Annual Report 2019–2020 SKILLS TO SHARE. FUTURES TO BUILD. TABLE OF Cuso International 2019–2020 Annual Report Published by Cuso International Ottawa, Ontario ISSN 2561-7354 CONTENTS Cuso International is a Canadian not-for-profit development organization that works in partnership with governments, civil society organizations, 4 Vision, Mission and Values multilateral agencies and the private sector. We develop and deliver programs aimed at advancing Message from the Chair and CEO gender equality, promoting the empowerment 5 of women and girls, and improving economic opportunities for young people. Each year, we 6 Cuso International around the world mobilize hundreds of volunteer professionals, who work alongside local partners to maximize 8 Impact by the numbers their impact and build capacity. 9 Innovative program partnerships 10 VOICE: Skilled volunteers in action 10 Agricultural project takes root in Benin 12 Investing in Indigenous women and girls in Peru 14 Myanmar: Supporting survivors of Established in 1961, Cuso International is a registered charity in Canada and the United States. gender-based violence 16 Midwives Save Lives 18 YouLead: Investing in Nigeria’s youth 20 SCOPE: Creating opportunities for all in Colombia We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global 22 T-LED: Boosting business outcomes in Tanzania Affairs Canada. Registered charitable numbers: 24 Women of northern Benin champion health rights Canada: 81111 6813 RR0001 United States: EIN 30-0545486 26 Canadian Program: Improving education outcomes in the North Cuso International 44 Eccles Street #200 28 Financials Ottawa ON K1R 6S4 Canada Green Earth Centre 29 Board of Directors T: 888. 434. 2876 Laongam, Laos cusointernational.org 30 Thank you, Rotary International Photo: Brian Atkinson On the cover: Northern Benin Photo: Brian Atkinson 31 Why I Give 2 Annual Report 2019–2020 Annual Report 2019–2020 3 MESSAGE FROM THE OUR VISION A world where all people are able to realize their potential, develop their skills and participate fully in society. CHAIR AND CEO OUR MISSION At Cuso International, we put a lot of thought new partnerships and identified new To reduce poverty and inequality through the efforts into tackling poverty and inequality and in opportunities to serve vulnerable communities. of volunteers, partners and donors. achieving demonstrable impact. These With the support of our individual donors, principles are built into the strategic institutional partners, staff and volunteers over conversations we have before we write any OUR VALUES the past year, more than 4.5 million women, proposal, consider any project, or approach Partnership: We believe in the power of people. men and youth have benefited from our any partner. This year, we are pleased to say We employ a people-centred approach to development programs to develop their livelihoods, care we had a lot of these conversations. and the challenge of overcoming poverty and inequality. for their families and become leaders in their In addition to running our longstanding communities. In these pages, we provide a Respect and Integrity: We value diversity. We recognize programs in 20 countries, Cuso initiated new snapshot of a year’s worth of activities and and care about the rights and dignity of others. projects to address our priorities in 2019–2020. personal insights about why our work matters— We also successfully concluded our five-year and how Cuso facilitates the process of people Accountability: We take responsibility for our actions and volunteer for development program, helping other people. proactively demonstrate that we work with and on behalf as well as several other multi-year projects. of others. We seek to achieve and inspire excellence. We hope you’ll be inspired by the work Cuso While the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic has done, and the impact our work has had. meant we had to adjust some of our plans to We look forward to seeing the innovative ways help protect the safety of communities, our volunteers, partners and staff will continue volunteers and workers, it reinforced our to contribute to the communities we serve in the Ei Htwe, student, Youth Learning Centre mission. We found new ways to operate, forged coming year. Hpa-An, Myanmar Photo: Brian Atkinson Sincerely, Glenn Mifflin Frank O’Dea Chief Executive Officer Chair, Board of Directors 4 Annual Report 2019–2020 Annual Report 2019–2020 5 CUSO INTERNATIONAL AROUND THE WORLD Together with our partners, volunteers and staff, Cuso International is solving problems, implementing solutions and working toward eradicating poverty and inequality—one community at a time. In 2019–2020, our programs touched millions of beneficiaries in 20 countries across four continents. Benin Canada Ethiopia Jamaica Myanmar Philippines • Midwives Save Lives • Canadian Program • Growing Nutrition for Mothers and Children • VOICE • VOICE • VOICE (GROW) (CARE Canada partnership) • Volunteers for International Cooperation • Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Workshop on Laos Nigeria • Innovation Fund project: Building Resilience and Empowerment (VOICE) Truth and Reconciliation • Midwives Save Lives and Adaptability Through Volunteer • Ensuring food security in a • B-LIEVER-Building Skills for Livelihood Organizations • Women Engaged for Human Dignity Colombia • VOICE climate-challenged world Enhancement for Refugees in Northern Benin • Sustainable Colombian Opportunities for Guyana • VOICE • VOICE Tanzania Bolivia Peacebuilding and Employment (SCOPE) • VOICE Malawi • Youth Leadership, Entrepreneurship, • MSL • VOICE • VOICE Access and Development (YouLead) • Tanzania Local Enterprise Development (T-LED) Honduras • Southern African Nutrition Initiative Cameroon Democratic Republic of Congo (CARE Canada partnership) Peru • VOICE • VOICE • Innovation Fund: Building Climate Resilience • Midwives Save Lives (MSL) Mozambique • Innovation Fund project: Zambia for Women Farmers • Working with persons with disabilities, Feeding Lima from Within • VOICE women and Indigenous peoples • Southern African Nutrition Initiative • Southern African Nutrition Initiative • VOICE • VOICE El Salvador (CARE Canada partnership) (CARE Canada partnership) • Women’s Voice and Leadership • VOICE 6 Annual Report 2019–2020 Annual Report 2019–2020 7 BY THE INNOVATIVE NUMBERS PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS With help from project Global Affairs Canada European Union and CBM International donors, Cuso International Sharing Canadian Expertise for Inclusive Inclusive and Sustainable Development for 4,536,778 developed several new BENEFICIARIES bilateral partnerships and Development and Gender Equality (SHARE); Vulnerable Populations, Honduras enhanced existing ones to Benin, Cameroon, Colombia, DRC, Ethiopia, Addressing the social and economic rights of advance our programs Honduras, Jamaica, Nigeria, Peru and Tanzania persons with disabilities and marginalized 15,271 around the world. With the help of skilled volunteers, SHARE will communities in the Dry Corridor. DONORS improve the economic and social well-being of the most vulnerable people, particularly Power Corporation of Canada women and girls. Canadian Program, Northwest Territories, Canada 466 Providing educational support to remote E-VOLUNTEERS U-GIRLS2, Ethiopia Indigenous communities in Canada’s North Promoting access and addressing barriers to to improve learning outcomes for high school 361 higher education for adolescent girls, including students. PARTNERS those with disabilities. Rotary International, District 7070 Women Engaged for Human Dignity, Midwives Save Lives, Ethiopia 225 Northern Benin Providing life-saving birthing kits for midwives VOLUNTEERS Increasing the participation of women, girls and in the Assosa region. their communities in the fight against gender- based violence and female genital mutilation. Stockholm Environment Institute 175 Silver Linings: Transforming Gender Relations STAFF Women’s Voice and Leadership, Peru through Climate Adaptation, Myanmar Providing technical training to four leading Supporting Indigenous women affected by women’s rights organizations to improve their climate change in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar 20 long-term sustainability, strengthen their and Vietnam, in partnership with the Asia COUNTRIES WHERE WE WORK programming and advance gender-equality Indigenous Peoples Pact. initiatives. $37,716,108 International Rice Research Institute REVENUE UN Refugee Agency - UNHCR Agricultural Program, Laos Building Skills for Livelihood Enhancement for Testing approaches and tools for dissemination Refugees, Nigeria of climate-smart agriculture, and scale-up of We are proud of our new partnership with World Refugee Supporting Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria resilient agricultural practices to benefit millions & Migration Council (WRMC). WRMC is galvanizing the with business-management training, instruction of farmers and their communities. Cameroon international community’s response to refugees through in agriculture, livestock and fisheries production, Photo: Brian Atkinson cooperation and responsibility sharing. and access to start-up capital. 8 Annual Report 2019–2020 Annual Report 2019–2020 9 VOICE SKILLED VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION 300 young women farmers received practical Agricultural project takes root in Benin training and coaching that will enable Girls, particularly those from rural areas, face their agricultural self-sufficiency. Our Volunteers for International extra challenges in accessing education. Across Cooperation and Empowerment (VOICE) the