DOCSLIB.ORG

South Sudan South Sudan Celebrated Its One-Year Anniversary on July 9, 2012

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
South Sudan South Sudan Celebrated Its One-Year Anniversary on July 9, 2012 South Sudan South Sudan celebrated its one-year anniversary on July 9, 2012. BRAC has been active in the area since 2007, and has grown to become one of the largest NGO in the young country supporting the communities through microfinance, agriculture development, health, and education programmes. BRAC is expanding in South Sudan by providing technical and grant support to 79 local non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations working in all 10 states of the country through a special government and UN peace fund. What started out in 1972 in a remote village of Bangladesh as a limited relief operation, turned into the largest development organisation in the world. Of major non-governmental organisations, BRAC is one of the few based in the global south. Today, BRAC is a development success story, spreading solutions born in Bangladesh to 10 other countries around the world – a global leader in creating opportunity for the world’s poor. Organising the poor using communities’ own human and material resources, it catalyses lasting change, creating an ecosystem in which the poor have the chance to seize control of their own lives. We do this with a holistic development approach geared toward inclusion, using tools like microfinance, education, healthcare, legal services, community empowerment and more. Our work now touches the lives of an estimated 126 million people across the world, with staff and BRAC-trained entrepreneurs numbering in the hundreds of thousands – a global movement bringing change to 11 2012 countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. South Sudan Annual Report 01 Mission, Vision and Values CONTENTS 02 Chairperson’s Statement 04 Corporate Governance 06 Agriculture 09 Health 12 Adolescent Girls’ Initiative 14 Education 17 Microfinance 19 Support Programmes 23 Country Map 24 BRAC Across the World 26 Governance 27 Management 27 Development Partners 28 Operational and Financial Highlights 31 Financial Statements Annual Report 2012 1 Vision, Mission and Values Vision Mission Values A world free from all forms of Our mission is to empower Innovation exploitation and people and communities in For forty years, BRAC has been an innovator in the creation of opportunities for the poor to discrimination where situations of poverty, illiteracy, lift themselves out of poverty. We value everyone has the opportunity disease and social injustice. creativity in programme design and strive to display global leadership in groundbreaking to realise their potential. Our interventions aim to development initiatives. achieve large scale, positive changes through economic Integrity and social programmes that We value transparency and accountability in all our professional work, with clear policies enable men and women to and procedures, while displaying the utmost realise their potential. level of honesty in our financial dealings. We hold these to be the most essential elements of our work ethic. Inclusiveness We are committed to engaging, supporting and recognising the value of all members of the society, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity, age, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic status and geography. Effectiveness We value efficiency and excellence in all our work, constantly challenging ourselves to perform better, to meet and exceed programme targets, and to improve and deepen the impact of our interventions. 2 Annual Report 2012 Chairperson’s Statement It gives me great pleasure to present the annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012. As South Sudan celebrated its first anniversary this year as an independent nation, there are still many steps the new country needs to take to achieve some stability. Violence remains as one of the most pressing issues plaguing the country and is likely to internally displace about 200,000 people, while up to 350,000 refugees, mainly from Sudan are expected to return to the country in 2013, according to a UN report. Food insecurity is another challenge which we are attempting to address as heightened conflict and economic instability is likely to increase the number of people requiring food assistance by more than a million. One million children remain out-of- school in South Sudan, and our effort in reaching these children through our current resources will not be met. With initial funding from Petrofac and Stromme Foundation, BRAC successfully ran 110 schools in South Sudan, with 3,116 students already graduating from the community girls schools. In addition to those schools, BRAC is also operating 115 schools in eight counties, with funding from Comic Relief and Stromme Foundation, where a total of 3,450 children are given the opportunity of completing non-formal primary education. Through our accelerated learning programme for older children we will reintegrate them in income Annual Report 2012 3 generation activities once they complete Currently, the cure rate of SAM cases in of great value. As situation continues to their courses. South Sudan stands at 92 per cent. evolve, BRAC will continue to re-evaluate its strategy. I thank the South Sudanese We have commitment from the Over four million South Sudanese are government and our development partners Department for International Development reportedly at risk of food insecurity this in South Sudan for their continued support (DFID) of UK and Stromme Foundation to year, with at least one million likely to face as we strive to create greater value in open 330 new schools, which will reach severe consequences due to the high our services to contribute towards the approximately 9,900 children in 2013. food prices and poor commercial supplies progress and prosperity of South Sudan. Much more needs to be done to steer feared in most parts of the country. this country out of this status quo and, Agriculture remains one of the primary education, I believe is the key to unlock sources of employment for South Sudan, the potential of the South Sudanese. and to support the farmers, we provided seeds and tools, which we received from Our adolescent girls’ initiative project, the United Nations Food and Agriculture in partnership with the World Bank, Organisation, and the World Food continues to thrive by socially and Programme. Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, KCMG financially empowering adolescents and Founder and Chairperson young women. We currently provide these In 2012, various measures were BRAC & BRAC International girls with life skills and livelihood training, taken in our microfinance programme, followed by financial literacy, and additional including stricter quality control and saving and credit services along with tighter supervision, branch review and community sensitisation. As of December close monitoring. It was decided that 2012, we have 3,000 members in our the microfinance programme should adolescent clubs, and 2,913 girls have be phased down after an analysis was been given livelihoods training. A number conducted which showed that the of these girls have started their small microfinance programme will not be businesses in hairdressing and tailoring sustainable in the current environment. and earning decent income. The strategic shift led us to focus on ultra-poor initiative, based on the model In the health sector, we have been BRAC developed in Bangladesh and other selected as a principal recipient under the countries. Global Fund for a tuberculosis programme, to commence operations from 2014. I would like to take this opportunity to We also served therapeutic food and thank our team in South Sudan who treatment through our two outpatient have worked diligently under difficult therapeutic programme to over 2,300 circumstances. I extend my sincere thanks Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases to the members of the governing body, amongst children under-five years of age. whose leadership and foresight has been 4 Annual Report 2012 BRAC International Governance and Management 1. Governance Members of the Governing Body 1.1 The legal status of BRAC Chairperson : Sir Fazle Hasan Abed International Member : Dr Mahabub Hossain BRAC International is registered Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali as Stichting BRAC International, a Ms Susan Davis foundation registered under the laws Ms Sylvia Barren of The Netherlands, with its seat in Dr Debopriya Bhattacharya The Hague. All of BRAC International’s Ms Shabana Azmi development entities operate Mr Shafiq ul Hassan under this umbrella. Development Ms Parveen Mahmud programmes include health, Ms Irene Zubaida Khan education, agriculture, livelihoods, targeting the ultra poor, human rights The composition of the present Governing body of BRAC International & legal services programmes. BRAC Holdings B.V. is as follows: International Holdings B.V. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stichting BRAC Chairperson : Sir Fazle Hasan Abed International. BRAC International’s Member : Dr Mahabub Hossain microfinance, programme supporting Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali enterprises and finance company Ms Susan Davis are consolidated under this wing. Ms Sylvia Borren Programme supporting enterprises Orangefield Trust (Netherlands) B.V. currently include seed production, feed mill, training centres and tissue Details about the roles of governing External audit of Stichting BRAC culture lab. body are available in the Deed of International, BRAC International Incorporation of Stichting BRAC Holdings B.V. and all of our legal BRAC International has introduced International and BRAC International entities are undertaken annually. programmes in Afghanistan,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Brac Lanka Finance PLC 2013 Cover
    CHANGING LIVES ANNUAL REPORT 2013/14 OUR VISION To be a customer centric, innovative and broad based financial solutions partner. OUR MISSION Operate and expand aggressively, efficiently and Setup the ‘best-in-the-breed’ operational platform to profitably; with special focus on the Micro, Small and support growth aspirations Medium Enterprise segments Offer a challenging and rewarding work environment that Develop and offer high quality, innovative products and provides opportunities for growth services Contribute to the quality of life in our communities Seek and grow business and markets with significant potential growth Transform the company into a trusted household financial brand Make products easily accessible to the target consumer by investing in distribution channels CONTENTS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FINANCIAL INFORMATION Chairman’s Review 04 Independent Auditors’ Report 66 CEO’s Report 06 Statement of Comprehensive Income 67 Board of Directors 08 Statement of Financial Position 68 Management Discussion & Analysis 12 Statement of Changes in Equity 69 Operational Review 14 Cash Flow Statement 70 Financial Review 16 Notes to the Financial Statements 71 Risk Management 18 Shareholders’ Information 98 Branch Network 100 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Notice of Meeting 101 Sustainability Report 24 Notes 102 Our Events 27 Brac Lanka Finance PLC Form of Proxy Corporate Governance Report 29 Corporate Information - Inner Back Cover Report of the Directors 55 Director’s Statement on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting 60 Report of the Audit Committee 61 Report of the Integrated Risk Management Committee 61 Report of The Remuneration Committee 62 Directors‘ Responsibility For Financial Reporting 63 CHANGING LIVES BRAC Lanka Finance PLC was established with a passion and tenaciousness to support and sustain the emerging lives of Sri Lankans.
    [Show full text]
  • National Audit Chamber the Report of the Auditor
    NATIONAL AUDIT CHAMBER THE REPORT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2008 TO THE PRESIDENT THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN NATIONAL LEGISLATIVEASSEMBLY 1 2 CONTENTS Auditor General’s Opinion 7 Financial Statements for 2008 18 Chapter – 1 : Oil Revenue 75 Chapter – 2 : Non- Oil Revenue 89 Chapter – 3 : Ministry of Cabinet Affairs 97 Chapter – 4 : Ministry of Commerce, Trade &Supply 105 Chapter – 5 : Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 117 Chapter – 6 : Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning 133 Chapter – 7 : Ministry of Health 153 Chapter – 8 : Ministry of Internal Affairs 173 Chapter – 9 : Judiciary 191 Chapter – 10 : Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional 203 Development Chapter – 11 : Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly 213 Chapter – 12 :Ministry of Sudan People’s Liberation Army 233 Affairs Chapter – 13 : Southern Sudan Electricity Commission 255 Chapter – 14 : Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission 267 3 4 SOUTH SUDAN NATIONAL AUDIT CHAMBER AUDITOR GENERAL’S OPINION ON GOVERNMENT OF SOUTHERN SUDAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF 2008 5 6 SOUTH SUDAN NATIONAL AUDIT CHAMBER OPINION OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2008 1. INTRODUCTION The year 2008 was the fourth fiscal cycle of the Government of Southern Sudan. The Financial Statements for 2008 were issued in January 2012 and hence the late presentation. The audit of the Financial Statements of 2008 was conducted in 2012. Government Ministries and Agencies were more responsive to audit than in previous years. I thank the President for his helpful phone calls on this matter.
    [Show full text]
  • Brac Saajan Exchange Ltd Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2020
    Company Registration No. 06469886 (England and Wales) BRAC SAAJAN EXCHANGE LTD ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 BRAC SAAJAN EXCHANGE LTD COMPANY INFORMATION Directors Mr Kazi Mahmood Sattar Mr Selim Reza Farhad Hussain Mr Abdus Salam Secretary Mr Rais Uddin Ahmed Company number 06469886 Registered office 160-162 Lozells Road Lozells Birmingham B19 2SX Auditor Reddy Siddiqui LLP 183-189 The Vale Acton London W3 7RW BRAC SAAJAN EXCHANGE LTD CONTENTS Page Strategic report 1 - 6 Directors' report 7 - 8 Directors' responsibilities statement 9 Independent auditor's report 10 - 12 Statement of comprehensive income 13 Balance sheet 14 Statement of changes in equity 15 Statement of cash flows 16 Notes to the financial statements 17 - 35 BRAC SAAJAN EXCHANGE LTD STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2020. Fair Review of the Business The company, a subsidiary of BRAC Bank Limited of Bangladesh, provides remittance services and cross- border payment solutions for South Asian migrants living in UK and Europe. It offers a wide range of payment services principally to Bangladesh and Pakistan but also to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The company also offers its services through a French subsidiary, based in Paris. Revenue is earned through a combination of transaction fees and foreign exchange margin. Total remittance to all receiving countries fell by 16% from £542m in 2019 to £455m in 2020. UK retail volume which has been effected by the Covid-19 pandemic, saw a reduction of 20% to £189m.
    [Show full text]
  • Knowing No Fear
    United Nations Mission May 2010 In BBC presenter SUDANZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi ZeinabBadawi Knowing no fear Published by UNMIS Public Information Office INSIDE 3 Special Focus: BUSINESS 17 April: The European Union Observer’s mission • Mummies, medicine and Coca Cola and Carter Centre issued separate preliminary Diary statements on Sudanese elections, saying they • Everywhere a bank paved the way for democratic progress and • Reeling in shared profit constituted a Comprehensive Peace Agreement benchmark, although they fell short • Doing business in Abou Shouk of international standards on the whole. The African Union Observer Mission said the • One block at a time elections, though imperfect, were historically significant and an important milestone • From guns to goods in the country’s peace and democratization process. Congratulating the Sudanese people, the League of Arab States Observer Mission hoped the elections would be a 9 Transport catalyst for further democratic transformation and development. Levelling Juba roads 18 April: UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan Georg Charpentier warned that 10 Profile: Zeinab Badawi continued instability in parts of the eastern Jebel Marra area in Darfur had prevented agencies from accessing areas where they had been providing aid, including food, Knowing no fear water, and medicines, over the past five years. 11 Secretary-General’s report 26 April: Announcing preliminary results for Sudan’s elections, the National Ban calls for referenda preparations Elections Commission (NEC) declared that National Congress Party candidate Omar Al Bashir had topped the poll for President of Sudan with 68.2 per cent of the vote.
    [Show full text]
  • 87. Briscoe, Two Decades of Change in a Bangladeshi Village, Econ&Political Weekly 2001, Reprinted In
    Two Decades of Change in a Bangladeshi Village Author(s): John Briscoe Source: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 36, No. 40 (Oct. 6-12, 2001), pp. 3823-3825+3827- 3828 Published by: Economic and Political Weekly Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4411199 Accessed: 31/05/2009 20:47 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=epw. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship. We work with the scholarly community to preserve their work and the materials they rely upon, and to build a common research platform that promotes the discovery and use of these resources. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Economic and Political Weekly is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Economic and Political Weekly. http://www.jstor.org I Perspectives billowing white - and rose-colored sails, Two Decades of Change going to harvest paddy in the Sylhet Depression.
    [Show full text]
  • Organisation Analysis Ccma 1.1 Organization Brac
    ORGANISATION ANALYSIS CCMA 1.1 ORGANIZATION BRAC BRAC Dolores Ramón Martínez BRAC is an international development non-governmental organization devised in 1972’s ‘war-torn newly independent’ (Hossain and Segunpta, 2009: 23) Bangladesh by its founder F. H. Abed. It started as a small committee of volunteers who wanted to help returning refugees after a devastating cyclone and the immediately after War of Independence from Pakistan - considered genocidal on the Bangladeshis (Hossain, 2017). Nowadays it is considered the largest NGO in the world (Ellis, 2016) with more than 120.000 employees in eleven different countries and is acclaimed worldwide for its innovative approach and highly significant contribution to poverty eradication. BRAC’S VISION: ‘A world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination where everyone has the opportunity to realize their potential.’ BRAC’S MISSION: ‘To empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease and social injustice. BRAC’s interventions aim to achieve large scale, positive changes through economic and social programmes that enable men and women to realize their potential.’ BRAC’S VALUES: ‘Innovation Integrity Inclusiveness Effectiveness’ BRAC’S FUTURE GOALS: ‘BRAC’s global strategy outlines three priority goals scaling up its global ambition to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within the next 10 years: 1 empowering at least 250 million people to have control over their own livelihoods; reaching at least 30% of the participants with multiple interventions;
    [Show full text]
  • An End in Sight for Ultra-Poverty Scaling up BRAC’S Graduation Model for the Poorest
    Briefing Note #1: Ending extreme poverty November 2013 An end in sight for ultra-poverty Scaling up BRAC’s graduation model for the poorest Can we end the worst forms of human poverty? Falling poverty rates are now Summary observed in every region of the world. In f Even below $1.25 a day, the April, World Bank president Jim Yong poor are not a homogeneous Kim announced 2030 as the global target group. date to end “extreme poverty,” defined as living on or below the equivalent of f The very poorest can “graduate” $1.25 per day. Media have taken the from ultra-poverty with a set of rhetoric seriously, pointing out that carefully sequenced, tailored the percentage of people living at that interventions. Adaptations of level has halved since 1990, from 43% BRAC’s methodology have (or 1.9 billion people) to 21% (1.2 seen 75-98% graduation rates. Media contacts: billion), and that if current trends hold, the global poverty rate may well fall to f BRAC is ready to leverage its Soraya Auer single digits in as soon as 10 years.1 The experience by working with others in a global strategy to BRAC Brooking Institution and the World [email protected] end the worst forms of human Bank published separate reports in 2013 poverty. T: +88 02 9881265, ext. 3191 analyzing the prospects of bringing the rate close to zero by 2030.2 Scott MacMillan BRAC USA [email protected] It would be a mistake, however, to treat destitution, the ultra-poor often do not T: +1 212 808 5615 those below the $1.25-a-day threshold benefit from market-based interventions as a homogeneous pool.
    [Show full text]
  • Gratitude Report 2020
    GRATITUDE REPORT 2020 A HISTORY OF BRAC SOLUTIONS An estimated 600 million people live in extreme poverty around the world and, in 2020, extreme poverty will rise globally for the first time in 22 years. Throughout its history, BRAC has designed and implemented solutions confronting the seemingly insurmountable challenges that people living in poverty face, and this year has been no different. In fact, it has never been more important. This ambitious work would not be possible without you. Thank you for your support. A HISTORY OF BRAC SOLUTIONS THE AUDACITY OF BRAC This year, so many have been forced to face new realities that have upended routines and challenged perspectives. For BRAC, this has meant mobilizing its global workforce and adapting its programs to address the triple burden of the health, socioeconomic, and humanitarian crises caused by COVID-19. What has remained constant, however, has been BRAC’s commitment to serving people living in poverty and confronting crises with innovative and audacious solutions. This report explores cases throughout BRAC’s history that demonstrate the organization’s commitment to tackling seemingly intractable challenges. Despite the difficulties and risk involved, BRAC’s dedication and motivation has always been to support people to realize their potential, and this is what guides our work through today’s uncertainties. As this history has inspired BRAC’s work, we hope it will inspire you as well. A LEARNING ORGANIZATION LOOKING FORWARD: BRAC is continuously innovating and iterating upon its EDUCATION IN SOUTH SUDAN programs to best serve the people for whom they are designed. Here, we share some of BRAC’s latest solutions addressing entrenched poverty.
    [Show full text]
  • Sudan Agricultural Enterprise Finance Program Final Report
    SUDAN AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE FINANCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT APRIL 30, 2008 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Chemonics International Inc. SUDAN AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE FINANCE PROGRAM FINAL REPORT Contract No. 623-C-00-02-00087-00 The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS Acronyms ............................................................................................................................v Executive Summary ............................................................................................................1 Section I: The Country Context ..........................................................................................3 Section II: The AEFP Approach .........................................................................................4 Section III: Project Overview .............................................................................................6 Section IV: Establishing SUMI ........................................................................................10 Section V: Building SUMI’s Capacity .............................................................................14 Section VI: Geographic Expansion....................................................................................20 Section VII: New Product Development ..........................................................................25
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Lanka Wonder of Asia
    Sri Lanka Wonder of Asia An Indian Ocean island republic famous for its tea, coffee and cinnamon, Sri Lanka bore the brunt of the 2004 Asian tsunami. BRAC quickly responded to the disaster by setting up relief and emergency operations in 2005. Since then, BRAC has expanded its outreach, touching the lives of an estimated 527,000 Sri Lankans, helping to improve livelihoods through rigorous capacity development training and providing over USD 74.2 million in microloans, with 74,000 active borrowers across the country’s 15 most vulnerable districts. What started out in 1972 in a remote village of Bangladesh as a limited relief operation BRAC - has turned into the largest development organisation in the world. Of major nongovernmental organisation, it is one of the few based in the global south. Today, BRAC is a development success story, spreading solutions born in Bangladesh to 10 other countries around the world – a global leader in creating opportunity for the world’s poor. Organising the poor using communities’ own human and material resources, it catalyses lasting change, creating an ecosystem in which the poor have the chance to seize control of their own lives. We do this with a holistic development approach geared toward inclusion, using TOOLSÖLIKEÖMICROÙNANCE ÖEDUCATION ÖHEALTHCARE ÖLEGALÖ services, community empowerment and more. Our work now touches the lives of an estimated 126 million people, with staff and BRAC-trained entrepreneurs numbering in the hundreds of thousands – a global movement bringing change to 10 countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, with operations in our 11th country, Philippines, being launched in 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted 2021 Laureate
    World Food Prize Foundation - 2021 Laureate SHAKUNTALA HARAKSINGH THILSTED EMBARGOED UNTIL MAY 11, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. CDT 2021 LAUREATE SHAKUNTALAWorld Food Prize Foundation - 2021 Laureate HARAKSINGH THILSTED Trinidad & Tobago and Denmark Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, native of Trinidad and Tobago and a citizen of Denmark, will receive the 2021 World Food Prize for her groundbreaking research, critical insights and landmark innovations in developing holistic, nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquaculture and food systems. By bringing together interdisciplinary and international collaborators, she drove transformations in aquatic food systems to deliver improved nutrition, resilient ecosystems and secure livelihoods for millions of vulnerable people across the globe. hilsted’s trailblazing research on small native fish species in Bangladesh led to the Tdevelopment of nutrition-sensitive approaches to aquatic food systems at all levels, from the farm to food processing to final consumers, resulting in improved diets for millions of the most vulnerable people in Asia and Africa. Nutrition-sensitive approaches place nutrition and public health at the core of how food is produced, processed, transported, priced, distributed and consumed. Thilsted expanded the evolution of food systems from “feeding” to “nourishing” hundreds of millions of people who depend on fish and other aquatic foods as an integral part of their food and nutrition security, livelihoods and culture. While fashioning more productive and sustainable aquaculture practices for smallholder farmers, Thilsted proceeded to rejuvenate agro-ecosystems, broaden biodiversity and activate women’s involvement in fisheries. She extended her mission to increase fish consumption through the creation and widespread use of safe, nutritious fish-based foods and reduction of food waste.
    [Show full text]
  • BRAC International Opens New Bank in Sub-Saharan Africa
    02 May 2019 BRAC International Opens New Bank in sub-Saharan Africa • World’s largest development organisation has transformed its microfinance operation in Uganda into a bank • Three new equity partners - DEG, Equator Capital Partners, and Triple Jump - have joined the newly transformed BRAC Uganda Bank Limited for the next stage • The aim is to provide far wider financial access and support to Ugandans particularly in rural communities The world’s largest development organisation, BRAC, has transformed its microfinance operation in Uganda into a bank in an effort to broaden and deepen financial inclusion for hundreds of thousands of people. The NGO has diluted its 100% shareholding in BRAC Uganda Bank Limited, held through BRAC International Holdings BV, to meet regulatory requirements of transforming the biggest microfinance operation in Uganda into a Tier 2 Credit Institution. Enclude Capital Advisory UK Limited, a specialist impact investment bank owned by Palladium and longtime partner to BRAC, acted as the sole financial advisor. Three investors have each acquired 17% of BRAC Uganda Bank Limited. The new equity partners include German development finance institution DEG (Deutsche Investitions - und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH), Equator Capital Partners, the experienced fund manager investing in financial inclusion, and Triple Jump, the Dutch impact-focused investment manager. BRAC International plans to use the proceeds of the sale to further expand its operations in other countries with low levels of access to finance. Starting in 2006, BRAC Uganda now serves over 200,000 clients, with its 163 branches in 84 districts of the country. As part of its commitment to provide a range of financial services particularly for women in rural and low-income communities, BRAC has been pursuing a change in its regulatory status.
    [Show full text]