LOCAL IS LASTING: About Global Fund for Children
Š Petar Markovic
Global Fund for Children partners with community-based organizations around the globe to help children and youth reach their full potential and advance their rights. Together, we are building a world where all children and youth are safe, strong, and valued.
Contents
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Our Model
5
Our Impact
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Our Focus Areas
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Where We Work
10
Our Partners
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Theory of Change
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Capacity Development
Our Model
We are the only global nonprofit dedicated to finding, funding, and coaching local organizations that empower children and youth. We provide a crucial link, connecting community leaders with the resources, networks, and support they need to succeed.
We find. We identify innovative organizations — typically in the early stages of their development — that are run by local leaders working with young people around the world.
We fund. We fund our partners’ lifechanging programs for children and youth, as well as their organizational development. We keep our grants flexible to maximize our impact and to meet needs that other funders are not willing to support.
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Together, we strengthen. We advise, mentor, and guide our partners. We build mutual trust, accountability, and enduring relationships. Our targeted capacity development helps our partners grow stronger and more responsive to challenges on the ground.
We build networks. We connect our partners to each other and to national and regional networks. We bring together brilliant minds to share knowledge, generate learning, fuel advocacy, and build movements of social change.
When our partners graduate, we stand proud. Our partners emerge more sustainable and connected to the resources, people, and information they need to reach their goals. After graduation from the financial partnership, our partners remain vital peers and mentors in our growing global network.
Our Impact
In the last 20 years, Global Fund for Children has transformed millions of children’s lives by supporting meaningful change where it stands to do the most good: in the heart of the community.
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3x budget growth. On average, our partners’ budgets triple during their GFC partnership, enabling them to expand and improve their programs for greater impact on children’s lives.
total local partners
in cash grants
children and youth served
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CNN Heroes Awards
World’s Children Prizes
37
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Ashoka Fellowships
With and For Girls Awards
Our partners become national leaders in children’s rights, and influence government policy to defend and protect hundreds of thousands of children worldwide. They have received hundreds of national and international awards, including those listed above.
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© Estrella Vivanco-Stevenson
Our Focus Areas Our work advances the rights of children and youth across four focus areas and five regions. We have a deep commitment to courageous organizations that support young people facing poverty, injustice, and discrimination.
Education
Youth Empowerment
We work to secure equal access to highquality education for all children, no matter what obstacles stand in their way.
We prepare young people to shape their own futures, advance their rights, and lead healthy, productive lives.
111
local partners
38
countries
Key initiatives • Early childhood development • Girls’ education • Inclusive education for children with disabilities • Innovative models to reach child laborers, refugees, indigenous children, and other excluded populations
• V ocational, life skills, and entrepreneurship training for youth
82
local partners
32
countries
Key initiatives • Leadership, entrepreneurship, and vocational skills training • Life skills development • Human rights training • Political and civic participation and civil rights • Peer education and mobilization
Gender Equity
Freedom from Violence & Exploitation
We defend the right of all children and youth to enjoy equal resources and opportunities in society, and we support efforts to define new social and cultural norms that do not discriminate based on gender identity.
We seek to prevent and end violence that keeps children and youth from reaching their full potential, and we work to heal those affected.
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local partners
32
countries
Key initiatives • Girls’ education • Leadership, entrepreneurship, and vocational skills training • Sexual and reproductive health and rights • Redefining masculinity • Eradication of harmful traditional norms, including child marriage and female genital mutilation • Rehabilitation and safe spaces for survivors of gender-based violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation • Advocacy, counseling, safe spaces, and health information and services for LGBTQ youth • Advocacy and community outreach on gender justice
77
local partners
29
countries
Key initiatives • Identification, rehabilitation, and reintegration services for trafficking victims • Securing legal identities and birth certificates • Child protection training • Preventing sexual abuse and violence • Ensuring access to education and healthcare • Tailored programming to meet the unique needs of refugees, child laborers, trafficked children and youth, and other populations at risk of violence and abuse • Additional prevention, training, and advocacy activities, including training public service providers
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Where We Work Global Fund for Children currently supports 143 community-based organizations in 40 countries. Our network of graduated partners includes nearly 700 organizations across the globe.
The Americas NUMBER OF PARTNERS: 42 Bolivia 1 Brazil 2 Colombia 1
Africa & the Middle East
Dominican Republic
Haiti 1
NUMBER OF PARTNERS: 48 Burkina Faso
1
Burundi 1 Democratic Republic of the Congo
2
Guatemala 10
1
Ghana 3 Kenya 8
Honduras 6 Mexico 10
South Asia
Nicaragua 1
NUMBER OF PARTNERS: 24
Peru 2 United States
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Rwanda 1 Senegal 4 South Africa
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Swaziland 1 Tanzania 3 Togo 5 Uganda 5 Zambia 6
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India 12 Nepal 3
Lebanon 2 Nigeria 3
Bangladesh 6
Pakistan 3
Europe & Eurasia NUMBER OF PARTNERS: 15 Kyrgyzstan 3
East & Southeast Asia
Moldova 2
NUMBER OF PARTNERS: 14
Serbia 3
China 2
Turkey 1
Indonesia 3
Ukraine 1
Mongolia 2
United Kingdom
Thailand 7
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Global Distribution of Current Partners The Americas
29%
Africa & the Middle East
34%
Europe & Eurasia
10%
South Asia
17%
East & Southeast Asia
10%
From Bangladesh to Kyrgyzstan to Zambia, we go the extra mile to find promising, innovative programs that will thrive with our support.
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Our Partners
CURRENT PARTNERS The Americas
© Giovanni Okot
Resilient. Bold. Dedicated. Our partners equip children and youth with the tools to lead lives of dignity and independence. They have the passion and local knowledge to transform their communities. We help them achieve that goal.
Bolivia Fundación Centro Una Brisa de Esperanza Brazil Onda Solidária Viva a Vida Colombia Fundación Dar Amor Dominican Republic Fundación La Merced Unión GTH Vegana Guatemala Asociación AMA Asociación Civil Defiende Asociación Generando Asociación PASOS Asociación Pop No’j Coincidir Colectivo Vida Digna GOJoven Guatemala Jóvenes por el Cambio Organización Sololateca por los Derechos de las Mujeres Jóvenes Indígenas Haiti Association Zanmi Timoun Honduras Artemisa GOJoven Honduras Organización para el Empoderamiento de la Juventud Redes Juveniles de la MANORCHO Un Mundo Unidad de Desarrollo Integral de la Mujer y la Familia
Our community-based partners are… Promising Local Innovative
Nimble Growing Courageous
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We invest in high-potential, early-stage organizations. Our partners are experts on their communities’ cultures, concerns, needs, and resources. ur partners challenge assumptions and paradigms, O bringing a fresh perspective and approach to deeprooted cultural problems. From natural disasters to political unrest, our partners adapt quickly to changing contexts. We seek out organizations with the potential to deepen and replicate their programs to achieve maximum impact. Battling complex problems with limited resources, our partners do whatever it takes to improve children’s lives
Mexico Alianza para la Integración Comunitaria UTOPIA A.C. Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Matías de Córdova Centro Integral de Atención a las Mujeres Chantiik Taj Tajinkutik Colectivo Seres Espacio Migrante México y Caribe Jóvenes A.C. Red + Posithiva de Quintana Roo Sin Fronteras Voces Mesoamericanas Acción con Pueblos Migrantes A.C. Nicaragua Asociación Movimiento de Mujeres por Nuestros Derechos Humanos Peru Ashanti Perú – Red Peruana de Jóvenes Afrodescendientes
United States Al Otro Lado Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso Homies Unidos Immigrant Youth Coalition LaUnidad11 Tahirih Justice Center Africa & the Middle East Burkina Faso Association Aide à la Scolarisation des Enfants de Familles Démunies Burundi Initiative pour la Promotion de la Santé Rurale et le Développement Intégré au Burundi Democratic Republic of the Congo Georges Malaika Foundation Ghana Achievers Ghana Education Center for Development Initiatives Street Library Ghana Kenya Boy Child Initiative Girls Leading Our World Initiatives Nyanza Initiative for Girls’ Education and Empowerment Oasis Mathare RefuSHE Samburu Girls Foundation The Eagles Fountains Youth Safety Awareness Initiative Lebanon Insan Association Tahaddi Nigeria Bo Sita MADE Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection Child and Youth Protection Foundation Rwanda Hope for Rwanda Senegal Action Femme Enfant Association Jeunesse Espoir Maison de la Gare Pour Une Enfance Sénégal South Africa 18twenty8
Jelly Beanz Inc. Vumundzuku-bya Vana | Our Children’s Future Xtreme Youth Projects Swaziland Compassionate Swaziland Tanzania Action for Children Faraja Young Women Development Organization Shalom Centre for Street Children Togo Action pour le Développement Durable: Le Rônier Fondation Secours Universel Homeland Kids and Family ONG Dedome Amis du Père Franck Organisation pour la Femme et le Développement Uganda Children of the World Foundation Foundation for Inclusive Community Help Hope and Peace for Humanity Rural Initiative for Community Empowerment – West Nile Rwenzori Information Centres Network Zambia Chimwemwe Organisation for the Promotion of Childhood Rights, Education and Development Dackana Home Based Care Hope for the Needy Zambia Kachere Development Programme Youth First Development Youth Support Initiative Europe & Eurasia Kyrgyzstan Hand in Hand National Federation of Female Communities of Kyrgyzstan Our Voice
United Kingdom asphaleia action Integrate UK Leaders in Community Little Fish Theatre Mosaic Youth South Asia Bangladesh Alor Pothe Nobojatray Foundation Local Education and Economic Development Organization Sanjog Bangladesh Shobujer Ovijan Foundation SOHAY Voluntary Association for Family Welfare and Social Development India Aarohan Arpan Chehak Trust Divya Down’s Development Trust Equal Community Foundation LeapForWord Masoom Sahyog Care for You Sama Foundation Society for Participatory Integrated Development Suprava Panchashila Mahila Uddyog Samity The YP Foundation
Nepal Asha Nepal Center for Awareness Promotion International Child Resource Institute – Nepal Pakistan Chanan Development Association Grace Association Sanjog Pakistan East & Southeast Asia China Jiuqian Volunteer Center Teen’s Key Indonesia Fokus Muda Yayasan Mitra ImaDei Yayasan Sahabat Kapas Mongolia Children’s Ger Foundation for Empowerment of Rural Women Thailand Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Abuse Center Baan Nana (Childlife) Center for Girls Child Rights Protection Centre Friends Without Borders Foundation Thai Child Development Foundation Zy Movement Foundation
© Celeste Mayora
Asociación Educativa Kusi Kawsay
Moldova Institute of Rural Initiatives Youth Media Center Serbia Asylum Protection Center Danica Know How Center Turkey Young Disabled Sports Club Ukraine Orphan’s Future
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© Kimlong Meng
Theory of Change How We Understand Social Change Global Fund for Children envisions a world where all children and youth are safe, strong, and valued. In this world, young people everywhere have equal opportunities. They enjoy high-quality, lifelong education. They exercise their rights with support from their families and communities. They have the power to make choices and shape their own futures. Our Theory of Change explores how we can make this world a reality. It defines the building blocks required to achieve long-term outcomes – for our local partners, and for the young people they serve – and how these building blocks connect with one another. Through this tool, we can better understand how social change happens, how to measure it, and how to continually get better at advancing the rights of children and youth worldwide. Learn more about our Theory of Change – including how and why we’re using it, background on our model, and the rationale behind each step – at globalfundforchildren.org/theory-of-change/.
Key Assumptions • T he economic, political, and social environment is conducive to partners’ sustainability. • The most effective way of changing the lives of children and youth is to focus on developing holistic wellbeing through a human-rights-based approach. • Partners can significantly influence children, youth, families, and communities. • Learning, innovation, and adaptation are intensified by collaborative work. • Capacity development leads to improved performance. • Local problems need local solutions.
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The wellbeing of children and youth is improved, especially those who are most disadvantaged, vulnerable, and marginalized. Children and youth are safe, enjoy high-quality and lifelong education, and have equal opportunities.
IMPACT
Children and youth are empowered, and their families and communities support them in exercising their rights.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
External Focus
GFC partners have new or strengthened connections and share resources and knowledge. Some formalize relationships, leading to collective action.
Children and youth are more visible as advocates and leaders in their communities.
GFC partners improve performance and are more sustainable.
GFC partners improve their programs based on learning and participatory feedback.
GFC partners improve organizational aspects – like leadership, monitoring and evaluation, and safeguarding – that make them stronger agents of change.
Internal Focus
INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES
Local leadership achieves greater visibility and influence in agendas and policies related to child and youth rights.
Partners work jointly with GFC to identify opportunities to improve their internal operations, their programs, and their relationship with their ecosystem. OUTPUTS
GFC identifies local organizations that advance justice, equity, and opportunity for children and youth. We work across the focus areas of Education, Gender Equity, Youth Empowerment, and Freedom from Violence and Exploitation.
INPUTS Relationships with peer organizations, coalitions, and networks
Non-financial support like technical assistance, information, and resources
Flexible funding
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Capacity Development How we help community-based organizations to learn, adapt, and lead change For over 20 years, Global Fund for Children has funded small organizations around the world to improve the lives of children and youth. Today, we do that and more. Offering a range of services over several years, we help our partners realize their unique vision for truly transformational, youthdriven change.
The Challenge Community-based organizations play a critical role in helping children and youth reach their potential and advance their rights. These organizations are anchored by local knowledge, community connections, and a long-term stake in the places where they work. But they face complex challenges that make it difficult for them to achieve their goals. That’s why we help our partners to develop their capacity, enabling them to become more effective, sustainable, and adaptive in their work.
What Is Capacity Development? Simply put, we find out what matters most to our partners and the young people they serve, and we help make it happen.
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We define capacity development as the process by which people and organizations discover, strengthen, and adapt their ability to realize their full potential over time. For our local partners, capacity reflects how responsive they are to the needs of the children and youth they serve – needs that are constantly evolving as external circumstances change. Capacity also reflects how well equipped they are to drive positive change within their own organization. Are they empowered to identify, reflect on, and address their organizational goals on their own terms? And do they have access to the tools, skills, people, and resources to achieve those goals?
© Global Fund for Children
Our Approach As we work with our partners to develop their capacity, all our services and tools are rooted in three interconnected ideas:
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Promoting holistic wellbeing and rights. Because this is the core of our mission. We encourage our partners to address the many facets of child and youth wellbeing, viewing young people as agents of their own destinies.
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Understanding systems. Because we want long-term change for children and youth. We promote a systemic approach to viewing problems and solutions that – in addition to addressing young people’s immediate needs – seeks deeper, lasting changes to harmful policies, practices, and norms.
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Embracing complexity. Because the world is full of complex problems in an ever-changing reality. Our partners’ capacity to adapt and learn is paramount – so we help them improve their ability to listen, innovate, experiment, reflect, and learn.
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Our Support A critical component of capacity development that often gets overlooked is the process itself – the way we define needs, select and implement interventions, pursue goals, and measure impact. We tailor our support for each organization, empowering local leaders to shape the process. We believe this is a crucial part of supporting our partners to become more skilled, adaptive, and sustainable.
Grants & Awards
LONG -TERM, FLEXIBLE, Site Visits EMPOWERING SUPPORT
Participatory Capacity Assessment
ADAPTIVE, SUSTAINABLE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
Advisory Support
Plan Implementation
Plan Adaptation
Convenings & Peer Networks
Reflection & Learning
REFLECTION & LEARNING 16
Custom Capacity Development Plan
COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNER
GLOBAL FUND FOR CHILDREN
GUIDANCE & FACILITATION
Capacity Development Services
Organizational Capacity Assessment & Planning We work with each partner to help them define their goals and a set of indicators to track their progress. By facilitating this process, we give NGO leaders the time, guidance, and structures they need to truly reflect on their organization’s strengths, opportunities, and
Site Visits Visiting our partners in the field is an essential tool for strengthening relationships and improving our interventions. In-person visits help us understand the challenging contexts in which our partners work, as well as how they are evolving in response to these challenges. In addition to onsite coaching and monitoring, we gather feedback, data, and stories from our partners’ leaders and staff, the children and youth they serve, and other community stakeholders.
Grants & Awards To support our partners’ life-changing programs for children and youth, we provide them with flexible, renewable cash grants on an annual basis. Using the capacity development plan as a guide, we also offer supplemental grants to strengthen our partners’ strategic planning, professional development, networking, and more. In addition, we provide cash awards for outstanding partners to celebrate their achievements and further catalyze their success.
trajectory. Together, we create a customized capacity development plan that we revisit and renew throughout the partnership. It serves as an anchor for the other interventions listed below.
Advisory Support We are in touch with our partners on a regular basis to discuss their capacity development plans and to offer additional information, resources, and connections. We help our partners to reflect on their progress, appreciate wins, and identify roadblocks. Whether linking them to peer NGOs, new funding sources, or networking opportunities, we actively seek out additional inputs to help them solve problems and meet their goals.
Convenings & Peer Networks We co-design convenings with our partners to strategically bring grassroots leaders together around mutual challenges, opportunities, and stages of development. Our convenings allow our partners to access and provide support, reflection, training, and technical or issue area expertise. We also leverage our global network of nearly 700 alumni organizations as peer mentors and advisors. Through these connections, we help our partners move out of isolation and into collective impact.
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