Jersey Overseas Aid welcomed globally recognised disability experts from CBM UK - Global Disability Inclusion and Age International who shared the work they do in international development and humanitarian aid, acting to ensure older people and those living with disabilities aren't left behind.

In September, JOA's final JIDN event of the year welcomed islanders to Jersey Arts Centre to hear from guest speakers from Opportunity International and CAFOD; two organisations implementing JOA-funded Financial Inclusion projects in Malawi and Sierra Leone.

After hearing about the background, purpose and activities of the prospective projects, the event centred around a panel discussion on how access to inclusive financial products and services are playing a pivotal role in improving rural women's lives. Answering questions from the audience, panellists highlighted how support from Jersey is enabling women in some of the most vulnerable rural areas of the world overcome hunger, poverty and the challenges of an unpredictable climate.

On 2nd July, we were joined by His Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor and many islanders at the launch of The Rohingya Experience, an outdoor photography exhibition featuring award winning photos taken by talented Rohingya photographers who live in the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

The audience enjoyed an informative panel discussion which was led by JOA's Edward Lewis and included former UNHCR Representative to Bangladesh Johannes van der Klaauw, JOA Commissioner and former UNHCR Director of Emergency, Security and Supply, and Director of Human Resources, Terry Morel, and Jersey resident Faye Coggins, who has recently completed a two year placement with UNHCR in Cox’s Bazar and is now employed by the UNHCR as Executive Assistant to the Representative in Bangladesh.  The panel discussion highlighted the resilience and dignity of the Rohingya people, as well as the vital work being done to support them. The audience also heard from Sahat Zia Hero, co-founder of the Rohingyatographer collaborative via video about how photography provides a voice to the stateless and offers a glimpse into life in the camps through the eyes of Rohingya youth.

In May, JOA held its second JIDN event of 2024, at Jersey Arts Centre. JOA had the honour of welcoming Ellie Harvey, Field Programmes Manager at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Dr. Shashi Kumaran, Head of Conservation Enterprises at RSPB.

The event featured an engaging discussion on how, through JOA’s Conservation Livelihoods theme, pioneering projects in Sierra Leone and Madagascar are tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and multidimensional poverty, in an integrated way.

In February 2024 JOA welcomed Colonel Tim Collins OBE Ben Remfrey MBE; the patron and the founder of the charity Friends of Ukraine Explosive Ordnance Disposal (FOU EOD).

The event, which took place at Jersey Arts Centre, saw more than 200 people participate in a discussion with the two highly respected military veterans, who shared their thoughts and views on the conflict that has devastated the lives of so many, and the future of humanitarian aid in the context of modern conflict.

In October 2023 we hosted Richard Blewitt, Executive Director of International at The British Red Cross and Emma Delo, Head of the Cash Hub for a discussion on the transformative power of cash assistance in humanitarian aid, a topic that is reshaping the way we respond to crises worldwide.

100 islanders had the opportunity to hear from experts in the field of humanitarian aid, gain insights into the impact of cash assistance, and learn how individuals can contribute to making a positive difference in times of crisis.

In March 2023 we hosted Claas Beecken, Humanitarian Lead at international development charity CARE International UK. Claas discussed how climate change is impacting natural disasters, what humanitarian agencies are doing about this and how funding from Jersey is helping people hit by the severe drought in the Horn of Africa.

The free event saw more than 70 Islanders come together to discuss the role climate change is playing in what is “the largest global food crisis in modern history”. “Acute food insecurity is escalating. In 2023, at least 345 million people across 53 countries are expected to face acute food insecurity and need urgent assistance – this is double the number of people who faced these conditions in 2020.  Woman and girls are less likely to access food and food insecurity increases the risk of violence against women and girls,” said Claas.

The JIDN event, the first since the global pandemic, was opened by the Minister for International Development, Deputy Carolyn Labey.