"We actually know where every grain of rice goes on a weekly or monthly basis."
Food For the Poor (FFP) executives say the charity has maintained its integrity by ensuring a rigid system of checks and balances to ensure that those most in need receive its assistance.
Speaking about the charity's operations at the Observer Monday Exchange yesterday, Executive Director David Mair pointed out that representatives at its 14 distribution centres maintain an up-to-date database, which allows for the keeping of proper records and tracking of its operations.
"Anything that goes out, we know exactly where it goes to, and there has to be accountability right down the line to the recipients," he stated.
He further noted the organisation's emphasis on transparency. "The people who manage those distribution points put together a weekly list, we accept the list, go through them... we actually know where every grain of rice goes on a weekly, or monthly basis. That's all reported back to the board. We have to be totally transparent. We are audited externally every year," Mair said.
There is also a reporting system, to ensure accurate accounts of the operations, explained Director of Recipient Services Susan Moore. "For everything that we do, there is a very rigid process that is adjusted as we go on to ensure that we capture what is happening. Everybody has to send a report at the end of the period (and) that report is called back to the recipient -- we call that person to verify, without offering information, as to what they should have received," she outlined.
Moore noted also that feedback is vital to the process, to ensure that adjustments are made where necessary.
She said that while FFP targets the most destitute, this does not exclude certain categories of persons or families, such as those where the breadwinner earns a minimum wage, or "hustles" for a living, and needs additional support.
"Most of the families are single (parent families). We consider those to be destitute. So we try to ensure that the persons who are benefiting are those who are in the greatest need," she said.
Meanwhile, FFP Chairman Andrew Mahfood, while noting the partnerships that have been forged with the State, such as the housing initiative under the Government's Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), made it clear that the charity staunchly maintains its independence.
"The idea of JEEP is that all 63 constituencies will benefit. We request that each constituency give us 10 names, and we try to build in those constituencies. If we don't get the names, we are going to move on. We are not told (where to build), and we would never take instructions on where to build. We do the investigative work and we build," he stated.
Mahfood noted that in instances where some constituencies may benefit from larger numbers of housing donations, this could be a result of how much effort particular members of parliament (MPs) put into seeking help for their constituents.
"You do have some MPs that may work in their constituencies more than others. If we have an MP who constantly shows us where poverty is, or where there is need, the truth is that that MP is going to get more of our attention, because if you take us and show us where it (the need) is, we are going to follow you, and if we see it and verify it, we are going to make an effort to make things better. We don't concentrate our resources on any one area," he said, noting that the organisation works with a broad mix of stakeholders.
FFP Jamaica is a branch of Food For the Poor Inc, which is based in Florida, in the United States, and partners with stakeholders including non-governmental and private sector organisations on housing, sanitation, education, outreach and agriculture. Its work is sustained by donations filtered from its parent company, which is the largest international relief and development organisation in the US.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Food-For-the-Poor-explains-how-it-maintains-integrity_18751912
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