Table of Contents Letter from the CEO Cooperative Partner Overview About Indego Africa
Meet the Team
Products and Brand Partnerships Entrepreneurship and Initiatives Training Programs and Partnerships Social Impact Preview News and Highlights
Financial Summary
Supporter Acknowledgments
A Glance Ahead
Letter from the ceo Dear Friends, I introduce this 2012 Annual Report by sharing with you my proudest moment at Indego Africa. As we toured Manhattan’s garment district, I overheard visiting Rwandan artisan, Emelienne Nyiramana, sigh and tell someone, “a few years ago I didn’t even know how to dream this dream.” Emelienne’s musing revealed an empowered woman with a firm grasp on her bright future. But as I considered her inspiring story further, it struck me that she must have always had dreams. How else could Emelienne’s life arc from humble beginnings in Nyanza through a brutal genocide and abject poverty onto caring for not only herself, but also her five children, her two sisters and their children, and, until she passed away this year, her mother? Her core values, tenacity, and will to seek out a better tomorrow were always there. Yet, it took her partnership with Indego Africa and founding and leading a profitable cooperative to change the scope of her dream. Those experiences fundamentally expanded her field of view of what was possible for her as a family breadwinner, as a highly skilled artisan and businesswoman, as a parent and head of family, as a community member and leader. As I reflect on 2012 at Indego Africa, I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished. We generated our one millionth dollar of revenue. (We spent our one millionth dollar too.) Our global team grew to nine full-time staff. Our in-country strategy and operations transitioned to Rwandan-led. We forged several new cooperative partnerships. We mourned the passing of several women with whom we worked. The great ma jority (86%) of our artisan partners earned more than the previous year. We launched a new e-commerce site and an enhanced English Literacy curriculum. We brought over 30 new products to market. We collaborated with a dozen new brands and designers, including J.Crew, Jill Golden, Madewell, and Pamela Love. We retooled our impact assessment framework. We congratulated our 16th artisan partner
selected as a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholar. We migrated to enterprise cloud computing. We co-founded a global initiative to bring artisan enterprise to scale. While sometimes awed by how far we have come, I unequivocally know how Indego Africa got here. We got here because we together believed in a vision: economic development powered by entrepreneurial women whose access to income and education enable them to succeed on their own. We also got here because of our unshakeable belief in what we needed to build to be effective: a purpose-driven brand, a talented global team, smart partnerships, community cooperation and inclusion, high quality designs, a scalable supply chain, transparency and ethics, accountability and financial integrity, a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and sound tools for critically assessing our performance and impact. But, perhaps most of all, we got here because of your generous support. You gave us opportunity. We at Indego Africa rightly extol what female artisan entrepreneurs can do with opportunity. They can lift themselves and their families out of intergenerational poverty. They can become driving forces of development in their own communities. Collectively, they can catalyze economic and social progress in entire nations. As you read this 2012 Annual Report, I ask you to step back and evaluate what we have accomplished with the opportunities that you have given us. Then, I would ask you to imagine what this gritty and ambitious young social enterprise could be capable of with increased opportunities of our own. Our vision remains bold. Our values, principles, and strategies hold strong. And like Emelienne’s, our dreams continue to grow. Yours in graditude,
Conor B. French
CEO, Indego Africa
Abasangiye Twiyubake Cocoki Agatako Covanya Ejo Hazaza
AJ
IKU (Hope, Hoziana & Mpore Mama) Ibyishimo
Kigali
Imirasire IKU (Susuruka)
Population: ~11.7 million (July 2012) Size: 10,350 Square Miles Capital: Kigali President: Paul Kagame Currency: Rwandan franc (RWF) Languages: English, French, Kinyarwanda Independence: July 1, 1962
Cooperative Partner Overview IN 2012...
+
FROM women partnered with Indego Africa
Different cooperatives across Rwanda
Children and other dependants received improved access to food, housing, and education
Annual Report 2012 | 3
C
O
C
O
K
I
women Skill: sewing L o c a t i o n : K i c u k i ro Cocoki continued to test their design versatility in 2012. They produced totes, shorts, skirts, sarongs, cosmetic cases, and backpacks for a spring collection for Nicole Miller and jewelry pouches, beach bags, and bib necklaces for DANNIJO.
I M I R A S I R E women Skill: weaving L o c a t i o n : M a ya n g e Through a design collaboration with Madewell and a custom International Women’s Day order for Google, Imirasire brought locally-grown imigwegwe products to the international market in creative and inspiring ways.
C
O
V
A
N
Y
A
women Skill: weaving L o c a t i o n : N ya m a ta Still reeling from a 2011 split in membership, Covanya followed its new leadership through an audit and into new phases of growth. By year-end, Covanya had its plateau baskets featured in FastCompany and they were working on an order for Jonathan Adler for spring 2013.
T W I Y U B A K E women Skill: banana leaf weaving L o c a t i o n : K a y o n z a Consisting of genocide widows working side-by-side with the wives of imprisoned génocidaires, Twiyubake’s composition fosters post-conflict unity and reconciliation through economic community.
A B A S A N G I Y E women Skill: sewing L o c a t i o n : K a y o n z a In 2012, Abasangiye produced many of the 9,000 twisted wrap bracelets for J.Crew. When the women from Abasangiye banded together in 2010, they had no bank accounts, no place to work, no equipment, and no specialized training.
INGENZI KNIT UNION (IKU) Hope | Hoziana | Mpore Mama | Susuruka
women Skill: knitting L o c a t i o n : K i g a l i & M a ya n g e To take advantage of economies of scale through increased purchasing and bargaining power with raw material suppliers, four knitting cooperatives – Hope, Hoziana, Mpore Mama, and Susuruka – joined forces in 2009 to form IKU.
Annual Report 2012 | 5
I B Y I S H I M O women Skill: sewing L o c a t i o n : K i c u k i r o Formed among members of the same church in 2011, Ibyishimo means “joy” in Kinyarwanda. Ibyishimo produced a collection for Zink, an Austin-based handbag company, and our year-end Incubator Fund campaign promises the partnership can grow in 2013.
A
G
A
T
A
K
O
women Skill: weaving on metal L o c a t i o n : K i g a l i
The women of Agatako preserve an ancestral weaving technique called agaseke, reserved in precolonial times only for the king and now considered a “lost” art, by integrating it into innovative new jewelry designs.
EJO
HA ZA Z A
women Skill: beading Location:Nyacyonga The women of Ejo Hazaza met through a local health clinic-led program to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV from mother to child; the original mission of Ejo Hazaza was to earn income to purchase baby formula that could replace high-risk breastfeeding.
Abaharaniramajyambere (AJ) women Skill: weaving L o c a t i o n : B u t a r e Indego Africa launched our new partnership with AJ with a stunning line of Copabu bowls, which feature intricate weaving on hand-carved jacaranda wood. AJ is part of a larger cooperative union called “Copabu�.
Local Raw Material Sourcing Indego Africa further supports local businesses in Rwanda by sourcing raw materials locally. To supplement materials grown by our partner cooperatives, such as imigwegwe, swampgrass, banana leaves, and palm leaves, Indego Africa has built a vast network of relationships with local suppliers. Here are two examples of local suppliers Indego Africa began working with in 2012:
UM UR I MO
ETAINERIE DE HUYE
Material: Cowhorn Location:Kicukiro
Material: Metal Location:Butare
The members of Umurimo, all former street children, work with cowhorn and utilize a special vanishing technique called patte a polir.
Etainerie de Huye is the only cooperative of tin workers in Rwanda; the tin used is 99.8% pure.
Annual Report 2012 | 7
about indego Africa Indego Africa (indegoafrica.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit social enterprise that creates jobs and sustainable livelihoods for female artisan entrepreneurs through market access and education. Indego Africa partners with cooperatives of socioeconomically marginalized women artisans in Rwanda and sells their jewelry, home décor, and fashion accessories on (a) our e-commerce site (shop.indegoafrica.org), (b) to boutiques and stores worldwide, and (c) through large-scale brand and design collaborations. Indego Africa then pools 100% of profits with all donations to fund job skills training for our partners in management, entrepreneurship, literacy, computers, and health. Through their partnership with Indego Africa, women artisans generate income through product sales to meet their families’ basic needs now and develop job skills that enhance their long-term earning potential.
“
Bold
members of our community describe Indego Africa in a single word Long-term
Passion C a r i n Ta l e n t e d
g
Nimble
I N N O VA T I V E Engaging
Equality
Te a m
Sustainabl e Hopeful
Compassion
“
Community Significant
Vision
COLO R F UL Dedication G O V E R N A N C E I n s p i r i n g E n t eUr pn ri qi suee S t r e n g t h Tr a n s p a r e n c y Design
Vibrant
Genuine
Surprising Dynamic Opportunity
Impact
Ambitious
G l o b a l C u tt i n g - e d g e H u m an - ce n tere d
Hectic
D E V E L O P M E N TResponsible Change Famil y I N D E P E N D E N C E S i n cere F U N E m p o w e r m e n t Adaptabl e Exciting Yo u n g en D E T E R M I N A T I O N E m p a t h y CWh aonm gemaking
K n owl e d g e a b l e
WE ARE INDEGO AFRICA
miles continents TEAM
Grace Tsuni Uwase Production Associate
Heloise Mudenge
Executive Associate
Karen Yelick COO + CFO
Rosie Avolio-Toly Production Manager
Yves Ndashimye
Deirdre McGuigan Creative Director
Conor French CEO
Operations + Accounting Associate
Kelly Souls
Rosine Urujeni Country Director
Princeton in Africa Fellow
Annual Report 2012 | 9
B o a rd of D i re c tor s
Board of Advisors
Mich ael Brotchner Cory Fasold D e s i re e F i ore l l o S te p h e n Fo re s t a Lyse Hunger M a tt h e w M i tr o , C h a i r m a n T h o m a s M i tr o Benjamin Stone, Vice-Ch airman Gina Sullivan B y r o n To w n s e n d A l i a Va r s a n o
A m b a s s a d o r M i c h a e l A r i ett i Christopher Burns Cameron Cowan Kath arine Crost Zachary Kaufman Al ex Kennedy L or ra i n e M c Gowe n Nicol e Mjelde J ackson Muneza M’vanganyi Eruch Nowrojee Ta m s i n S m i t h S a m a n t h a Ta y l o r
i n te r n s & f e l l ow s c o n tr i b u te d t o Indego Africa’s success in 2012 A l e x a n d r a D o w n e y, C h l o e G u s s , C o u r t n e y I s tr e , C r i s s y V i c e n d e s e , E l i z a b e t h F i s h e r, E l i z a b e t h A n d r e w s , E r i c Vo r c h h e i m e r, E r i n O l a n d e r, E r i n B a u e r, E r i n C o v e r t , F i o n a H e c k s c h e r, F l a v i a F a r i a , H e l e n G u g e l , H i r a M o i n , I a n F i e d o re k , K a t h y U wi m a n a , K a t i e R o l f e s , M a tt h e w D i a l s , M i c h a e l Fo re s t a , R o b W i n t e r s t e e n , R o s e S p i e g e l , S a r a D u s h e y , S t e p h e n B l a k e r , Ta n y a G a r d n e r , Ta r y n B i r d & T i f f a n y G r o s s
T HA N K YOU ! program visits by Indego Africa staff to artisan cooperatives in 2012
Products and Brand Partnerships BANANA 1% LEAF 1% WOOL
MATERIALS USED IN 2012
2% LOOM BEADING
SHIPPING IN 2012 GOT HEAVY...
1% WOOD 1% TIN COW HORN
3%
5%
PALM LEAF
22%
SWEETGRASS
IA shipped an average of:
66%
DUTCH WAX CLOTH
4
BOXES EVERY
2 WEEKS
EACH
25LBS
THAT’S A TOTAL OF...
104 BOXES
@
2,600 LBS
A YEAR!
“
“
Annual Report 2012 | 11
Indego went above and beyond in the name of empowerment, creating a business training program to encourage entrepreneurship and independence among the artisans.
-J.Crew
N E W PRODUCTS
...and we updated our look with a NEW shop site
OUR LARGEST ORDER IN 2012...
WRAP BRACELETS FOR J.CREW
2012 BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Pamela Love A
1/2 A
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INITIATIVES New Business Opportunities: Cocoki Rents for the Runway Noting consistent demand for traditional Rwandan formal attire, called Imikenyero, in their local community, the women of Cocoki identified a new business opportunity – special event clothing rental. They invested cooperative savings from orders placed by Indego Africa in large quantities of Imikenyero. Leveraging their existing trade to also offer custom alterations, Cocoki began renting Imikenyero for weddings and other special occasions. With a large rental inventory, Cocoki can outfit parties of ten or more women seeking matching colors and patterns.
following payment from Ecole St. Joseph. As Rose Manirarora, the president of IKU, commented, “IKU is extremely glad that Indego Africa made us the loan because otherwise we would have lost this big order and a significant source of income.” Taking this scenario into consideration, Indego Africa redoubled our commitment to supporting business growth and diversification strategies at our partner cooperatives and helping them solve issues of access to capital.
Occupational Health & Workplace Wellness
Local Market Engagement: IKU Knits Sweaters for Students
Indego Africa partnered with a physical therapist at King Faisal hospital in Kigali and a former professor at the Kigali Health Institute to develop and administer Occupational Health & Workplace Wellness training at our partner cooperatives.
In Dec. 2012, Ecole St. Joseph, a primary school in Kigali, approached the Ingenzi Knit Union (IKU) with an order for 600 sweaters for school uniforms. This order would generate significant revenue for IKU and greatly expand its local market presence, but required steep upfront investments in raw materials and labor.
The training required two phases: (a) an observation phase where trainers examined the women at work and interviewed them regarding their workplace behaviors and environment and (b) a workshop during which trainers provided the women guidance on how to promote healthy behavior in the workplace and improve health outcomes.
To alleviate short-term cash flow constraints, IKU requested a loan from Indego Africa. Indego Africa quickly conducted diligence and agreed to lend to IKU 500,000 Rwandan Francs (~$770) to cover the costs of purchasing yarn. IKU completed the order and repaid Indego Africa promptly
The training covered a broad array of topics, including work-related and repetitive stress injuries, general health and hygiene, good posture, good lifting techniques, workspace organization and cleanliness, and helpful stretching exercises.
Annual Report 2012 | 13
Princeton in Africa Partnership
Breast Cancer Awareness
Developing Leaders Indego Africa partnered with BCIEA to convene breast cancer education and awareness workshops, with access to followup care, at each partner cooperative.
Vision Spring Partnership
To improve productivity and classroom performance, Indego Africa re-teamed with VisionSpring to provide vision testing and eyeglasses for additional partner cooperatives.
Home Visits
Home Visits To foster an environment of cooperation and mutual respectfulness, Indego Africa met with groups of women artisans in their homes.
In Nov. 2012, Indego Africa’s Country Director Rosine Urujeni traveled to the U.S. for two weeks to engage in leadership training, professional development, and relationship-building with key stakeholders.
Princeton in Africa Indego Africa hosted a yearlong fellow from Princeton in Africa, an organization that develops young leaders committed to Africa’s advancement. The fellow, Kelly Souls, focused on training programs and initiatives, administration, and impact assessment.
Indego 101
Volunteer Service Award
ABPH - VSA Indego Africa received a Volunteer Service Award from the AllPeopleBeHappy Foundation for Chloe Guss to provide capacity-building and technical assistance at Ejo Hazaza.
Indego Africa launched a partnershipstrengthening initiative, called Indego 101, which aims to promote transparency and open dialogue with all partner cooperatives. Indego 101 workshops and breakout sessions cover each facet of our partnership model.
TRAINING PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS Indego Africa’s core job skills training curriculum spans Business Management & Entrepreneurship, English Literacy, Kinyarwanda Literacy, and Technology. r nde 0 U n for . 3 v. io uct str 2013!Business n o C e lat
Management & Entrepreneurship
Indego Africa’s Business Management & Entrepreneurship curriculum targets skills that participating artisans need to run transparent, profitable, and independent enterprises. Primary training objectives include financial literacy, effective cooperative management, local market opportunities, international market opportunities, innovation and outside economic activities, and formal business planning.
Kinyarwanda Literacy Indego Africa’s Kinyarwanda Literacy program focuses on reading and writing skills in the context of lessons on public health, parenting, human rights, and civil participation. Participating artisans match literacy goals to immediate concerns, including how to fill out a job application, open a bank account, or write to a family member.
Technology English Literacy Indego Africa’s English Literacy curriculum is sequenced according to three Modules. Each Module includes 25 to 30 individual lesson units, homework, and pre-training, midterm, and final ed assessments. Improv
New & 2! in 201
Indego Africa’s technology training provides participating artisans with opportunities to learn basic computer literacy, gain familiarity with computer usage, and to begin effectively using the Internet and word processing and spreadsheet software. v.
2.0 Under Constructi on for early 2013 !
Annual Report 2012 | 15
Indego Africa and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative are working together in Rwanda to connect Indego Africa’s cooperative partner leaders with advanced business and management educational opportunities. Over the past three years, 16 of Indego Africa’s artisan partners (each pictured here) were accepted into 10,000 Women.
“
It is important for women to be in business because when families live well, the country lives well.
Annonciate Murebwayire Abasangiye
Donatha Tuyishimire Imirasire
Angelique Nisengwe IKU - Susuruka
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a fiveyear initiative to help grow local economies and bring about greater shared prosperity and social change by providing 10,000 underserved women with a business and management education, access to mentors, and networks and links to capital. In Rwanda, 10,000 Women is organized by the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan in cooperation with the School of Finance and Banking.
Emelienne Nyiramana Cocoki
WOMEN Anne Marie Nikuze Cocoki
“
Immaculee llibagiza
Therese Iribagiza Cocoki
Godence Umutesi Abasangiye
Janet Ntakirutimana Ejo Hazaza
Josiane Niyitegaka IKU - Mpore Mama
Francine Hakuzimana Ejo Hazaza
Immaculee Ilibagiza IKU - Hoziana
Jacqueline Musabyimana Twiyubake
Jeanne D’Arc Mukamurigo Imirasire
Joselyne Nibagwire Abasangiye
Marie Odette Twiyubake
Rose Manirarora IKU - Mpore Mama
Top Row From Left: Peter Muvunyi: English, Hugues Honore Sebuhiga: English, Vedaste Tuyishime: Computer Curriculum Developer, Charles Mungwakuzwe: Computers, Eric Iyaremye: English, Rosine Urujeni: Indego Africa’s Country Director, Heloise Mudenge: Indego Africa’s Executive Associate, Bienvenue Ntampaka: Computers, Middle Row From Left: Jean Damascene Murekumbanze: Kinyarwanda, Consolation Tuyishime: Kinyarwanda, Olivier Happy Twiringire: Computers, Christian Shema: Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Innocent Bijyiyobyenda: Kinyarwanda, Bruce Kayitare: English, Bottom Row From Left: Eugene Nteziyaremye: English, Conor French: Indego Africa’s CEO, Alphonse Nshimiyimana: Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Yves Ndashimye: Indego Africa’s Accounting & Operations Associate, Sylvestre Ntabareshya: Business Management & Entrepreneurship {Not Pictured: Fabrice Dusengumuremyi: Business Management & Entrepreneurship}
Generation Rwanda Indego Africa recruits, trains, and mentors local university students to teach our training programs through a partnership with Generation Rwanda, a non-profit organization that grants merit-based university scholarships for orphans and socially-vulnerable young people. This partnership helps prepare these university students to enter the local workforce following graduation by providing both valuable professional experience and comprehensive mentorship and guidance through Indego Africa’s Internship Professional Development Program. Since 2010, 25 university students have participated in Indego Africa’s Intern Professional Development Program with two receiving offers of full-time employment at Indego Africa following graduation.
IN 2012...
16
TRAINERS
FROM
5
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
LEAD
682 TRAININGS
Annual Report 2012 | 17
Social IMpact preview Since our founding, Indego Africa has remained committed to an outcome-based approach to poverty reduction. We conduct a comprehensive social impact assessment each year. This annual assessment measures a range of developmental information for our artisan partners: from quantitative metrics like financial security, food security, and access to water, schooling, and housing, to qualitative indicators like self-perception and interviews. Indego Africa completed our 2012 social impact survey in Mar. 2013. Here is a preview of some results:
LONG-TERM TRENDS of women earned at least $1/day in 2012
76% compared to
7% in 2008
of women reported that their family never ran out of food in 2012
74%
compared to
5% in 2008
of women owned their homes in 2012
76%
compared to
41%
in 2008
81% compared to
26% in 2008
of women had regular access to, and coverage for, medical care in 2012
RECENT GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
% 2011 2012
%
of women have started their own of women reported an increase businesses since partnering with in income from the prior year Indego Africa Primary uses of additional income in 2012 Skills Learned School fees for their children Home improvements Investments in livestock and/or land
Indego Africa looks forward to sharing our 5th Social Impact Report with you in Jul. 2013. Once published, we will make it publicly available at www.indegoafrica.org/social-impact
Reading Writing Counting Money Mgmt
Record English Keeping
News AND Highlights
Social Entrepreneurship in the Age of Atrocities Indego Africa’s Conor French, Matthew Mitro, and Benjamin Stone contributed a chapter to a book entitled Social Entrepreneurship in the Age of Atrocities. The book, edited by Dr. Zachary Kaufman (a member of Indego Africa’s Board of Advisors), “provides crucial insight into social entrepreneurship from visionaries in the field as well as other experienced practitioners and renowned theorists.”
“
With a foreword by the Founder & CEO of Ashoka Bill Drayton and an afterword by the President of Echoing Green Cheryl Dorsey, Social Entrepreneurship in the Age of Atrocities discusses the challenges, obstacles, and opportunities in the field and lends new insight to the concept, history, and methodologies of social entrepreneurship.
The accounts of social entrepreneurs contained in this volume could well inspire a future shortlist for the Nobel Peace Prize. - DR. WILLIAM A. SCHABAS
Annual Report 2012 | 19
The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise: Bringing Artisan Enterprise to Scale In 2012, Indego Africa joined forces with 24 other global stakeholders operating along the artisan value chain to develop a global artisan sector initiative called the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise. Founded on the belief that artisan enterprises are a key, yet undervalued, driver of sustainable economic development around the world, the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise is a public-private partnership designed to support the power and potential of the artisan sector to unlock economic growth, improve livelihoods, and advance the well-being of women. As a founding member, Indego Africa participated extensively in the strategic planning and formulation processes leading up to its launch.
Indego Africa’s CEO Conor French joined U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, and other founding members to officially launch the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise on Nov. 27, 2012.
Ethical Fashion Forum 2012 SOURCE Awards The SOURCE Awards recognize excellence in fashion and sustainability across 12 categories, putting the spotlight on the most innovative and inspirational businesses, individuals, and initiatives in the global fashion industry. Indego Africa was honored as a finalist in two categories: Sustainable Supplier – Production Award Recognizing sustainable practices in supply chains, both social and environmental
Africa Award Recognizing the potential for fashion businesses to transform livelihoods in Africa
Rwandan Handicraft Exporter Association As part of our partnership with the Government of Rwanda, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Indego Africa helped launch a Rwandan Handicraft Exporter Association. This public-private partnership seeks to increase the volume and value of handicraft exports from Rwanda and to strengthen the sector as a whole. At its initial meeting, the Rwandan Handicraft Exporter Association elected Indego Africa’s Country Director Rosine Urujeni as its Vice President.
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You are here: Home » News & Events » News Highlights » Gahaya Links and Indego Africa Draw Major U.S. Buyers
Trade Not Aid | HandEye
fashion accessories. The ECA Hub provides technical assistance to both companies to enhance their competitivenes take advantage of opportunities available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This year, technical assistance included strategizing and relationship building for the recent San Francisco International Gift Fair.
Indego Africa and Gahaya Links have drawn the attention of major US companies. Joy Ndunguste of Gahaya Links sa
“working with Kate Spade put us on the map.” She also mentioned that “We have done some business with Starbucks
During our visit, Gahaya Links was putting the finishing touches on multicolored silk bracelets destined for Anthropol
women, were brimming with product and design. Janet Nkubana, Joy’s sister and business partner, stated, “Gahaya L
always looking to create something new – It’s an industry where you have to be on your toes.” Gahaya Links and Inde
ATTRACT TEXTILE AND
Africa have capitalized on the opportunities they have been given and are fulfilling their missions of providing econom
APPAREL INDUSTRY TO ORIGIN
USAID COMPETE recently paid a visit to East and Central Africa Trade Hub (ECA Hub) partners Indego Africa and Ga
Links. Both Indego Africa and Gahaya Links are Rwandan based social entrepreneurs who produce niche home déc
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
AFRICA 2012 – ETHIOPIA 4/1/13
GAHAYA LINKS AND INDEGO AFRICA DRAW MAJOR U.S. BUYERS
Indego Africa was rolling out thousands of bracelets in preparation for J Crew’s spring season. Both small factories, fu
CREATIVITY, DESIGN AND
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KNOWLEDGE CENTER
AFCA SHOWCASES NEW TASTE
opportunities for women through entrepreneur saviness. Deidre McGuigan of Indego Africa captures the essence of b
companies: Success translates to steady employment for the women artisans who make their products. “and that” she notes, “is the most important part.”
OF HARVEST PORTAL AT SCAA Trade Not Aid BY ANNIE WATERMAN | SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
CLICK THUMBNAIL TO VIEW SLIDESHOW
EAGC LAUNCHES ENHANCED RATIN AT 6TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ECA HUB BENEFICIARIES Quexquemitl: Mexico's PreColumbian Poncho
MISSIO N ST AF F
Textiles from Oaxaca in Santa Fe
SHARE SUCCESS STORIES
ACKNO WL EDG EMENT S
Transforming the found objects
SUBMISSIO NS CO NT ACT
COURTESY OF INDEGO AFRICA
Interview with Conor French, CEO at Indego Africa Indego Africa is a design driven social enterprise that connects African women artisans with global markets and educational opportunities. They are redefining what they see as an “outdated handicraft model of economic development,”while mapping out a replicable blueprint for unleashing the power of female entrepreneurs in Africa. Conor French, CEO of Indego Africa, is dedicated to developing the stages of the organizations' entrepreneurial model and shares his thoughts and experiences with HAND/EYE. HAND/EYE: What do you find to be most innovative with regard to your business and educational model? What sets Indego Africa apart from many other artisanbased, social enterprises? Conor French: By focusing on both market access and training equally, Indego Africa’s approach to poverty reduction combines a marketbased solution with traditional philanthropy. This approach works because it meets each artisan woman where she is now, but steadfastly walks in partnership with her through each developmental stage—all the way to sustainable, economic independence. Our market access initiative allows women to participate in global commerce and the world economy; it resonates with those whose mantra is “trade not aid”. We plug craftswomen into a large existing consumer goods fashion market, helping them tap into increased opportunities provided by the growing ethical consumerism and sustainable product movements. Even with a marketbased solution to poverty, however, there remains a crucial role for traditional philanthropy. Philanthropy catalyzes our artisan partners’ participation in the global marketplace on their own terms and without Indego Africa’s help. Only through training can we mentor them to learn the job skills necessary in order to run their own selfsufficient and prosperous businesses. Stated differently,
handeyemagazine.com/content/trade-not-aid
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CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN AT RUSUMO BORDER COMPETE AWARDS NEW GRANT TO CENTER FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (CAWEE) GAHAYA LINKS AND INDEGO AFRICA DRAW MAJOR U.S. 1/4
BUYERS USAID COMPETE AWARDS NEW
WANTED
FROM INDEGO AFRICA TO WARBY PARKER, GIFTSINDEGO THAT GIVE BACKTOFOR GOODPARKER, FROM AFRICA WARBY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK FOR GOOD WANTED
BY: SARIKA BANSAL BY: SARIKA BANSAL
“
Popular Countries 1 South Africa Nigeria Kenya Egypt Ghana Morocco Ethiopia
PARTNERSHIP FUND
Indego Africa is redefining what they see as an ‘outdated handicraft model of economic development,’ while mapping out a replicable blueprint for unleashing the power of female entrepreneurs in Africa. - HAND/EYE GRANT TO FEAFFA
Want to give a gift that gives back? These companies and
9TH AFRICAN FINE COFFEES
organizations have found ways to sell beautiful products and have demonstrable impact--one goes far beyond just giving Want to give a social gift that gives back?that These companies and
CONFERENCE BREAKS ALL
organizations have found ways to sell beautiful products and have demonstrable social impact--one that goes far beyond just giving
RECORDS IN ETHIOPIA
COMPETE SUPPORTS WOMEN
IN TRADE LOGISTICS IN EAST
AFRICA ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS
Annual Report 2012 | 21
Thought Leadership IA drove the conversation forward at 22 speaking engagements in 2012
MIT Sustainability Summit, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dialogue for Action Africa in Libreville, Gabon
Womensphere Global Summit, Columbia University
Social Innovation Summit, U.N.
Artisan Microfinance: Creating Online Markets and Financing Artisans, Microfinance Club of New York
Uncommon Alliances: Real Partnerships – Real Experiences – Real Impact, U.S. Department of State and The George Washington University School of Business
AllPeopleBeHappy Foundation and Our Global Village Women’s Economic Forum
Clinton School of Public Policy, University of Arkansas The Role of Business in Empowering Women, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center and the U.N. Office for Partnerships
The African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Mission to the U.N.
Social Enterprise Conference, Harvard University
Social Media WE JOINED INSTAGRAM
and POLYVORE
WE REACHED
#socent #fairtrade #ethicalfashion
FOLLOWERS 2% other
WE REACHED FOLLOWERS
28% male 70% female
#rwanda 3% 5% 1% 55-64 65+ 13-17 8% 45-54
12% 18-25
21% 35-44 48%
25-34
OUR FACEBOOK FANS AROUND THE GLOBE
Annual Report 2012 | 19
Regional boards Indego Africa constantly seeks the guidance and support of thoughtful and commited individuals passionate about promoting the economic and social development of our partner artisans. Thanks to our dynamic Regional Board leadership! Boston: Christine Richardson & Alix Saba, Chicago: Joshua & Alexis Lebowitz, Los Angeles: Eric Mills, Miami: April Liberty, Milwaukee: Alice & Cliff Schaut, Minneapolis: Nicole Mjelde, New York: Aaron Bourke, San Francisco: Sarah Gravely & Ann Zeis, Washington, DC: Vanessa Harbin & Nicola Palmer Indego Africa wishes to also thank outgoing regional board chairs Ryan Lester (New York), Daniel Sacks (Washington, DC), and Jake Troy (Boston) for their outstanding service and contributions.
REGIONAL BOARD ACCOLADES
$
% Highest Margin on a Large Event: Washington, DC’s Ibirori gala
Creativity in an Event: Los Angeles’ Legendary “Drag Queen” Bingo
Innovation in Highest Product Sales Outreach: Boston’s at an Event: New Fall Social Media York’s Fall Fashion Friend-raiser Trunk Show
EVENTS NYC: 5th Annual Ibirori gala at the DL, Fall Fashion Trunk Show, Chic Summer Party at SideBar, Bracelet Nights! at Indego Africa HQ
LA: Legendary “Drag Queen” Bingo at Hamburger Mary’s, LA Trunk Show at Industry Café & Jazz, Net Impact Industry Night at the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Women Hold Up Half the Sky Tour at the Skirball Cultural Center CHI: Happy Hour and Trunk Show at O’Callaghan’s, Fair Trade Holiday Market at Emanuel Congregation SF: Pop Up Shop and Happy Hour at Dear Mom DC: 5th Annual Ibirori gala at the Watergate, Happy Hour at Black Jack Bocce Court, 3rd Annual Global Marketplace at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Trunk Show at the Embassy of Rwanda
Financial summary Revenue by Source, 2008 - 2012 (dollars in thousands)
600
500
Fundraiser Revenue 400
Contributions 300
Product Sales 200
100
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Expenses, 2008 - 2012 (dollars in thousands)
600
500
Mgmt & General
400
Development 300
Program Services Cost of Goods Sold
200
100
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Annual Report 2012 | 25
Statement of activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 R E VE NUE A ND S U P P O RT Gross Product Sales Revenue Gross Income From Fundraisers Contributions Other Income, Including Interest Income
222,260 14,513 220,176 348
T O TA L R E V E N U E
4 57, 2 9 7
EXPENSES Cost of Goods Sold Functional Expenses: Program Services Management & General Development TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES
108,025 278,466 54,914 27,207
T O TA L E X P E N S E S
360,587 468,612
S UR P LU S / ( DE F I C I T )
(11,315)
Statement of position as of December 31, 2012 ASSETS Cash and Investments Accounts Receivable Product Inventory Fixed Assets T O TA L A S S E T S LIABILITIES Accounts Payable Other Current Liabilities T O TA L L I A B I L I T I E S A C C U M U L AT E D S U R P L U S T O T A L L I A B I L I T I E S A N D A C C U M U L AT E D S U R P L U S
178,177 13,485 36,427 13,927 242,016 0 16,611 16,611 225,405 242,016
*Consistent with previous years, Indego Africa engaged an independent accounting firm to perform an outside audit for 2012. As soon as audited financials become available, we will make them publicly available at indegoafrica.org/finance-and-governance.
Thank you to our supporters FOUNDER LEVEL SUPPORTERS ($10,000+) AllPeopleBeHappy Foundation Goldman Sachs & Co. Segal Family Foundation
Sun Capital Partners Foundation The Foresta Family Thomas Mitro
Indego Circle level Supporters ($2,500-9,999) American Eagle Richard Smith Robert French & Francine Veilleux
Roger McNamee Survivor Fund Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation
Benefactor Level supporters ($1,000-2,499) Cameron Cowan Christopher Burns Jeffrey Halter Jeffrey Vorchheimer Joy to the World Foundation Joyce Mushaben Katharine Crost Marcella Halter Maryel Locke
Matthew Mitro Nicole Miller Puneet Mansharamani Robert Herrmann Ryan Lester Sherry Dort Taylor Duane Barton & Gilman LLP Vadim Brusser
Patron Level supporters ($500-999) Alia Varsano Ian Gough Joseph Owens Joshua Lebowitz Hon. Michael Arietti
Michael & Megan Brosterman Michelle LeMarchant NYU Paul W. Critchlow Phyllis Yelick
Artisan level supporters ($250-499) Adam Vorchheimer Alan Vorchheimer Andrew Topus Benjamin Stone Brooklyn Public Interest Law Foundation Church of the Pilgrims Cory Fasold Ellen Lazarus Eric Vorchheimer Esta Stecher
Fred Knecht Geoffrey Stone Janet Temko Jennifer Buttrick Lorraine Vorchheimer Mary Mayland Miles Ruthberg & Catherine Schreiber Peter Coll Valerie Asciutto Zachary Kaufman
Friend of Indego Africa Level Supporters ($50-249) Allan Chapin Amir Bennegadi Amy Leigh Fruehling Andre Sastre Ann Schuck Annette Nazareth Ashley Johnson Bernard & Sandy Persky Bill & Kimberly Tolar Bobby Kelly Byron Townsend Caroline Mauldin Chrystal Puleo Cullen Torsney Daniel Sacks David Grothouse David Guss Desiree Fiorello Dominique Strickland Jessee E. Bernard McGlynn, Jr. Gail Hartstein Ifeanyichukwu Oteh Jackson M’vunganyi James Hodge James Rawls
Jill Harris & Danny Bar John Van Wyck Joseph Townsend Julie Midland Kathy VanOtterloo Katrina Wessels Kyle Smith Lesley Herrmann Lillian Fertig Lora Haber Marc Mayerson Margaret Tahyar Mark Fasold Martin Wicks Nancy DeSantis Naomi Sugar Paula Sherman Phoebe Vaughn Ramin Afshar-Moha je Randall Guynn Sarah Srivastava Stephen Amdur Stephen Grothouse Victoria Burr W. Loeber Landau Yael Bennegadi
COORPORATE MATCHING SPONSORS American Express Chevron Goldman Sachs & Co. Google
Jefferies & Company J.P. Morgan PepsiCo
I nde g o Af r i c a ex te nd s a s pe c i a l th ank you to
O r r i c k , H er r i n g ton & S u tc l i f fe L L P for i t s co n t i n u e d s p o n s or s h i p and s u p p or t and to Vi r g i n i a Dav i e s & Wil l a rd Ta yl or, M a r y M a yl and , and At l an t i c M e d i a Co. for g ra c i ou s l y h o s t i n g eve n t s i n 2 01 2 .
A glance Ahead
2013 ARTISAN TRIP TO THE U.S. Indego Africa’s artisan trip is a leadership, education, and community engagement initiative for emerging women leaders from Rwanda. This two-week trip is designed to improve their export market-readiness, deepen their knowledge of global supply chains and operations, enhance their communications and leaderships skills, and interact with partners, supporters, and customers in the U.S. Dates: June 6th to June 20th
PARTICIPANTS
Name: Joselyne Nibagwire Cooperative: Abasangiye Title: Head of QC Other: 10,000 Women graduate…early stage knitwear business owner
Name: Emelienne Nyrimana Cooperative: Cocoki Title: Founder & Treasurer Other: 10,000 Women graduate…2013 Peace Through Business program participant…2011 Artisan Trip participant
Name: Grace Tsuni Uwase Organization: Indego Africa Title: Production Associate Other: B.S. from the National University of Rwanda…Generation Rwanda alumna…former Miss Talent…2013 Women Deliver delegate
We hope that you can join us for one or more events during the 2013 Artisan Trip. For more information, please see: www.indegoafrica.org/artisan-trip.
Annual Report 2012 | 29
Incubator Fund Update Indego Africa raised money in fall 2012 for an Incubator Fund to cover early stage partnership-building costs with new high growth potential artisan groups. As of early 2013, we had invested resources from the Incubator Fund to develop four new partnerships: Abaharanirama jyambere, a weaving cooperative in Butare (see pg. 6) Huguka, a palm leaf weaving cooperative in Kirehe, Ibaba, an embroidery cooperative in Rutongo, and Ibyishimo, a sewing cooperative in Kicukiro (see pg. 5). Stay tuned for additional Incubator Fund updates throughout the year.
THANK YOU! indegoafrica.org
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