ACDI/VOCA 2014 ANNUAL REPORT
Who ACDI/VOCA is and what we do is embodied in our core projects,
which we refer to as our anchor projects. These give us the opportunity to engage top-notch staff, mount effective training programs, build relationships with in-country public and private organizations, and ultimately have significant development impact. Through this approach, we adapt and roll out our signature tools. We test and prove our technical model and vision for change while incorporating key stakeholders along the way. We gather and share learning to better equip our local partners. We grow stronger as an international organization as we implement these programs. We build synergy around these anchors. Nontraditional donors come to the table, and the commercial sector is mobilized. Partners and market players align their resources with our vision to build momentum and help make local economies more inclusive for otherwise disadvantaged groups. The success of the anchor project cascades, amplifying its original scope and reach to benefit more clients. So take a closer look at a sampling of these anchors from across the globe—Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. Hear from farmers, entrepreneurs, and even a fashion designer who are achieving sustainable, far-reaching success in their communities and beyond. And join us as we pursue a world where every woman and man is empowered to succeed in the global economy.
Mortimer H. Neufville Bill Polidoro Chairman, Board of Directors President and Chief Executive Officer 1
GHANA 2
in agricultural and rural loans $553 ,000 reached underserved areas
Cultivating collective growth Being a smallholder farmer in northern Ghana can be a lonely and risky business. Growing maize on less than a hectare of land doesn’t make farmers attractive to buyers, processors, or banks. Smallholders lack access to the latest agricultural technologies and knowledge. They need better inputs and higher-quality seed to boost their farms’ productivity. They can’t afford to invest in their farms. What little they harvest is used to feed their families and saved as seed for the next growing season. Given these conditions, a better-organized community of outgrower businesses can play a significant role in the economic development of rural areas. Medium-sized farmers provide a local solution and serve as a connection between resource-poor smallholder (“outgrower”) farmers and the often disjointed and ineffective agricultural market system. Outgrower businesses build a network around their farmers, boosting yields and profits. They also develop lasting partnerships with other drivers in the system, including buyers, processors, financial institutions, and government extension services. The connections strengthen the entire agricultural system. Outgrower businesses have more and higher quality product to sell in the market. Private sector companies, like input dealers, gain new clients. All of this works together to expand the food basket for all of Ghana.
In northern Ghana, Atogitiba Amala (above) works with outgrower business owner Richard Akoka who supports more than 380 women smallholder farmers with training, plowing services, and access to certified seed and fertilizers on credit. These interventions have led to substantial increases in Atogitiba’s yields and income.
“Richard taught us how to use certified seeds and plant in rows; this has increased yields from 3.7 mt/ha to 6.1 mt/ha. The tarpaulins helped improve the quality of our rice, and we had good price for the rice.” —Atogitiba Amala 3
INDIA
Connecting for sustainability It might seem obvious: connect retail outlets in India, which want high-quality produce to sell in their stores, with local female farmers who need a market for their vegetables. In reality, these types of connections don’t happen on their own. They require a matchmaker who can link demand from the market with supply from smallholder producers. Large retail outlets have buying power but often lack on-the-ground connections with local producers. Collection centers—vital infrastructure that brings the market to farmers’ villages—serve as meeting points for buyers and sellers. Retailers, wholesalers, and local traders also benefit from a greater appreciation of women’s role in agriculture and an understanding of how to successfully do business with them. Social and cultural structures in India often prevent women in rural farming communities from participating in market activities. Self-help groups are one way to build women’s confidence and expand their ability to engage in markets. By working in groups, the women have a greater volume of products to bring to the market and better collective negotiating power with suppliers, buyers, and financial institutions. This ultimately increases women’s incomes and begins to shift social and cultural norms in favor of women and their equal participation in local economies.
Sadha Laxmi and her husband grow vegetables on their hectare of land in southern India but have rarely made a substantial income from it. Staff from the ASI Sunhara Prayas project encouraged them to grow tomatoes on half of their land using a new technique of stacking. This simple shift in farming practices protected their tomatoes from heavy rains and improved their productivity.
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“I am glad that I took the risk with a belief in the technique, now I have the courage to take risk. I did sow and so did I reap.” —Sadha Laxmi
Participating farmers increased their incomes by
87%
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JAMAICA 4,727 participants,
including 1,515 youth, received
91,863 person-hours of climate change training
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Uniting against climate change The island of Jamaica has experienced the devastating effects of climate change, from unpredictable rainfall and drought to pest outbreaks and stronger hurricanes. Empowered agribusinesses and farmers are joining together to find solutions to the problems created by extreme weather. They develop strategies that strengthen their ability to respond to climate variability and natural disasters while also building their resilience to recover from them. Youth in Jamaican communities are also inspired to shape the island’s agricultural future as climate change agents. Their hunger for learning and a desire to build a healthier, more sustainable environment is a source of hope and drives transformation. They are making contributions in their communities by hosting educational forums to share their concerns regarding climate and disaster risks. Radio equipment is helping one group of youth improve communication when their community is isolated during episodes of flooding. Training equips the island’s farmers to adjust their planting and crop care practices in response to potential weather events. They learn how to install new technologies such as water harvesting systems and the use of live barriers to control soil erosion. They now have the knowledge to respond proactively to climate and weather challenges—the power is in their hands.
Twanda Bryan (above right) was a student participant in Ja REEACH’s agriculture youth enrichment program. She is applying what she learned in her backyard garden. She grows peppers, bananas, and tomatoes and shares her new techniques with her parents.
“I participated because it helps young people look at what’s going on now to see that it is not only older people who can do stuff. We are the future generation.” —Twanda Bryan 7
COLOMBIA
Empowering the voiceless Colombian society has often overlooked and marginalized AfroColombian and indigenous populations and their rich history and cultural traditions. When many Colombians do hear stories about ethnic minority communities, they are primarily focused on poverty and violence. Individuals from within these communities are stepping up to change that. Indigenous musicians take center stage throughout the country to share their musical and cultural heritage. Local advocates use their collective voice to demand land rights and important social services. Municipal governments take action to ensure their policies and programs reflect the specific needs of their Afro-Colombian and indigenous citizens. Youth are plugged into employment opportunities. Through targeted job training and placement assistance, Afro-Colombian and indigenous youth gain a foothold in industries that were previously closed to them, often due to racial and cultural prejudices. Not only are these youth building confidence that will serve them a lifetime, they are also becoming catalysts in Colombia’s economy. These activities help Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities take pride in their roots. And they allow all Colombians to see ethnic minority communities in a different light, providing a human face and an emotional connection to heal the wounds of the past and build a stronger Colombia for the future.
Lia Samantha Lozano Rendón (above left) is the first Afro-Colombian fashion designer to present her designs on the runways of ColombiaModa, one of Latin America’s most prestigious fashion shows. Positive messaging about Afro-Colombian contributions paved the way for Lia’s work to be featured in Colombia’s leading media outlets and major fashion publications. 8
“I work toward a Colombia whose people cling to their cultures, instead of being ashamed of them, and whose fashion speaks boldly of their roots.” —Lia Samantha Lozano Rendón
6,000
AfroColombian youth
have found formal employment at more than
1,100 COMPANIES
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Where we work
Current Activity
GLOBAL ACDI/VOCA joined CQI and other allies in the
Partnership for Gender Equity
to improve working conditions and economic outcomes in coffee value chains
GLOBAL
212 volunteer assignments to Armenia, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Paraguay, and Tajikistan
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Past Activity
Affiliated Financial Institutions 5 countries, 223,624 customers,
$532 million in financing
Bangladesh
74% of children under six months in the project area are
exclusively breastfed, an increase from 41%
Tanzania
60,000+ farmers
applied new farming techniques to improve yields
ASI Malawi Supported the Malawian government to reach 23,000+ farmers with
2 million+
extension text messages to improve their productivity
Timor-Leste
661 new producers
engaged in mud crab or monkfish production using sustainable aquaculture practices 11
2014 Projects COUNTRY
PROGRAM
FUNDER
AFGHANISTAN
Regional Agricultural Development Program-North (RADP-N)
USAID
ARMENIA
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
BANGLADESH
Program for Strengthening Household Access to Resources (PROSHAR)
USAID/Food for Peace
Food Aid Quality Review (FAQR)
USAID
Victory Against Malnutrition Project (ViM)
USAID/Food for Peace
COLOMBIA
USAID Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Program (ACIP)
USAID
DR CONGO
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
BURKINA FASO
EAST AFRICA
ETHIOPIA
GEORGIA
GHANA
GLOBAL
INDIA INDONESIA IRAQ
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African Institutions Innovation Mechanism-Assist (AIIM-Assist)
USAID
Support for Food Security Activities (SFSA) IQC
USAID
Agricultural Growth Program-Agribusiness and Market Development (AGP-AMDe)
USAID/Feed the Future
Cooperative Development Program (CDP)
USAID
Feed Enhancement for Ethiopian Development (FEED) II
USDA
Launching Traceable Ethiopian Coffee through ECX
IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) II
USAID/Feed the Future
EDAIF Torgorme Irrigation Project (eTIP)
Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
Ghana Commercialization of Rice Project (G-CORP)
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
Rice Mobile Finance (RiMFin)
NetHope
African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC)
USAID
Leveraging Economic Opportunities (LEO)
USAID
Mars Ambassador Program
Mars, Inc.
Improving Nutritional Outcomes Through Optimized Agriculture Intervention (ATONU)
FANRPAN
Sunhara Prayas
Walmart Foundation
Cocoa Innovations Project (CIP)
World Cocoa Foundation members
Broadening Participation through Civil Society (BPCS)
USAID
Jobs and Livelihoods Program (Foras)
USAID
COUNTRY
PROGRAM
FUNDER
JAMAICA
Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate cHange (Ja REEACH)
USAID
AgResults Kenya On-Farm Storage Pilot
Deloitte
Resilience and Economic Growth in the Arid Lands-Accelerated Growth
USAID/Feed the Future
KENYA
KYRGYZSTAN
Storage and Drying for Aflatoxin Prevention Project (AflaSTOP)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; USAID
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
Women’s Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises (WLSME)
USAID
USAID Agro Horizon Project
USAID
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
Liberian Agriculture Upgrading, Nutrition, and Child Health (LAUNCH) USAID/Food for Peace
LIBERIA
Livelihood Improvement for Farming Enterprises (LIFE) III
USDA
People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER)
USAID
Technology for Extension to Smallholders (TEXTS)
Government of Flanders
USAID Cereal Value Chain (CVC) Project
USAID/Feed the Future
Mopti Coordinated Area Development
Aga Khan Foundation (AKF USA)
Irrigation Sector Reform
Millennium Challenge Account-Moldova
Livelihoods Empowerment and Development (LEAD)
BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities (BSC)
Cooperative Development Program (CDP) II
USAID
Risk Management and Food Security Program
USAID/OFDA
PHILIPPINES
Mindanao Productivity for Agricultural Commerce and Trade (MinPACT) Project
USDA
SENEGAL
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
SIERRA LEONE
Sustainable Nutrition and Agriculture Promotion (SNAP)
USAID/Food for Peace
SOUTH SUDAN
Food, Agribusiness, and Rural Markets (FARM)
USAID
TAJIKISTAN
Farmer-to-Farmer
USAID
TANZANIA
Tanzania Staples Value Chain (NAFAKA)
USAID/Feed the Future
TIMOR-LESTE
Food for Progress—Mud Crab and Milkfish Cultivation
USDA
UGANDA
Resiliency through Wealth, Agriculture, and Nutrition (RWANU)
USAID/Food for Peace
Production, Finance, and Improved Technology Plus (PROFIT+)
USAID/Feed the Future
Women’s Improved Marketing and Asset Control Project (WIMAC)
Walmart Foundation
MALAWI MALI MOLDOVA MOZAMBIQUE PARAGUAY
ZAMBIA
*Projects managed by ACDI/VOCA’s affiliate organization Agribusiness Systems International (ASI) noted in blue
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2014 Financials Statement of activities
Revenue by region
SUPPORT AND REVENUE Contracts and grants
Sub-Saharan Africa
66%
In-kind support Income from subsidiaries
South America
12%
11,366,779 4,082,839
Interest income
68,368
Contributions
38,746
Other
84,440
Total support and revenue
South Asia
142,815,806
158,323,972
8% EXPENSES Overseas program expenses
Global and Other Middle East and North Africa
8%
General and administrative Total expenses
6%
131,062,275 22,118,218 153,180,493
NET ASSETS Change in net assets from operations
5,276,485
Other changes to net assets
(4,242,324)
Total change in net assets
1,034,161
Unrestricted, beginning of year
10,786,930
Unrestricted, end of year
11,980,576
Temporarily restricted, beginning of year
34,650,474
Temporarily restricted, end of year
34,490,989
Includes ACDI/VOCA and ASI, Arvand, Frontiers, and KredAqro Figures are in US dollars
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2014 Board of Directors CHAIRMAN Dr. Mortimer H. Neufville Interim President Coppin State University Baltimore, Maryland VICE CHAIR Deborah Atwood Executive Director, Initiative on Food and Agriculture Policy Meridian Institute Washington, D.C. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN James K. Hoyt Former Vice President, Strategic Planning and Corporate Services GROWMARK Inc. Bloomington, Illinois
Charles Conner President and Chief Executive Officer National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Washington, D.C. Kurt Ely Vice President, Sponsor Relations Nationwide Columbus, Ohio Jerry Fenner Director, Enterprise Risk Management AgriBank, FCB St. Paul, Minnesota Patricia Wilkinson Garamendi Former Deputy Administrator, International Cooperation and Development Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA Walnut Grove, California
PROJECTS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN R. Bruce Johnson Director Southern States Cooperative, Inc. Richmond, Virginia
William Harris Director CoBank, ACB LeRoy, New York
David Cobb Federal Relations Specialist CHS Inc. Washington, D.C.
Dr. Gopal N. Saxena Director, Cooperative Development Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative, Ltd. New Delhi, India
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Lauren Bell, Peace Corps (cover, pg. 2, 3), Juan Moore (pg. 8), Joshua Cogan (pg. 9), ACDI/VOCA staff (all other photos) EDITORS: Hannah Guedenet and Paul Guenette DESIGN: Kate Thomas 16
We engaged a printer that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for the production of this report. It was printed using sustainably sourced lumber and eco-friendly ink and is acid- and chlorine-free. The paper is 10 percent recycled content.
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