-komunitajiet
taghna sabiex u dan minnkejja li sahansitra jidbedu ghall kollox
mill-gheziez taghhom.
Bhal ma rreferejt qabel, irridu ngharfu
wkoll li l-ghajnuna ghall-izvilupp trid titmexxa fuq livell
multi-dimensjonali u dan sabiex jigu identifikati l-aqwa soluzzjonijiet
li jkollom l-aktar impatt wiesa fuq il-partners taghna f’dawk
il-pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw.
B’Organizzazzjoni Regjonali jew anke
Direttorat Regjonali, iffukat fuq l-issues tar-regjun taghna, ikun
possibbli li l-programmi ta l-izvilupp li jigu mnedija jkunu ffukati
fuq temi ta’ mportanza regjonali, bhal nghidu ahna l-izvilupp
ekonomiku, is-sahha, l-edukazzjoni, id-drittijiet umani u l-ambjent
fost l-ohrajn.
Id-Direttorat Regjonali jkun jista
jikkordina u jahdem ma agenziji differenti (governattivi u mhux
governattivi) sabiex jigu sviluppati inizjatti ghal progetti differenti
u li jkunu jistghu joffru l-mezzi necessarji sabiex il-partners taghna
fir-regjun ikunu jistghu jindirizzaw il-faqar, il-konflitti,
l-amministrazzzjoni u kriżijiet umanitarji ohra; mhux biss fuq
skala regjonali izda wkoll fuq skala internazzjonali.
Dawn l-istrategiji u programmi ghall-izvilupp
regjonali ghandhom ikunu relevanti fil-kuntest lokali w regjonali u
ghalhekk ghandhom jiehdu in-kunsiderazzjoni il-bzonnijiet u
l-opinjonijiet tal-popolazzjonijiet li fl-ahhar mill-ahhar iridu
verament jghinu.
Id-Direttorat ghalhekk ghandu jahdem
attivament ma Ghaqdiet Volontarji lokali, regjonali w internazzjoanli
sabiex jizgura li l-ghajnuna ghall-izvilupp tkun qed tindirizza
l-problemi reali tar-regjun. Barra minn dan Ghaqdiet Volontarji lokali
bl-esperjenza diretta taghhom fil-pajjiz partikolari, jkunu jistghu
wkoll jghinu flimkien ma partners ohra regjonali, sabiex il-programmi u
l-progetti li jigu mnedija ikunu jistghu jithaddmu b’mod effettiv,
skond ir-realtajiet prevalenti fil-pajjiz partikolari.
L-istrategija w il-politka li rridu
nizviluppaw ghalhekk ghandha tirrifletti l-hidma taghna fit-tul, hidma
li ghandu jkollha bhala l-ewwel skop taghha dak li nahdmu mal-partners
taghna u l-Komunita Internazzjonali sabiex nghinu u nharsu l-izvilupp
sostenibbli tal-pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw. U naturalment dan ghandu
jghin bil-bosta sabiex jintlaqu l-miri internazzjonali ta’ svilupp
sostenibbli.
U dan bhal ma diga semmejt aktar kmieni,
din l-istrategija tista tkun effettiva primarjament fl-oqsma
partikulari ta' L-Edukazzjoni – Drittijiet Umani – Ghajnuna ta’
Emmergenza w Ghajnuna Umanitarja – Zvilupp u Kummerc – Sahha – Ambjent
– Ugwaljanza – Prevenzjoni ta Kunflitti – Leadership – Amministrazzjoni
– Paci – Livell ta’ Hajja ahjar.
F’dn l-istadju nista nsemmi wkoll, dawk li
ghandhom ikunu l-oġġettivi specifici f’kull settur.
Jekk inqisu l-‘Zvilupp fil-Kummerc’ naraw
li wiehed ghandu jinkludi programmi u progetti li jsostnu ghajnuniet
ghat-twaqqif ta’ partnerships fil-pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw, u dan
sabiex jisahhu r-relazzjonijiet bejn l-operaturi kummercjali
fir-regjun.
Inqisu wkoll is-setturi ta’
l-Importazzjoni w Esportazzjoni ta’ ikel, hwejjeg u gugarelli, fejn
hawnhekk naraw l-importanza ta’ hidmiet li jizguraw il-principji
tal-Fair Trade, kemm fil-manifattura wkoll fil-prezzijiet. Nsemmi wkoll in-necessita
ta’ labelling tajjeb tal-prodotti sabiex jigu metejjba w imkabbra
s-supply chains taghhom.
Is-settur kummercjali fir-regjun ghandu
jigi nkuraggit sabiex jistabillixxi l-mezzi necessarji li jippermettu
kummerc akbar mal-pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw u b’hekk jigu mghejuna
l-bdiewa f’dawn il-pajjizi.
Hawnhekk ukoll bl-ghajnuna ta progetti
specifici, nistghu naraw li dawn jigu nkoraggiti jinvestu fil-futur
tas-settur taghhom.
Importanti wkoll li din
l-Organizzazzjoni tara li tibni l-fiducja necessarja sabiex tizgura l-kredibbilita
ta’ dawn l-invesimenti u ghalhekk tkun qed tassigura s-sostenbbilita
fit-tul tal-progetti u l-inizjattivi mibdija.
Hidma ohra ta din l-Organizazzjoni
ghandha tkun iffukata fuq l-izvilupp ta’ skemi ta kummerc
internazzjonali li jagevolaw il-komunikazzjoni w jiffacilitaw
l-informazzjoni ghall-konsumaturi.
Il-messagg li jrid jitwassal ghandu
jkun marbut mal-fatt li bis-semplici akkwist tieghu, il-konsumatur ikun
qed jikkontribwixxi lejn l-izvilupp sostenibbli fit-tul tar-regjun
taghna, u b’hekk ikun qed jghin ukoll lil dawk fil-bzonn.
Tajt biss ftit ezempji. Kull settur li
semmejt ghandu diversi metodi li jista japplika sabiex eventwalment
jilhaq l-iskop tal-izvilupp sostenibbli regjonali. Importanti pero li
l-ebda settur ma jista jahdem wahdu – l-azzjonijiet taghna jridu jkunu
koordinati biex din il-hidma favur dawk il-pajjizi li qed jizviluppaw
effettivament tahdem.
Importanti nifhmu wkoll li dan li ghedt
ma jfissirx biss li nghatu l-flus. Izda huwa aktar dwar id-dmir taghna,
qabel kollox, li naraw li r-regjun taghna jkompli jizviluppa b’mod
sostenibbli. Jirrigwardja ghalhekk il-mod ta kif irridu norganizzaw
lilna nfusna, sabiex l-ghajnuniet li ahna nhaddmu jkunu effettivi.
Dan il-principju ghalhekk huwa marbut
madwar il-persistenza li ghandu jkollna sabiex naraw li dak li rridu
jsehh, fir-realta isehh. Hija din l-imhabba li ghandna nuru lejn dawk
li jghixu madwarna.
Zgur li bhala Maltin ghandna s-sahha
tar-rieda, l-abbilta tat-talenti u d-determinazzjoni tal-karattru
taghna li jghinuna naslu u nwettqu dawn l-ogettivi.
Huwa propju ghalhekk, ghaliex Malta
ghandha bl-ezempju taghha, tmexxi u tibda hi dan il-process, tiftah hi
it-triq li ghadha twassal sabiex ir-regjun taghna jkompli jizviluppa.
Cert li dan kapaci nghamluh, izda sabiex
isehh, ghandna nibdew nahdmu fuqu.
ENGLISH
Malta should do all that is possible to
position itself as one of the leading nations as being able to
establish and manage a specific fund to administer the proper
application of financing towards International Development Aid.
Malta’s geographic position in the
southernmost tip of the European Union, together with its highly
skilled and adaptable workforce is known for its generosity,
hospitality and multi lingual capabilities and also has an aptitude for
assisting those in need.
Given, however the reality of Malta’s
economic inability to raise required funds to establish a force which
could effectively make a difference in the areas to which commitments
are made within the MDGs. It would be far more sensible to select our
core competences in the fields in which we are able to deliver and make
an effective difference.
This should naturally be done without
neglecting the areas which are not core competences.
We are able to administer funds without
too much financial pressure on government, with cooperation with
National and International NGOs.
We are indeed able to dedicate our
resources towards furthering education
We are also able to coordinate Trade
development programmes
We are able to organise consortia for
investment in infrastructural projects in developing countries such as
within the environmental energy sector, telecommunications, IT as well
as food retailing and the clothing industry to mention just a few
possibilities.
Health and Humanitarian Emergency
Assistance is another important area in which Malta can again offer its
expertise and knowhow.
How do we do this.
The task is not easy but it is doable.
The important thing is to organise the projects. This must be done with
the support of government dedication to the cause and by influencing
its European Partners to allow Malta to take the lead to help in the
manner that it can best be productive and deliver effectively on its
commitments towards the MDGs.
In establishing a dedicated committee
with minimum cost having a specific programme to work to attain control
of the distribution of available international funds by drawing up a
development plan and which must have the ultimate agenda to eventually
develop a fully fledged international organisation with headquarters in
Malta, we would have succeeded in delivering not only our own
obligations but also in ensuring the development rhythm necessary to
meeting and possibly exceeding the MDGs of its partner nations
The organisation would be committed to
supporting sustainable development in developing countries in order to
reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, and prosperous
world.
The core focus should be on sustainable
development with particular interest in the Mediterranean, African and
Mid Eastern region. The region should receive the higher percentage of
the Organisation’s official development assistance.
Reducing poverty must be paramount to
the Organisation’s Development programme. It should manage a range of
dedicated programmes in a range of countries and sectors. Each should
specifically address their own development challenges and objectives.
The development priorities and projects
in each country and sector should also be guided by individual
programme strategies.
While global progress has been made
towards reducing poverty and hunger, there are still approximately one
billion people living in extreme poverty and 800 million undernourished
people.
All the causes of poverty are
multidimensional and inter-related, therefore action to reduce poverty
has to work across a number of fronts. It must also be appreciated that
by tackling the problems at source we would be slowly eradicating the
need that these unfortunate peoples find to migrate into our
communities in a desperate search for a better life. We must recognises
that development assistance needs to be delivered through different
channels in order to maximise gains for our partners in developing
countries.
With a regional organisation or even
regional directorate, programmes will be ably focused on themes of
regional concern such as economic growth, health, education,
governance, human rights, and environment amongst others.
The Regional Directorate would works
with multi-lateral agencies and project initiatives which would provide
a proven and effective means for our regional partners and sponsors to
address poverty, conflict, governance issues and humanitarian crises
also on a worldwide basis.
Development strategies and programmes
must be relevant to the local context and incorporate the input of the
poor themselves to be effective. The Directorate would therefore be
able engage actively and interact with non-government organisations and
the development community as a whole to provides funding to support a
wide range of NGO programmes with partners on the ground in the various
targeted countries.
Strategies and policies would therefore
reflect a long-term commitment to working with our partners and the international
community to support sustainable development in developing countries.
This will contribute towards achieving sustainable economic development
in the areas of development impact.
Primarily: Education – Human Rights –
Humanitarian and Emergency Assistance - Trade and Development – Health
– Environment - Gender Equality – Conflict Prevention – Leadership –
Governance – Peace Building – Growth – Livelihoods.
Within each sector will be specific
target goals for example:
Trade Development – will include:
Grants for partnerships established in
target countries market which are intended to bring affiliate retailers
from both sides.
Import and export of food, clothes and
toys which ensure Fair Trade Manufacture and pricing, as well as
ethically labelled produce with the aim of improving and increasing
supply chains
Encourage the Corporate Sector to find
channels of buying produce from the target countries which will help
poor farmers through new projects by encouraging investment in these
areas, whilst at the same time knowing that there will always be a
recognised
International Directorate with a
mandate to assist in the process, thereby giving support and
credibility in the real advantages of such investments and which
assures the sustainability of the projects undertaken.
International buying schemes which will
enable communication and facilitate information to consumers, through
their partners, on the benefits they have acquired and by which
purchases, they have also helped the needy.
Each sector mentioned all have
similarly applicable interpretations and applicable novel methods of
interpretation of how to unify ethical corporate operations with the
developing world.
This is not about just donating money.
It is about it being our duty above everything else to make it happen.
It is about organising ourselves. It is about persistence. It is about
loving our neighbours. It is about having a conscious. We have the
power of our will, the ability of our talents and the determination of
our nature.
That’s why it makes sense that Malta
should lead by example and to set the process on the road to recovery
which is within our reach, if only we get down to doing something about
it.
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