Skills to Share Futures to Build Annual Report 2018–2019 Cuso International 2018–2019 Annual Report ISSN 2561-7354 Cuso International is a not-for-profit development organization that works to eradicate poverty and inequality through the efforts of highly skilled volunteers, collaborative partnerships and compassionate donors. Established in 1961, Cuso International is a registered charity in Canada and the United States. Registered charitable numbers: Canada: 81111 6813 RR0001 United States: EIN 30-0545486 We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada. We would also like to recognize support from the following institutional donors: the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, European Union and LafargeHolcim. This report is also available in French and Spanish. Ce bulletin est également disponible en français. Este informe también está disponible en español. Cuso International 44 Eccles Street #200 Ottawa ON K1R 6S4 Canada T: 888-434-2876 cusointernational.org © Cuso International, 2019. Printed in Canada. On the cover: Sabae, 32, is one of numerous women /CusoInternational @CusoIntl who turn trash into treasure at Chu Chu in Myanmar. Cuso International @cusointernational Photo: Brian Atkinson Table of Contents Vision, mission and values 2 Message from the Chair and CEO 3 Cuso International around the world 4 By the numbers 7 Harnessing the power of volunteerism 9 Investing in women and girls 11 Promoting sustainable opportunities 13 Midwives Save Lives 15 YouLead: Inspiring local solutions 17 SCOPE: Innovative and inclusive 19 T-LED builds futures 21 Canadian Program grows 23 Partnering for innovation 24 Finances 26 Board of Directors 27 Power partner: Randstad Canada 28 Why we give 29 Annual Report 2018–2019 | 1 Our Vision Our vision includes a world where all people are able to realize their potential, develop their skills and participate fully in society. Our Mission Reduce poverty and inequality through the efforts of volunteers, partners and donors. Our Values Partnership: We believe in the power of people. We employ a people-centred approach to development and the challenge of overcoming poverty and inequality. Respect and Integrity: We value diversity. We recognize and care about the rights and dignity of others. Accountability: We proactively demonstrate that we work with and on behalf of others. We seek to achieve and inspire excellence. 2 | Annual Report 2018–2019 Message from the Chair and CEO hen you work in the international more than a dozen knowledge and learning Wdevelopment sector your success can be products, including capacity statements, measured against a multitude of criteria. participatory workshops, learning huddles, Articulating our successful outcomes is essential webinars, training sessions and technical briefs. as it keeps us accountable to our funders and the In keeping with our roots and our strategic goals, people we work with. But our success also shows Cuso International is committed to being a in subtler forms. Our partners, staff and learning and knowledge sharing organization. volunteers tell us that, in the field or on the We continue to deliver results from our ground, a job well done means a beneficiary Innovation Fund projects in Cameroon, the gains a sense of hope and confidence, or a Philippines and Peru. And we expanded the mother smiles for the first time because her child footprint of our education projects for Indigenous is safe. The soul of our work lies in these youth in Canada’s North together with local nuanced events. We’re proud of every action we education councils and communities. undertook this year to advance our vision. In 2018–2019, Cuso volunteers contributed In 2018–2019, Cuso secured funding for six more technical assistance and support to our new projects focused on advancing gender beneficiaries, partners and clients than in equality, empowering women and girls, and any previous year. And, we were recognized improving economic opportunities for youth. We as a 2019 recipient of the Hire Immigrants did this in collaboration with private and public Ottawa Employer Excellence award. funding partners, namely Global Affairs Canada, The impacts we realized this year are United Nations agencies, European Union and significant, and the Board joins us in thanking LafargeHolcim. We led the development of many our volunteers, alumni, generous donors, staff external policy documents, including Guyana’s and partners for their contributions. Together we first gender policy, and contributed to Nigeria’s look forward to accomplishing great things in the Green Economy Framework. We also developed year ahead. Frank O’Dea Glenn Mifflin Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer Annual Report 2018–2019 | 3 Cuso International around the world ogether with our partners, volunteers and Tstaff, Cuso International is solving problems, implementing solutions and working toward Benin eradicating poverty and inequality—one community at a time. In 2018–2019, our Advanced work on Women Engaged programs touched millions of beneficiaries in 21 for Human Dignity in Northern Benin, countries across four continents. which helps 57,000 girls, local leaders and health and education professionals fight female genital Guyana mutilation and gender-based violence. • Trained 500 women from 10 regions on community development and local government leadership. • Taught women to design, plan, monitor and evaluate community projects from a gender perspective. Jamaica Helped Rise Life diversify its funding sources so it can train local people (predominantly vulnerable youth) to manage and reduce waste by making items from upcycled waste material. 4 | Annual Report 2018–2019 Where we work Cameroon Benin Bolivia Collaborated with Centre pour l’Environnement Cameroon et Développement and Indigenous Baka youth Canada and women to improve production, conservation Colombia and marketing of local honey. Product now sold Democratic locally with proceeds supporting Baka people. Republic of Congo El Salvador Ethiopia Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia Guyana Honduras • The SANI (Southern African Nutrition Initiative) Jamaica project worked with partners to improve women’s Laos knowledge about water, sanitation and hygiene. Malawi • Shared knowledge on optimal breastfeeding. Mozambique • Worked with communities on dietary diversity. Myanmar Nicaragua Nigeria Peru Philippines Myanmar Tanzania Piloted two campaigns: Zambia • Say No to Plastic, which reduces use of plastic in tourist destinations, and • #MyMyanmarDad, which celebrates fathers and showcases shared household responsibilities in an innovative approach to reducing gender-based violence. Annual Report 2018–2019 | 5 National volunteer at the youth employment center in San Juan de Miraflores, Lima, Peru. 6 | Annual Report 2018–2019 By the numbers 21 countries 182 staff 326 partners 581 e-volunteers 677 volunteers 15,320 donors $48,063,729 revenue 4,147,301 beneficiaries A young Cuso beneficiary in Adama, Ethiopia. Annual Report 2018–2019 | 7 “At the workshop on soil fertility management, I experimented with the use of ash from plant residues on crops attacked by pests. The results were immediate. I extended the experiment to other flower beds and this gave the same great results.” Pululu Teka Gardener, Democratic Republic of Congo 8 | Annual Report 2018–2019 Harnessing the power of volunteerism uso International has completed 80 per cent partners, Cuso volunteer Economic Development Cof its five-year Volunteers for International Advisor Alexis Malu reviewed agricultural Cooperation and Empowerment (VOICE) project. practices at four sites, identified problems and Through VOICE, highly skilled volunteers and found viable solutions. Alexis and his team also local partners are working together in 17 trained eight site delegates on how to correct the countries to promote gender equality, social most pervasive problems, train market gardeners inclusion and inclusive economic growth—and to and help gardeners train other members. With improve access to high-quality health services. In Cuso’s support, nine new committees—71 per 2018–2019, projects ranged from developing a cent led by women—have been set up to sustain farm-friendly mobile application to supporting the operation. They are forming an agricultural research on youth employability. cooperative that will implement marketing strategies, standardize sales and pricing, and Farmers’ initiative improves yields for local improve marketing channels. gardeners “Many farmers are mentoring other market In the commune of Kinkolé, La N’Sele, gardeners, helping them improve the quality and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), outdated yields of their crops,” says Alexis. “We now have market gardening practices were hindering the strategies to turn their harvests into income- success of producers. Working closely with generating opportunities.” 63market gardeners are 2 new partnerships have emerged to benefiting from improved soil support the initiative, including Le fertility, fewer pests and improved Cadre permanent de Concertation de product quality. la Femme Congolaise (CAFCO). Annual Report 2018–2019 | 9 “Everything I do is for my son. I was working for another employer when I became pregnant and was forced to quit my job. Kakaw hired me because I am a young single mother.” Carla Canales Kakaw employee, Honduras 10 | Annual Report 2018–2019 Investing in women and girls ur partners, strategic allies, international Along with our new partner Instituto