2016 ANNUAL REPORT 2015 2016 Last year more than ever before, CECI held out the promise of better days for populations in need, particularly in Nepal, where we helped tens of thousands of people recover from the earthquake that struck in April 2015. © KIRAN AMBWANI CECI’s swift response to support people of all ages in the wake of the disaster made it easier for them to return to the course of everyday life, especially by limiting the number of displacements of families and citizens. © KIRAN AMBWANI CECI helps populations restart and grow their economic activities so they can proudly take part in rebuilding and reinvigorating their communities. © KIRAN AMBWANI CECI not only offers temporary shelter, water, and emergency care, but a new future founded on sustainable development. © KIRAN AMBWANI © BENOIT AQUIN 12 Strategic plan 14 Where we work 14 Africa 16 Asia 17 Latin America 18 Haiti 20 Volunteer cooperation 24 Humanitarian assistance 26 CECI communications 30 Donors and contributors 32 Financial information 2015–2016 36 Members 37 Programs and projects 40 Contact info The UN Summit in September CECI recently wrapped up the second GLOBAL 2015 adopted the 2030 Agenda for year of its 2014–2019 strategic plan, Sustainable Development, which set 17 with the ambitious aim to create an ISSUES Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) international CECI that mobilizes key and laid out an operating framework actors for change in both the South and AND for sustainable development actors the North. like CECI. The goals recognize the SUSTAINABLE universality and the interconnectedness Several important targets have been of the world’s most pressing issues, reached—we have created the first DEVELOP- prompting us to tackle the underlying two advisory committees in countries causes of inequality with innovation and belonging to the CECI family (Haiti MENT creativity. and Nepal) and incorporated our new associate members. The SDGs reaffirm several of the principles that have guided our In spite of damage to our office building organization in defining our programs in Montreal forcing our entire team to and our own goals: the value of temporarily relocate for more than 13 volunteerism as a means to achieving months, we have continued pursuing all long lasting development results, the of our activities. Our efforts to further effectiveness of working in partnership diversify funding for our programs and © KIRAN AMBWANI with diverse actors in development, to extend the organization’s reach to a ROBERT PERREAULT including the private sector, and the wider public have remained constant. President importance of working to achieve Our project portfolio has undergone specific objectives for creating jobs, rapid growth, our operational and improving incomes and building the financial management has remained employability of local populations. strong, and we continue to maintain the highest quality standards in our In more than 20 countries spread out governance. over three continents, CECI rallied 400 volunteer cooperants, 300 employees CECI is a leader within an international © KIRAN AMBWANI and 200 local and Canadian partners in network of partners fighting poverty CLAUDIA BLACK pursuit of our activities in sustainable and exclusion in the world. We draw the Executive Director economic development, food and bulk of our strength from mobilizing human security and equality between actors for change in initiatives that women and men. All the while, we have are local, regional or international in endeavoured to perfect our approaches scope, and from good practices that by building on lessons learned and local foster innovative solutions and creative knowledge and relying on innovation. leadership. In the past year, we directly reached To do our part in reaching the goals set more than 1.2 million marginalized out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable individuals, 52% of whom were women, Development, we are relying on our through approximately 40 projects, team of employees in Canada and in the a dozen of them in humanitarian field, a dedicated group of professionals assistance. The documented results who care deeply about the quality of of our projects are plain to see—they our actions. We would like to offer are the outcome of good practices them our sincere thanks for all the work developed through collaboration, they have done and congratulate their specifically, using a new results efforts. We would also like to express measurement tool we have developed. our gratitude to the Board of Directors, who have dedicated their time and effort to the good governance of the organization. Lastly, we would like to thank all our partners, volunteers, members and donors, without whom we would not be able to pursue our mission. STRATEGIC PLAN — 12 — © KIRAN AMBWANI TOWARDS AN INTERNATIONAL AND EVER INNOVATIVE CECI Since it was founded in 1958, CECI has 2014–2019 strategic plan, CECI intends become an incubator for international on strengthening its position in the SUSTAINABLE cooperation in Quebec and in Canada. world of international cooperation. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CECI has always been an innovator and a groundbreaker. Our organization can CECI has therefore undertaken the FOOD be credited with laying the groundwork ambitious creation of an international SECURITY for international cooperation in Quebec, CECI that mobilizes key actors for the mainstreaming of human rights in change in both the South and the bilateral programs of the Canadian Inter- North. This vision stems from an HUMAN national Development Agency (CIDA), analysis that aligns the organization’s SECURITY and the creation of flagship programs like future prospects with a shift toward Women’s Rights and Citizenship in West more equal relationships between our GENDER Africa, Leave for Change and Uniterra, organization and national organizations. EQUALITY the largest international volunteer It supports CECI’s potential to become cooperation program in Canada. an international organization that facilitates collaborative relationships The accomplishments CECI has made between the South and the North. in our nearly 60-year history bear CECI is working toward this vision in witness to what the organization has pursuit of the development results to offer to meet the challenges of the it has targeted in each of its fields future. While implementing the of expertise: — 13 — © JULES TUSSEAU © GENEVIÈVE ROY © BENOIT AQUIN reflect our relationships with civil chances for success by developing a society in the countries where we collaborative approach with strategic work and to better anchor CECI in partners, including: Quebec/Canadian civil society. — The World University Service — Further diversify CECI’s sources of of Canada (WUSC), through the funding both abroad and at home Uniterra program and other and reduce our dependence on development projects government funding. — WUSC, SACO and the Fondation — Increase CECI’s visibility among Paul Gérin-Lajoie (FPGL), through donors and operational partners the Volunteer Cooperation in Canada and in our countries of Program in Haiti intervention through a strong and — Alliance agricole internationale distinctive image. (AAI), SOCODEVI and UPA-DI, through food security initiatives. Strengthening democratic governance A STRATEGIC AND Faced with development challenges, will always be intrinsic to the COLLABORATIVE APPROACH NGOs are well positioned to be the approaches that CECI employs. torchbearers of change by acting as Consulting with local actors also Over the years, CECI has served as a intermediaries to ensure different remains a core component of bridge and a guide for organizations in types and levels of social action. our interventions, as do the systematic Quebec and the rest of Canada whose NGOs can bridge geographical mainstreaming of climate change mission is to bolster cooperation and barriers locally and internationally, and environmental protection. international development efforts. institutional gaps between civil We have developed numerous society, government and the private Our vision of rebuilding relationships partnerships with civil society sector, and philosophical differences around reciprocity is shifting CECI’s organizations based in Quebec and by putting values into concrete action. paradigm for engaging with partners to the rest of Canada. We also work to do the following: forge strategic partnerships in the — Foster the autonomy of CECI’s private sector, a full-fledged actor for country teams so they become self- development, while standing by our reliant national entities responsible mission and our values. This is what CECI for developing their own country has endeavoured programming in tandem and in Constantly on the lookout for coordination with the head office. complementarity, innovation and to do every day for — Transform CECI’s governance efficiency to achieve meaningful the last 58 years! structure and membership to results, CECI has maximized its WHERE WE WORK — 14 — Since CECI was created in 1958, we have promoted learning AFRICA and exchange of knowledge Moving Forward in and know-how. We provide the Face of Challenge resources, advice and training to our partners and to the communities we work with in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Haiti. Our efforts to promote values such as cooperation, equality and equity take their basis in local know-how and the creativity of many stakeholders in development. By drawing strength from local assets, we have helped create an environment hospitable to innovation at the local, national