Mondayeveninglow by Jon Tallon

thank you In his autobiography, Vita’s founder Father Kevin Doheny wrote that “our task and our privilege is to build bridges to enable people to cross the gulfs that divide them”. We feel privileged in Vita to serve communities and equally privileged to be able to build bridges to allow Irish and global partners reach out in support. We can only be of help by bringing the very best of values with the very best of technology and partnership. We are so grateful for the generosity of donors who made 2013 a year of healthy financial growth. In 2014, Vita celebrates 25 years of service re-dedicating ourselves to the values of our founders. We look forward in gratitude to celebrating together! Our philosophy is to create a ripple effect with our work, so that others would take ownership of our projects, widening the impact. With your continued support, Vita will now lead a new phase of collaboration between NGO's in Africa, bringing a brighter future to millions of families.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...The success of our projects lies in our unique approach. We call it the ripple effect.â&#x20AC;?

Content Message from our Chairman

Message from our CEO

About Vita

How We Work

Local Partners

Step 1: Providing basic living standards

Step 2: Building sustainable livelihoods

Step 3: Transforming Communities

Step 4: Expanding accross Africa

About Eritrea

About Ethiopia

Strategy

Values

Looking Ahead

Supporters and Partners

Accounts and financial information

As we enter our 25th year, Vita has marked many milestones and given hope to people who were struggling for survival. 2013 has been a year that continued to show our achievements. Without the invaluable support of our donors, none of this would have been possible.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...a unique collaboration of science, development and agri-business Our philosophy has always been to create a ripple effect with our work, so that others would take ownership of our projects, widening the impact. With your creating continued support, Vita will organisations has been agreed, an now lead a new phase of collaboration between NGO's in Africa, bringing a brighter future to Irish coalition.â&#x20AC;? millions ofpotato families.

“Vita's model of strong local partnership backed up by world-class knowledge is proving to be very successful. This has set the stage for an exciting new phase...”

Chairman’s message During 2013, Vita made further progress in establishing a distinctive niche in the global food and energy security arena. Vita's model of strong local partnership backed up by world-class knowledge is proving to be very successful. This has set the stage for an exciting new phase, as Vita and partners devise innovative ways and strategic avenues to maximise our resources to radically improve people's lives. SEAMUS CROSSE

The Irish potato coalition is an example of this. Launched in 2013, a unique collaboration of science, development and agri-business organisations has been agreed, creating an Irish potato coalition. This will focus on the needs of four million potato farmers in six African countries, with Ethiopia at the hub. Vita's Board of Directors has increased its engagement with management, bringing strong leadership in finance, agriculture and stakeholder-input. Vita's Board remains committed to strategic partnership. A new federation with Concern Universal in the UK and AFAP in Australia was developed in 2013 and the success of this federation will require careful nurturing in 2014. As Board Chairperson, I would once again convey the warm gratitude of the Board for the remarkable work and relationships built up by Vita's programme teams in Eritrea and Ethiopia, for the hardworking and professional support of the staff in Dublin and of the selfless volunteers running Vita’s shops in Kilkenny and Dundalk, as well as the Friends of Father Kevin Doheny in his home parish in Ballyouskill. We are immensely grateful for the support of the Irish people and government and all of our benefactors and look forward to communicating the results of their generosity in 2014.

Seamus Crosse Chairman

“...a wonderful year for Vita, bringing transformation to tens of thousands of deserving Ethiopian and Eritrean families.”

CEO’s message 2013 was a wonderful year for Vita, bringing transformation to tens of thousands of deserving Ethiopian and Eritrean families.

JOHN WEAKLIAM

Our work is enhanced by our growing partnerships in Ireland: Teagasc (the Irish Food and Agriculture Development Authority) bring world-class experience and innovation in potato, dairy and farmer extension; the caring employees of leading Irish institutions (such as Bank of Ireland, Dairy Board and Dublin City Council) provide vital funding for community-led projects; ESB and Eirgrid employees (supported by their companies) won a CSR award for their support for the cook stove project in Eritrea. Furthermore, 18 runners from Ireland completed the Great Ethiopian Run in the company of the legendary Ethiopian runner, Haile Gebreselassie. In 2013, Vita programmes continued to benefit from the vital funding of the Irish Government through Irish Aid. In addition, the European Union provided or approved funding for projects worth over €5 million. New funding from USAID through the International Potato Centre has supported the Potato Centre of Excellence in Ethiopia. In Vita's 25th anniversary year of 2014 (under the custodianship of Vita's Honorary President Father Norman Fitzgerald), we are renewing our commitment to the legacy and values of our founders Father Kevin Doheny and Blessed Mother Teresa. The Gamo Gofa Catholic Church generously supports Vita and in turn we support Caritas and the Catholic Church in Wolaita, Ethiopia. The Archbishop of the Southern Region of Ethiopia strongly endorsed Vita’s work in 2013 and is now assisting us to access funds from Miserior, Germany. The Sisters of Mercy Western Province continue to be a generous partner, bringing a whole history of helping the deprived, stemming from Ireland's famine years.

John Weakliam Chief Executive 6

Impact • In Southern Ethiopia, 10,000 families have doubled or tripled their food harvest, now eating 3 wholesome meals per day and selling the surplus. • 2,000 farmers are using the amazing flume irrigation aquaduct in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia and growing 50% more maize.

• Millions of families in Ethiopia now use a latrine following the introduction of the CLTS project by Kamal Kar, supported by Vita. • 40,000 women in Eritrea have built their own smokeless fuel saving stove, thanks to the support of Vita and our Irish and European partners.

Empowering communities • The success of our projects lies in our unique approach. We call it the ripple effect. • We start with a very small group of vulnerable people. We help them to implement basic projects to transform their lives. • We then show them how to bring these changes into the lives of their immediate community.

• We then work with governments and other development organisations to roll out the projects at a national level. • Finally, we are now aiming to share the success across Eastern and Southern Africa.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...implementing sustainable agriculture through innovative, energy-efficient projects.â&#x20AC;?

About Vita Established in 1989 under the patronage of Mother Teresa, Vita is a non-governmental development organisation, working with the poorest communities in the Horn of Africa, implementing sustainable agriculture through innovative and energy-efficient projects. Our Vision Rural African families empowered to sustain their livelihoods. Our Mission To tackle household food insecurity through community-led sustainable agriculture projects, which are scalable and replicable, with a special focus on women as the key enablers of sustainable development. Our Goal To improve family nutrition and access to affordable food for 1 million people by 2015 and millions more through partnerships. Results Driven Vita applies a results-based management system, in adherence with Irish government standards for development projects. Evidence of results is mandatory in all areas of our work.

“To maximise the effect of our projects, Vita designs projects that can be scaled up. ”

How we work Vita enables African families to build sustainable livelihoods through food and energy security. To achieve this, we apply a community-led approach in both Eritrea and Ethiopia. Vita follows a number of principles in our work to build sustainable livelihoods: RESEARCH-LED Vita implements a strong research ethos with our international and local research partners. This approach allows us to deepen our understanding of issues facing communities. A good example of this is the triple PhD undertaken by Vita, Wageningen University and Teagasc on potato production in Ethiopia. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER Vita aims to bring the best of international best practice and research into our projects, to maximise the benefits to our beneficiaries. Examples of this are where we introduced drip irrigation across Eritrea, the first solar-powered irrigation scheme in Eritrea and the first successful hybrid maize seed multiplication by a farmer’s group in Ethiopia. PARTNERSHIPS Where possible, we work in partnership with local and international partners. This includes government agencies, research institutions, universities, the agri-business sector, religious orders, international donor agencies and most importantly, with local communities. THE RIPPLE EFFECT To maximise the effect of our projects, Vita designs projects that can be scaled up. We stimulate local government agencies and other development organisations to replicate our projects, which then reaches a larger target group.

Achievements SANITATION Vita took the lead in introducing community led total sanitation projects in Ethiopia, where we started CLTS (Community-Led Total Sanitation) with Kamal Kar. Now, over 5 million units have been installed by us, governmental agencies and other NGOs.

ENERGY EFFICIENT COOK STOVE Further proof of our impact is visible across Eritrea, where we spearheaded the energy-efficient cook stove programme, with the stove's inventor. Today, over 40,000 stoves have been built.

POTATO PROJECT In 2012, Vita initiated this project with partners including Teagasc (the Irish Agricultural Advisory Board) and began with a very small group of farmers in Ethiopia. Up to now, the potato has reached 50,000 people. We now aim to cover the whole country.

Local ownership and leadership are central to Vitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy. In 2013, Vita worked with a number of these partnerships.

Strategic impact • Bringing change at community level. • Utilising full resources of partners in projects (Ministry of Agriculture, Women’s Groups)

• Innovating through highly effective food security programmes, specifically targeting women in the home. • Stimulating growth through replication and influence on government practice.

Local partners FARMERS CO-OPERATIVES Co-op membership gives ownership to local families. Vita works with farmer cooperatives to deliver agricultural and community development projects. They play an important role in providing micro-finance and other services to local families. Working with cooperatives creates access into communities and also adds legitimacy to Vita’s work. LOCAL AGRICULTURAL SERVICES Vita believes it is essential to work with local governmental agencies to enable them to provide an effective, long-term service to rural communities. Vita signs an operational MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the local agricultural service for all of our projects. STEERING COMMITTEES These committees create the formal linkage with the community for every project. They encourage community participation and they also ensure that projects are needs based. WOMEN’S GROUPS Women’s groups are key agents of change. Reflecting their key status, Vita partners with women’s groups, where they provide invaluable insight, reflection and leadership in project design and implementation.

Steps to building sustainable futures STEP 1:

Providing Basic Living Standards

Transforming Communities

Expanding across Africa

Building Sustainability Livelihoods

Providing Basic Living Standards Sanitation Vita continues our essential work on Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), which focuses on community education around issues of health and sanitation and the importance of latrine usage. Communities work with Vita and CLTS experts to become Open Defecation Free (ODF), providing labour and materials to construct private and communal latrines. Vitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial leadership work with CLTS has resulted in it being adopted by neighbouring communities, with no direct Vita inputs. This is a great endorsement of the success of this initiative.

Cook Stoves Rural households are heavily reliant on firewood for their energy needs. Vita provides fuel-efficient stoves, which require less fuel and produce fewer emissions. A community-based approach is used to train women how to construct, maintain and repair stoves, ensuring that future generations will also benefit. Theses stoves use 50% less timber, so less time is spent gathering firewood (a task traditionally carried out by children and women), which typically takes a family up to 20 hours a week. The new stoves also emit less smoke and have resulted in a major reduction in eye and respiratory diseases. Finally, on a global level the stoves reduce CO2 emissions thereby mitigating against climate change.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial leadership work with CLTS has resulted in it being adopted by neighbouring communities, with no direct Vita inputs. â&#x20AC;?

Water Crucial to any agricultural development is access to water. In Eritrea, Vita is providing households and communities with drip irrigation. This model has become extremely successful and was adopted by the Eritrean Ministry of Agriculture as the preferred method for all new irrigation works, throughout the country. In 2013, Vita also assisted communities in rehabilitating communal pastures, by constructing dozens of micro-dams for livestock use. In Ethiopia, we continue to construct and rehabilitate irrigation canals and flume, giving farmers extended access to water even during the dry season. Vita also assisted communities to construct rope and washer pumps (simple pumps for accessing water for micro-irrigation around the house and kitchen gardens). This increases household nutrition as well as creating an opportunity to generate some additional household income.

Watershed Management Land degradation (from grazing, collecting firewood and also changing weather patterns) is a challenging issue. Vita works with local communities to manage the watershed through different initiatives. Firstly, we contain downstream erosion (through gabion wire box construction) to break the flow of water, to prevent large-scale erosion. Secondly, extensive tree planting upstream helps prevent soil from being washed away in times of heavy rain or flash floods.

Steps to building sustainable futures STEP 2:

Transforming Communities Expanding across Africa

Providing Basic Living Standards

Building Sustainable Livelihoods

Building Sustainable Livelihoods FOOD SECURITY Potato Production Potatoes are a highly nutritious crop and ideal to boost household food security. Vita introduces improved seed varieties, allowing farmers to triple their yields compared to traditional seed. We also create storage capacity at the farm and cooperative level for both ware and seed potato.

Sustainable Livelihoods This central part of Vitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is implemented predominantly through women. Vita helps rural households by supplying them with livestock such as sheep and goats. Similarly, Vita works with families to provide improved vegetable seeds and through training in vegetable production. Projects such as these give families a chance to boost their income, improve food security and diversify their nutrition.

Steps to building sustainable futures STEP 3:

Providing Basic Living Standards

Transforming Communities

Expanding across Africa

Building Sustainable Livelihoods

Transforming Communities Cooperative Development Vita enables farmer cooperatives to enhance their capacities and skills, improving the essential services that they provide to farmers. Vita works with cooperatives in providing capital for revolving credit, building stores and offices, supporting marketing initiatives and training in technical and management issues.

Potato Centre of Excellence Out of our work with potatoes, Vita established the Potato Centre of Excellence, which is a unique collaboration between research, the private sector, local government and non-governmental organisations. The Centre aims to improve service delivery across all aspects of the value chain, leading to successful economic growth of the potato industry, initially in Ethiopia and then wider.

Steps to building sustainable futures STEP 4:

Providing Basic Living Standards

Transforming Communities

Expanding across Africa Building Sustainability Livelihoods

Expanding across Africa In 2013, Vita took the first steps to initiating a cross-border, multi-national programme, inviting other NGOs in Africa to join with them in forming a Potato Coalition. This collaborative approach, involving Science Partners (CIP, Teagasc), Development Partners (Vita, Self-Help Africa, Concern Universal and Gorta) and Business Partners (European) will initially work across 6 countries. Implemented in Ethiopia in 2013, the first phase of the Potato Coalition has assisted 10,000 farmers in Southern Ethiopia.

Ethiopia

Kenya

Uganda

Tanzania

Malawi

Mozambique

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...the first phase of the Potato Coalition has assisted 10,000 farmers in Southern Ethiopia.â&#x20AC;?

Impact • Direct impact on livelihoods of 75,000 people

• National agricultural research, training and extension appraisal with Teagasc

• Improved livelihoods for 13,000 women-led households using cook-stoves

• Successful trials of Irish potato varieties were shipped from Ireland to Eritrea

• 26,000 tonnes of CO2 emission savings from improved cook-stoves

• Completion of large dam, providing water for crops and livestock in Eritrea

• Solar irrigation for 200 women farmers

About Eritrea Eritrea, one of the world’s poorest countries, has a similar population to Ireland and Vita’s work comprised actions completed under following projects: • EU Energy Facility project, 2011-2014 (€1,542,850, 75% EU funded) • EU Geleb Nursery Project, 2012-2014 (€837,500, 80% EU funded) • Irish Aid Sustainable Livelihoods programme, 2012-2013 (€336,000) Direct country expenditure in 2013 was €836,930.

Iyassu Ghebrerufuael Vita Country Director

Impact • Direct impact on livelihoods of over 35,000 people

• Greater potato price stability due to household and cooperative seed storage

• Food security improved through tripling of potato productivity for thousands of farmers

• Increased capacity of farmer cooperatives for sustainable seed storage

• First ever hybrid maize seed multiplication by a local farmers cooperative

• Irrigation canals and flumes providing irrigation to over 500 farmers

About Ethiopia Ethiopia’s population of 92 million people is predominantly rural and dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Vita currently operates in the Southern Region of Ethiopia and our current projects include: • Irish Aid Sustainable Livelihoods programme, 2012-2013 (€364,000) • EU Instrument for Stability project No.1, 2011-2013 (€1,471,565) • EU Instrument for Stability project No.2, 2012-2014 (€350,000) • CIP Potato Project, 2013 (€33,175) • Gates Foundation, cook-stoves project, 2013-2014 (€75,786) Direct country expenditure in 2013 was €1,183,027.

Asfaw Mekuria Vita Country Director

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enabling local communities & countries to access resources, to unlock their own development potential.â&#x20AC;?

Our Strategy Vitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core programme work is in agriculture

Focus areas 1. Empowering women to sustain their families and their natural environment 2. Providing innovative support for farmers to produce more food and become selfreliant 3. Enabling local communities & countries to access resources, to unlock their own development potential. VITAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THREE-TIERED APPROACH: 1. Entry Points 2. Core Project Work (mainly food security projects) 3. Strategic Impact Activity (adding value and impact beyond Vita target groups and projects)

Y PO NTR INT

PART NER SHI PS

Vita

“...promote respect for the dignity and culture of beneficiaries with all internal and external stakeholders . ”

Our Values Respect: To uphold the dignity of each individual and to promote respect for the dignity and culture of the people we help. Patronship: Vita strives to uphold the values of our founders Father Kevin Doheny and Blessed Mother Teresa. Empowerment: To actively involve these poor communities in identifying and tackling factors that inhibit their chances of sustainable livelihoods, including HIV/AIDS. We believe in a ‘Bottom-Up’ approach, allocating responsibility and bringing means as close to these communities as possible, through partners and in-country offices. Vita also strives to bring best practice to our work. Accountability & Transparency: To build trust with our beneficiary communities, donors, supporters and staff and to adhere to codes of good practice of the host countries and ‘People in Aid’. Impact: To ensure that the programme results are identified and that tangible benefits accrue which endure beyond the phase of direct support from Vita. Learning: To build an effective learning organisation through our work with partnerships and networks, to share our learning from our programmes with others and to contribute to the quest for good practice in development.

Looking ahead â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vita will continue to leverage relatively modest funds into highly innovative partnerships.â&#x20AC;?

In 2014, Vita will continue to leverage relatively modest funds into highly innovative partnerships with potential to have a real strategic impact in fighting hunger in Africa. The Irish Potato Coalition established in November 2013 will target four million potato farmers in six countries with support from agri-industry across the globe. Vita is building multicountry food and energy initiatives through our partnerships (including Teagasc and our Federation partners). Africa can reach food, water and energy security only through massive collaboration and Vita will strive to be in the vanguard for this worthiest of causes. We are immensely privileged for this opportunity and heartily grateful to our Irish, European and American supporters for their unstinting commitment our shared vision.

Our supporters & partners

Church groups Ballyouskill Vita Friends of Fr. Kevin Doheny: The Ballyouskill community in county Kilkenny provides yearly support to a community development project in Ethiopia. Sisters of Mercy: The Sisters of Mercy Western Province have continued to support Vita in 2013. The collaboration between Vita and the Sisters of Mercy is focused on providing households in the Chencha woreda (district) with improved potato and vegetable seeds, constructing improved latrines and stoves, as well as assisting in the provision of water and irrigation facilities. Caritas and Catholic Church in Wolaita: Vita is providing funding and support for Caritas and the Ethiopian Catholic Church for agriculture, over 3 EU funded projects. Gamo Gofa Catholic Church: Vita is providing funding and support for Caritas and the Ethiopian Catholic Church for agriculture, over 3 EU funded projects. Archbishop of the Southern Region of Ethiopia: In 2013, the Archbishop strongly endorsed the impact that we have made in his region.

Agriculture Teagasc: Teagasc, the Irish Food and Agriculture Development Authority, has continued to support Vita throughout 2013. By providing technical expertise and support to Vitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projects in Ethiopia and Eritrea, Teagasc has enabled Vita to access the best of Irish agricultural knowledge and apply it to our projects. Teagasc has continued to assist Vita in pursuing PhD-level research in Ethiopia, as well as providing expertise in dairy and potato production in Eritrea. A particular highlight was the visit of the Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle, to the Vita project sites in Ethiopia, in November 2013. 26

Agricultural Science Association: The ASA is the professional body for graduates in agricultural, horticultural, forestry, environmental and food science. With around 1,400 members, the ASA continues to support Vita as a partner in research-led agriculture in Ethiopia. Several Council members visited Vita’s work in Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2013, providing invaluable insight for Vita in achieving our goals. Irish Potato Federation: The Irish Potato Federation has continued to support Vita’s Potato Centre of Excellence in 2013. Their key expertise in business and marketing has greatly assisted Vita in promoting the potato as a crop to achieve food security in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Irish Potato Marketing: Irish Potato Marketing (a private potato seed innovation, marketing and distribution company) continued to support Vita’s work in Eritrea in 2013. Irish Potato Marketing has provided 8 varieties of potato seed for trials in Eritrea, coordinated by the Eritrean National Agricultural Research Institute. International Potato Centre: The International Potato Centre, CIP, has helped Vita to continue the work of the Potato Centre of Excellence. In 2013, Vita and CIP collaborated (along with other partners) in establishing the Irish Potato Coalition, which is a coalition of NGO’s, research institutes, and private business, aiming to promote best practice in using the potato to achieve food security in six African countries. Macra na Feirme: As part of our ongoing partnership, two Macra na Feirme members visited Vita's projects in Ethiopia early in the year and created a link with a young farmers group in one village. A further visit by Macra na Feirme established how they will use this linkage as a pilot to provide training and capacity building. The experiences of both visits were shared through Macra's internal communication network. Irish Dairy Board Staff Association: The Staff Association of the Irish Dairy Board supported Vita with a grant of €4,730 towards improving food security in southern Ethiopia in 2013. Dairygold: Dairygold (Ireland’s largest farmer-owned dairy and agri-cooperative) ssupported the work of Vita with a grant of €10,000 to develop a model dairy project. 27

Our supporters & partners

Food security & livelihoods The Gates Foundation: The Gates Foundation supported Vita with a grant of US $100,000 in 2013. This grant is aimed towards a pilot study to identify a suitable improved stove to be used in southern Ethiopia, allowing for local preferences in terms of cost, functionality and fuel efficiency. The Community Foundation: The Community Foundation funded Vita’s projects with €5,000 in 2013. Their support has enabled Vita to run a project supporting Eritrean women to sustain their families and environment through constructing improved cook stoves and tree planting. Bank of Ireland Group Employees Third World Fund: The Bank of Ireland Group Staff Third World Fund continues to be one of Vita’s most important funding partners. In 2013, the Fund supported a number of projects in Ethiopia and Eritrea, ranging from improved stoves to cooperative development and food production. The Bank of Ireland Group Staff Third World Fund provided €80,778 in support of Vita’s projects in 2013. Dublin City Council Staff World Development Fund: Dublin City Council’s Staff World Development Fund gave Vita a grant of €9,893 in 2013. Their donation assisted Vita in implementing projects around food security and improved stove construction in Ethiopia and Eritrea respectively. ESB/Electric Aid: Electric Aid (ESB and Eirgrid), drawn from support from the staff of the Electricity Supply Board, continues to strongly support Vita’s work in Ethiopia and Eritrea. With support of €56,617 in 2013, ESB and Eirgrid jointly won the Chambers Ireland CSR Award in 2013 for their support for Vita’s Cook Stove project in Eritrea.

Donors and Governments Irish Aid: Irish Aid continued to provide core programme funding for both Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2013. Irish Aid’s funding allows Vita’s work in communities, and through government and non-government partners, to continue, with a particular focus on issues of food security, sanitation, energy and research-led agriculture. Irish Aid granted €389,809 to Vita programmes in 2013. Europe Aid: The European Union continued to be Vita’s largest funding partner in 2013, providing funding through mechanisms such as the Instrument for Stability and the Energy Facility. In 2013, Vita spent €1,434,467 of EU funding on programmes. The Embassy of France to Eritrea: The French Embassy in Eritrea provided €60,000 to support the building of fuel-efficient stoves and in an environmental rehabilitation project, through tree planting. US Government (USAID): In 2013, USAID provided financial support to CIP, financial supporters of Vita’s Potato Centre of Excellence in Ethiopia.

Accounts & Financial Reporting

In 2013, Vita spent €2.32 million of our income on our programmes activities. Our total income for the year was €2.63 million, an increase of 20% from 2012, reflecting increased funding from institutional donors tempered with the effects of the continuing impact of the economic downturn on unrestricted income. Vita aims to be as transparent and accountable as possible in all is financial transactions and our accounts and financial statement are readily available on our website at www.vita.ie. WHERE YOUR MONEY IS SPENT

Governance

€54,555

Cost of Generating Income

€212,511

Programme Activities

€2,323,340

Vita subscribes to and aims to be compliant with Dóchas Irish Development NGO Code of Corporate Governance, the Dóchas Guidelines for Annual Reports and Financial Statements for Non-Governmental Organisations and Dóchas Code of Conduct on Imagery and Messaging. In 2014 Vita is signing up to the ICTR Statement of Guiding Principles of Fundraising. To ensure accuracy and transparency Vita’s accounts are externally audited by Anne Brady McQuillans DFK on a yearly basis. Vita’s financial transactions are supervised by our Board of Directors and we are fully compliant with industry best practice.