Only a “small proportion” of federal funds allocated to a foreign aid organization aimed at eradicating global hunger was directed toward “critical nutrition needs,” according to auditors’ findings for Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The report, which evaluated the grant agreement between GAC and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank Program (CFGB), says of the $125 million provided from 2016 to 2021, little was used to fund the immediate nutritional needs of hunger-affected individuals in developing countries the charity is helping.
As first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, the auditors said the problem arose partly due to the “siloed nature” of CFGB’s funding mechanisms.
“Furthermore, the short-term nature of many actions meant that responses did not always fully address food or nutrition gaps and a significant percentage had to be extended beyond their original temporal scope,” the report said.
The audit assisted GAC in its decision process on the renewal of core funding. According to the auditors, the grant agreement provided funding for CFGB’s food assistance, nutrition, public engagement, and public policy programs. The report did acknowledge the CFGB Food Assistance portfolio was “globally well targeted and locally relevant to basic food needs.”
“Assistance—largely aimed at addressing food security and nutrition needs of affected populations—was provided through 155 discrete initiatives in 31 countries,” the report said. “Actions were implemented by 15 CFGB member agencies and their partners, with CFGB headquarters (HQ) providing overall coordination, technical support and liaison with GAC.”
According to the CFGB website, the organization is headquartered in Winnipeg and partners with 15 church and church-based agencies “working together to end global hunger.”
GAC did not publish a complete program audit, only the executive summary was made available on the government’s website. The Epoch Times requested the full report from GAC but did not receive a response by press time.
Auditors examined 30 food aid projects that cost $27.8 million in federal funding and examined programs in Lebanon, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Auditors said “there were shortcomings,” but did not elaborate. It said the charity worked with “limited resources” subject to “political and economic” issues in poor countries.
In-house research revealed on June 12 by GAC and obtained by Blacklocks Reporter, found that Canadians hold “fairly negative views” about foreign aid.
“Moreover 41 percent agree [that] most international aid is spent on programs that don’t help reduce poverty.”
