concern worldwide us annual report 2009

Table of Contents

Mission and Vision Statement 2

Message from the Chief Executive 4

Message from the Chairman 6

Message from the Executive Director 8

In Memoriam: Father Aengus Finucane 9 Worldwide Map 10

Worldwide Overview 12

Afghanistan 14

Bangladesh 15

Burundi 16

Chad 18

Democratic Republic of Congo 19

Ethiopia 20

Haiti 22

Kenya 23

Laos 24

Liberia 25

Malawi 28

Mozambique 29

Nepal 30

Niger 32

North Korea (DPRK) 33

Pakistan 34

Rwanda 36

Sierra Leone 37

Somalia 38

Sudan (North) 40

Sudan (South) 41

Tanzania 42

Zambia 44

Zimbabwe 46

USAID Partnership 48

Concern Responds to Hidden Crisis in Kenya’s Slums 50

Activities in the US 52

Supporting Concern 56

Financial Summary 58

International Co-Funders 60

Board of Directors Concern Worldwide US, Inc.

Thomas J. Moran Chairman, Concern Worldwide USChairman, President & CEOMutual of America

Patrick H. BarryBarry Associates

Joseph M. Cahalan Xerox Corporation & Xerox Foundation

Joan CarrollPricewaterhouseCoopers

Dolores T. ConnollySterling Engineering, Inc.

Lisa D’Urso

Robert M. Fitzgerald

Kevin FortunaAKF Partners

Arthur T. GurwitzProskauer Rose LLP

Jack HaireParade Publications

Kevin Kearney Wingate, Kearney & Cullen

Eugene KeilinKPS Funds

Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. American Express Company

Edward J.T. KenneyMutual of America

Edward R. McCarrick ICON International, Inc.

Jim McShaneThe McShane Companies

Jim MileyChairman, Concern Council (IRL)

Denis O’BrienDigicel Group

John J. O’ Connor

Frances O’Keeffe Concern Council (IRL)

George PappasPresident, MCS Advertising LTD

Margaret (Peggy) M. SmythUnited Technologies Corporation

Nancy Soderberg International Crisis Group

Page Thompson Omnicom Media Group

Lynn TierneyUniversity of California System

2 PH

OT

O: M

AR

GA

RE

T W

AR

D F

OR

CO

NC

ER

N W

OR

LD

WiD

E

Concern Worldwide USOur Mission and Vision

Concern’s mission is to help people living in absolute poverty achieve major improvements in their lives that last and spread without ongoing support from Concern Worldwide.

Our vision is of a world where no one lives in poverty, fear or oppression; where all have access to a decent standard of living and the opportunities and choices essential to a long, healthy and creative life; where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Our goal is to ensure that people living in extreme poverty are able to meet their basic needs, achieve their rights and manage their own development. We do so by working with them, and using the experience and learning from that work to address the root causes of extreme poverty through policy change.

Displaced women in camp managed by Concern, Goz Beida, Chad.

4

Message from the

Chief Executive

Soaring food and energy prices in 2008 and the unfolding financial and economic crisis has increased the number of hungry people in the world by 150 million, bringing the total at the end of 2009 to over 1 billion.

We entered the year facing huge uncertainties about the impact of the recession on our income, due to a number of factors: reduced income from the public and government aid programs; falling stock markets which impacted our balance sheet and pension liabilities, and fluctuating exchange rates.

2009 was thus a hugely difficult year, and I want to thank all staff across the organization for pulling together during this trying time. There were also many positives about the past year. Concern continued to win support from current and new institutional donors and this was reflected in a strong performance in co-funding income. In July, we announced a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the development of innovative methods to improve maternal and child health.

This grant is for $41 million over five years and will be implemented in six countries. Concern won this grant in a highly competitive process, and its award is a singular acknowledgement of our reputation as an innovative and effective organization. The focus of the project—reducing maternal mortality, increasing child survival and improving health—is central to our mission.

We continued our extensive work on the ground across our 28 countries of operation. Much of this work will never make the world headlines: but the quiet long-term work of improving education and health systems and increasing the capacity of individuals and communities to build resilience in coping with extreme poverty is the foundation stone of development.

In October 2009 Fr Aengus Finucane, CEO of Concern from 1981 to 1997, passed away.

From Concern’s foundation in 1968, Aengus played a key role in the organization and in its development, from administering aid to the starving people of Biafra, his six years as Country Director in his beloved Bangladesh, his 16 years as CEO and the public face of the organization, to his role as Honorary President of Concern Worldwide US from 1997 onwards. He inspired a whole generation of young people to work for the poorest of the poor. He is sadly missed by a legion of friends and in this annual report we mourn his passing and celebrate his achievement.

We also mourn the loss of four other valued colleagues and friends, who died during the year. Valerie Cassidy, who worked in the finance department in Dublin, Ngoi (Kip) Kipanda, Justin Sekalbaye, and Batoul Ali, all of whom were working with us in Chad. We remember them all with great affection.

The early days of 2010 brought a devastating earthquake to Haiti, killing some 250,000 people. I am very proud of Concern’s rapid delivery of aid to the stricken people of Haiti in the days and weeks that followed. Concern has worked in Haiti since 1994 and built its response on the basis of the experience gained and the partnerships developed over that period.

During 2010, we will agree on our organization’s strategic plan for the next five years. We will redefine how our values and core mission of defeating poverty can best be achieved given the challenges we face in a fast changing external environment. Innovation has been central to our work in recent years and we can demonstrate many examples, from tackling severe acute malnutrition, to using mobile phones for money transfer and data collection, to testing new methods of conservation farming.

In line with decisions made last year, we will exit from four countries in 2010: Angola, Laos, Nepal and Timor Leste. The decision to exit these countries was

made reluctantly. But faced with financial constraints and striving to use our financial and human resources to best effect, we decided to reduce the number of countries we operate in from 28 to 24. We have passed on our programs to other partners, and we leave these four countries proud of the contribution Concern has made to their development.

In a time of considerable economic hardship for many people, with the fall in employment and in incomes, contributions from the public have, inevitably, fallen. But Concern is very fortunate to retain the support of many thousands of people in the US as well as from other parts of the world due to the miracle of the Internet. I want to thank all who continue to support us financially and in other ways.

We remain immensely fortunate to have a talented and committed staff across the world. It can be a cliché to say that the real strength of an organization lies in its people but, in Concern’s case, it is true. Together, we continue to use all our resources, money, people, intelligence, to make the biggest possible difference in eliminating extreme poverty.

Thank you.

Tom ArnoldChief Executive

Together we continue to use all our resources, money, people, intelligence, to make the biggest possible difference in eliminating extreme poverty.”

“

PH

OT

O: G

iDE

ON

ME

ND

EL Concern’s livelihoods

initiatives target the most marginalized women in Bangladesh to improve their access to food and income.

6

Message from the

Chairman

In October 2009, Concern sustained an enormous loss. The passing of our founder and Honorary President, Aengus Finucane, saddened all of us deeply, but also fueled a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to the poorest of the poor among the Concern staff, management, board, and supporters around the world who knew him. Aengus was one individual—but his influence and impact are immeasurable. He was a towering figure and a fierce advocate for the poorest of the poor—but he was also a beloved friend, mentor, colleague, uncle, and brother. This annual report is dedicated to him.

The past year can be defined as one of tests and uncertainty. The ongoing effects of a global economic downturn, along with fluctuations in currency exchange rates, presented us with unprecedented funding challenges. Despite this, and thanks to your generous support, Concern was able to adapt rapidly and act to counterbalance what could have been a debilitating loss of income. While progress and growth in some areas had to be cut back, we were able to counterbalance losses and maintain income levels close to those realized in 2008. This ability to adapt to adversity without sacrificing quality is one of the things that makes Concern among the world’s most effective and creative humanitarian and development agencies.

This year, as I do whenever I am able and there is opportunity, I visited Concern’s programs in the field. As Aengus used to say, to understand poverty, you have to see it, smell it, and witness it up close and in person. In Tanzania, I met families living in isolated villages that, until Concern intervened, had no access to life’s most basic necessity: water. Concern’s water engineers and field staff are installing solar-powered water pumps in these remote communities to bring a sustainable source of clean water to the poorest—using technology to improve their health and protect the environment at the same time.

In Tanzania, women and children—mostly girls—spend hours each day walking miles to fetch safe water for their families. This often means children cannot attend school. In rural Ngara District, for example, until recently, a single water source had to supply the needs for about 1,000 people. Now, Concern has installed several safe water supply points in Ngara, each of which serves an average of just 484 people. These water pumps are close to the villages, so for many women and girls, the daily journeys to fetch water now take a lot less time and effort.

Concern’s innovative research in Tanzania, in collaboration with a local health center, is identifying low-cost methods of controlling mosquitoes and reducing rates of malaria, which is the world’s top killer of children under five. Planting mosquito-repellent plants—such as Mexican marigold and lemongrass—around people’s homes is proving effective in reducing malaria rates.

The guiding principle of all Concern’s programs is to help people living in extreme poverty meet their most basic needs, improve their standard of living, and achieve major improvements in their lives that last and spread without ongoing support from Concern. Concern is constantly searching for ways to make our work sustainable and effective: we are seeking partnerships with the private sector and research institutes to achieve greater reach as well as to tap into the expertise, reach, and innovative thinking from the academic and corporate worlds.

In 2009, Concern Worldwide US received a five-year, $41 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development and field testing of bold and inventive ways to overcome barriers to delivering proven maternal, newborn, and child health solutions in six countries. Innovations will generate hundreds of bold, new ideas from new, often unheard voices with untapped potential. From these, “breakthrough” ideas will be selected for further development, field implementation

and evaluation. The goal is for at least two of these ideas to result in significant increases in maternal, newborn and child health coverage.

Poverty may rob people of choices, but not of their innate abilities. Concern respects local knowledge and local solutions.

Whatever the context, Concern looks at the whole picture and helps local people to develop new approaches and skills that suit their specific contexts and that promote sustainability. After 42 years, with the example set by Aengus Finucane and the close to 3,600 staff who follow in his footsteps, working on the frontlines in the world’s poorest places, we know this is what works.

The January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti brought us all great sadness and grief: the Haitian people have endured such prolonged conflict and suffering already that this disaster seemed incomprehensible. Concern responded within 48 hours and is committed to rebuilding for the long term. Today we are reaching 110,000 people with lifesaving aid.

On behalf of the board and all the staff in New York, Chicago and in the field, I send you heartfelt thanks for your continued support and commitment to our work. Truly, we could not succeed without you at our side.

Thomas J. MoranChairman

Whatever the context, Concern looks at the whole picture and helps local people to develop new approaches and skills that suit their specific contexts and that promote sustainability.”

“

PH

OT

O: P

AK

iSTA

N, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

Concern’s “Working Children’s Protection Program” provides child laborers with basic education and skills training in Quetta, Pakistan.

8

people displaced when armed conflict broke out. We provided rapid, effective aid such as shelter, water, and other basic survival items to these vulnerable families. In August, Africa’s largest-ever cholera outbreak hit Zimbabwe while the nation was reeling from unrest and a crippling food crisis: again, thanks to your support, Concern was there, distributing clean water, hygiene kits, and food to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable. When the urban poor living in the overcrowded slums of Kenya faced rising rates of malnutrition and serious food shortages, Concern was also there, and continues to provide emergency cash transfers via mobile phone technology to allow families to make choices and meet their most basic needs for medicine, food, or school fees.

The numbers of the world’s hungry rose to over 1 billion in the past year—and tens of thousands were driven into extreme poverty due to rising food costs and the global economic downturn. But we know that our concern works—and we know that your support saves lives and helps people lift themselves out of poverty, step by step. As my colleague, former boss, and dear friend Aengus would say, “Build bridges of your lives across gaping worlds of hatred.” Thank you for allowing us to build bridges to reach the poor, and to alleviate the suffering of families struggling to recover from war, natural disasters, and poverty. Thank you for allowing us to be there and to show those in their time of greatest need that they have not been forgotten.

Thank you.

Message from the

Executive Director

In one way or another, every one of the achievements of Concern US was influenced by Honorary President Aengus Finucane. We lost Aengus in October of 2009, but his spirit continues to drive us to do more, to be more, and to reach more of the poorest than ever before. In the past year, Concern faced unprecedented financial constraints that forced the organization to cut budgets for overseas programs and to make the difficult decision to exit four countries in 2010. In the midst of many of our hardest moments, I know I am not alone in saying that the example, words, and memory of Aengus were a source of strength and a reminder that no battle is too great when you are fighting for the poorest of the poor. In such difficult times, we are grateful for the boundless commitment and resourcefulness of our staff around the world—and for the unfailing support of countless people throughout the United States. You allow us to be a bridge between those who care and those in need—and never has the need for that bridge been greater.

Although we have faced huge challenges, we can look back at a year of tremendous progress toward improving the quality of life and standard of living for millions of people living in extreme poverty. Again, for this we pay tribute and give thanks to our dedicated staff, our generous supporters in the US, many of whom go unrecognized, but whose contributions are invaluable.

I also wish to acknowledge the support and contributions of our board, headed by Tom Moran. Each year he and his fellow board members push themselves and our staff just a little harder to support our programs and staff overseas and maintain a level of excellence in all the sectors in which we work.

Last year, Tom visited Tanzania, where Concern is spearheading a unique project using solar panels to operate pumps and water wells. He will tell you that coming face to face with those in whose lives we make a real difference—be it large

Siobhán WalshExecutive Director

or small—fuels and constantly renews his commitment.

Our chairman embodies the spirit of corporate social responsibility, and he and our CEO Tom Arnold have paved the way for a growing number of partnerships with corporations. We must mirror key aspects of the business world in sourcing funds and best practices for research and development and a commitment to innovation.

Our commitment to think outside the box earned us a $41M five-year grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which gave us the mandate to find new voices and new ideas for innovative ways to deliver maternal and child health care in Malawi, India, Sierra Leone and three other countries.

Innovation doesn’t only depend on technology. One of our most significant achievements involved the successful completion of an innovative ten-year Child Survival program in Bangladesh that marked a revolution in the delivery of maternal and child health care for the poor. In 2009, we successfully handed the management of the Child Survival program over to local communities. Concern’s ten-year program in Bangladesh successfully empowered communities to deliver health care to the doorsteps of those who need it most, and has proven a scalable model for other municipalities in Bangladesh, with the potential to reach millions of the poorest children and mothers. Concern currently has other Child Survival programs in Rwanda, Burundi, and Niger. Our program in the urban slums of Haiti was, tragically, halted by the devastating earthquake in early 2010, but the relationships and networks we built as a result of the program are intact and have been a vital force in our emergency response efforts.

In the summer of 2009, Concern responded to the emergency in Pakistan’s Swat Valley that left hundreds of thousands of

Thank you for allowing us to alleviate the suffering of families struggling to recover from war, natural disasters, and poverty.”

“

9

The staff and Board of Directors of Concern Worldwide US mourn the great loss of founder Father Aengus Finucane in solidarity with all of the Concern family across the globe. Aengus passed away in Dublin, October 6th, 2009, surrounded by loved ones.

A native of County Limerick, Aengus’ first assignment as a young missionary with the Holy Ghost Fathers as Parish Priest in Uli, Nigeria, found him in the midst of the bitter civil war between Nigeria and Biafra in 1968. Turning schools into refugee camps, setting up food distributions and emergency hospitals, Aengus, alongside his brother Jack, worked tirelessly to bring aid to hundreds of thousands caught up in the conflict. From these conditions of hardship, suffering, and conflict—and from great courage and commitment and generosity of the irish people, who Aengus and Jack reached out to for support—Concern Worldwide was born.

For the next 30 years, Aengus worked among and fought for the poorest of the poor in conflict zones, disasters, and famines. in 1981, he became Chief Executive of Concern, a post he held until 1997, when he came to the United States to set up Concern Worldwide US, where he was Honorary President.

His work with Concern Worldwide US was extraordinary—working alongside Executive Director Siobhán Walsh and Chairman Tom 9

PH

OT

O: S

AiD

PU

R, B

AN

GL

AD

ES

H, 1

997

CELEBRATINg A REMARKABLE LIFE

Father Aengus Finucane (1932–2009)Honorary President and Founder, Concern Worldwide US

Moran to build the organization from a small team of four to 25 that raises millions of dollars to support Concern’s work in the field.

Aengus believed passionately in education as the foundation of development, and never missed an opportunity to emphasize the critical importance of educating girls. He devoted his entire life to fighting poverty with a drive, passion, and commitment that are rarely seen. All who met him experienced the flame that burned so fiercely in him, and knew that this humble, self-effacing, but great man made this world less dark, less divided, less hard, and much less cold for millions.

“Aengus helped us to recognize our responsibility, to share our resources with those less fortunate. He inspired us with his love for the poor and underprivileged, and it was lifechanging for many of us to work for, and visit, Concern’s programs, of which he spoke with such passion.”—Tom Moran, Chairman, Concern Worldwide US

“A great humanitarian, he has made a truly impressive contribution to improving the quality of life of people in the third world and his courageous efforts saved a huge number of lives. He will be remembered as a selfless and brave man who traveled to many of the world’s most dangerous places to help the poor.”—Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Prime Minister of ireland

Haiti

Kenya

Ethiopia

Sudan

Niger

Somalia

DR Congo

Angola

Mozambique

Zambia

Uganda

Malawi

Burundi

Rwanda

Liberia

Sierra Leone

Zimbabwe

Afghanistan

Pakistan

India

Cambodia

DPR Korea

Laos

Bangladesh

TanzaniaEast

Timor

Nepal

Chad

10

Concern WorldwideIn 2009, Concern’s international network spent $153 million on projects in 28 countries. Concern Worldwide US is an affiliate of Concern Worldwide and supports the Concern network by recruiting staff, supporting program development, creating public awareness of humanitarian issues, and financially supporting programs.

Country Total Program Concern US Grants Programs Expenditure to Programs

Afghanistan $4,512,000 $50,000

Angola $2,188,000 —

Bangladesh $5,955,000 $204,000

Burundi $2,271,000 $226,000

Cambodia $2,809,000 —

Chad $2,223,000 $150,000

DPR Korea $1,919,000 $50,000

DR Congo $8,016,000 $1,045,000

Shaded areas represent countries where Concern Worldwide worked in 2009. Concern Worldwide US provides funding for programs in the countries listed below.


Ethiopia $8,265,000 $1,468,000

Haiti $5,909,000 $989,000

india $3,305,000 —

*indonesia $255,000 —

Kenya $4,799,000 $606,800

Lao PDR $2,262,000 $90,000

Liberia $5,322,000 $446,000

Malawi $4,149,000 $111,000

Haiti

Kenya

Ethiopia

Sudan

Niger

Somalia

DR Congo

Angola

Mozambique

Zambia

Uganda

Malawi

Burundi

Rwanda

Liberia

Sierra Leone

Zimbabwe

Afghanistan

Pakistan

India

Cambodia

DPR Korea

Laos

Bangladesh

TanzaniaEast

Timor

Nepal

Chad

11


Mozambique $3,278,000 $231,000

*Myanmar $15,400 $14,000

Nepal $1,793,000 $242,000

Niger $4,449,000 $201,000

Pakistan $4,057,000 $258,000

Rwanda $3,100,000 $878,000

Sierra Leone $4,972,000 $307,000

Somalia $3,909,000 $150,000


Sudan (North) $8,600,000 $2,989,000

Sudan (South) $5,830,000 $2,229,226

Tanzania $3,773,000 $180,000

Timor Leste $1,985,000 —

Uganda $3,348,000 —

Zambia $2,564,000 $279,000

Zimbabwe $24,082,000 $401,000

OTHER COUNTRiES $2,380,000AND PROJECTS

* FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO PARTNERS, BUT CONCERN DiD NOT WORK iN iNDONESiA OR MyANMAR iN 2009.

12

Worldwide Overview

Concern works in partnership with local organizations and people in their own communities to develop practical and lasting solutions to extreme poverty. We focus on the root causes and key drivers of poverty through programs in livelihoods (food, income, and markets); education; health; HIV and AIDS; and emergency response.

LIVELIHOODS (Food, Income and Markets)Today, almost one billion people around the world are forced to survive on less than a dollar a day. Concern helps people to overcome extreme poverty by investing in their ability to support themselves and their families. In 2009, Concern implemented programs to improve poor people’s access to food, income and markets in all 28 of the countries in which we work. Our livelihoods work aims to ensure that poor people are able to manage their own resources adequately and attain their rights to an adequate standard of living.

Total Direct Total Indirect Beneficiaries Beneficiaries

Natural Resource 1,461,676 5,089,674 Management

Agriculture/Food 739,707 3,120,569 Production Processing

Interaction with Markets 329,208 1,275,368

Responsive 1,696,865 12,464,266 Institutions

TOTAL 4,227,456 21,958,877

HIV and AIDSAn estimated 33.4 million people around the world are living with HIV, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Poor communities are disproportionately affected. Concern is working to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic on many fronts. The aim of our work in this sector is to reduce transmission and prevalence, and to minimize the impact of the disease among people living in extreme poverty. We teach communities about the virus so that they can protect themselves, ensure that people affected have adequate social protection, train health workers and family members to care for those infected by HIV, and advocate for governments and citizens to work together to respond to the epidemic.


HIV and AIDS 417,260 1,164,413

TOTAL 417,260 1,164,413

EducationMore than one in ten children living in the developing world never gets the chance to go to school. Concern aims to improve access to education, especially for girls and working children. Concern works closely with schools, school committees, governments, teachers, and communities to build and renovate schools, develop and print quality curricula, train educators, and provide books, desks and other essential learning materials. The aim of our education programs is to strengthen infrastructure and address the obstacles that limit access to primary education or prevent children from completing primary school.

In 2009, Concern implemented education programs in 12 countries (Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and South Sudan).


Primary Education 516,766 2,179,211

Non-Formal 12,038 37,430 Education

TOTAL 528,804 2,216,641

HealthEvery year, close to nine million children die from preventable, treatable diseases before they reach their fifth birthday. Close to 350,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes. Concern works to save lives and ensure that the poorest communities have access to basic, quality health care. We work in partnership with local governments and community organizations to fight malnutrition, improve maternal and child health, and increase access to clean water and sanitation.

In the past year, our Child Survival programs in Bangladesh, Burundi, Haiti, Niger, and Rwanda worked with local communities to increase access to health services for mothers and children under the age of five. In 2009, Concern implemented health programs in 22 countries.


Maternal and 1,226,405 3,135,145 Child Health

Nutrition 298,281 1,702,762

Environmental 622,843 900,321 Health

TOTAL 2,147,529 5,738,228

13

Country Sector/Activity Summary Total Direct Beneficiaries

Afghanistan Natural Disaster: Cash for work, rehabilitation of irrigation systems, distribution of 66,863 non-food and temporary shelter items, prepositioning of stock for future disasters, sessions on disease prevention (related to flooding)

Bangladesh Natural Disasters; response to Cyclone Aila and continued response to Sidr flooding: 192,205 water logging, shelter support, sanitary pit latrines, livelihoods support

Cambodia Flooding: Responding to immediate food and livelihood restoration needs 27,106

Chad Conflict: Site management, NFI distribution, flooding 60,189

DRC Conflict: Distribution of NFIs, cash vouchers, cash for work, agricultural inputs and training, 83,839 water & sanitation

Ethiopia Drought: Nutrition, water, provision of seeds, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD reponse) 66,866

India Flooding; cyclone response: livelihood restoration, shelter and NFI, water and sanitation, 180,495 communal violence relief and shelter, DRR

Kenya Post-Election Violence Recovery/Drought: Cash transfers, business grants, cash vouchers for 191,494 agricultural inputs, water treatment, treatment of malnutrition, hygiene promotion, nutrition education

Liberia Caterpillar infestation 3,500

Indonesia Earthquake: Emergency shelter, water and sanitation 7,830

Niger Flooding/Malnutrition: Community therapeutic care (CTC), meningitis outbreak response, 78,712 incentives to improve health indicators, mosquito net distribution, support to strengthening health care system

Pakistan Conflict: distribution of NFI’s and hygiene kits, emergency medical assistance, 77,360 early livelihoods recovery

Somalia Conflict/drought/flooding: water supply and sanitation, cash for work, cash for shelter, 280,456 cash transfers, NFI distribution, nutrition sites, food vouchers, seed distribution, psychosocial support

Sudan, South Conflict/flooding/fire: NFI distributions, agricultural inputs, nutritional crisis, 27,752 acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) outbreak

Sudan, North Conflict: Health and nutrition, water and sanitation, livelihoods, camp coordination, 350,666 emergency relief distributions

Tanzania Drought/Rising Food Prices: seed distribution 2,500

Uganda Water and sanitation for returning communities 16,560

Zimbabwe Food Insecurity: Group feeding and cash transfer, cholera emergency response 782,983

TOTAL 2,709,528

Emergency ResponseEvery year, conflicts and natural disasters leave millions of people unable to meet even their most basic survival needs. The poorest are always the most vulnerable to crises and are the worst affected. Concern is committed to meeting the humanitarian imperative to save lives and alleviate suffering. We recognize the need to respond quickly, effectively and creatively to sustain the lives and dignity of people affected by calamity or armed conflict. In countries susceptible to disaster, Concern believes that disaster risk reduction is an integral part of development. We are also committed to helping communities establish early warning mechanisms to prevent and minimize the impact of future crises. Such measures allow us to focus not only on saving lives, but also on protecting people’s livelihoods. In 2009, Concern responded to 45 emergencies in 18 countries. (In 2008, we responded to 34 emergencies in 19 countries.)

14

Area: 652,000 sq kmPopulation: 26.3 mgDP per capita: US $1,054Infant mortality (per thousand births): 153Life expectancy: 43.6Living with HIV and AIDS: n/aLiteracy rate: 28.8%Without access to safe water: 78%Human development rank: 181 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: n/a

Concern, working in Afghanistan since 1998, continued its programs in livelihoods, water and environmental health, education, HIV and AIDS and emergency relief.

EDUCATION—Improving access to quality education for the absolute poorConcern completed construction of a new primary school for 800 students in Eal Keshin Village, Rustaq District in the Takar North area. In February, management of the school was officially handed over to the Afghan government after a rigorous teacher-training program had been completed. Concern’s primary education programs, which also include adult literacy training, reached more than 2,300 boys and girls, with the latter forming the great majority. Advocacy programs were designed to overcome cultural biases against girls’ education.

HEALTH—Improving the health of the poorest familiesConcern facilitated the training of 85 Muslim religious leaders, who in turn trained 300 community leaders in how to educate families about pre- and post-natal care, nutrition, breastfeeding, gender topics and hygiene. This initiative, also featuring radio and television broadcasts, reached an estimated 50,000 people. Through Concern’s focus on restoring convenient and

Afghanistan2009 saw a continued fragile security situation in Afghanistan. Increased violence and political instability in the week of the presidential elections made it hard to deliver aid and development programs to populations most in need—even in the country’s relatively calm North area where most of Concern’s activities are concentrated. Political upheaval also resulted in a rise in food prices, which limited the functioning of trading and markets.

sustainable access to safe water, water-related diseases decreased by 90 percent in the program’s target communities.

Concern’s REFLECT circles, (microfinance and social action group for 1,100 women members) received training in health and hygiene awareness. Specially-trained village water and health committees oversaw all water and sanitation initiatives and are responsible for the maintenance of the water infrastructure. Research has found that improved access to clean water has helped reduce conflict and inequality.

LIVELIHOODS—Increasing income for the poorest householdsConcern Afghanistan’s livelihoods programs focus on key areas such as the formation of natural resource management committees, reforestation, kitchen gardening, agricultural training, pest control, repair and rehabilitation of irrigation systems, seed distribution, adult literacy, vocational training, food production and processing, access to markets, and women’s REFLECT circles.

Rural development in northern parts of the country was improved by boosting the livelihoods of residents, and helping them become invested in water management and overall sustainable livelihoods development. Overall livelihood programs benefited nearly 34,000 people.

AFGHANISTAN

Kabul

Rustaq

IRANPAKISTAN

•

•CHINA

TAJIKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

UZBEKISTAN

HIV AND AIDS—Raising awareness and reducing transmissionConcern’s HIV and AIDS programming in both rural and urban areas of the country involved community and religious leaders in educating people about transmitting and preventing HIV and AIDS. Culturally-appropriate videos shown at local gatherings focused on educating communities and reducing the stigma attached with HIV and AIDS. Concern’s HIV and AIDS programs benefited 150,000 people.

EMERGENCY—Assisting 90,000 people in needIn 2009, families in northern, north-eastern and western Afghanistan were gravely affected by floods and run-off from snow melt. Concern’s programs benefited 90,000 people in 50 villages by ensuring food insecure and flood-affected farmers and families gained immediate access to cash for purchasing food and other provisions. Cash-for-work programs enlisted both men and women to repair and rehabilitate irrigation systems.

15

BANGLADESH

Gowainghat

Saidpur

INDIA

Mymensingh ItnaKhallajuri

Dhaka

KhulnaChittagong

Coxes BazarMouth of the Ganges

INDIA•• • ••

•• •

•

Area: 144,000 sq kmPopulation: 157.8 mgDP per capita: US $1,241Infant mortality (per thousand births): 59Life expectancy: 65.7Living with HIV and AIDS: 12,000Literacy rate: 53.5%Without access to safe water: 20%Human development rank: 146 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 67/24.7

Concern has been working in Bangladesh since 1972. In addition to ongoing emergency-related activities including disaster risk reduction initiatives, Concern’s programs focus on helping the poorest lift themselves out of poverty.

EDUCATION—Improving access to education for the poorestPart of Concern’s work in the Char lands (islands) includes initiatives at 150 schools in the Shiaratpur District. Strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs) and Parent Teacher Associations enable the recruitment of volunteer teachers to improve the learning achievements of extremely poor and underperforming children. The schools currently employ 225 volunteers, reducing the teacher-to-student ratio.

Concern’s advocacy programs stress the importance of quality education. In 2009, out of 1,100 students at 148 schools identified as out-of-school, 364 returned. Concern works to ensure the inclusion of women in SMCs and to lobby for district education authorities to set local school calendars to minimize the effect of flood disruptions.

HEALTH—Improving access to services for 60,000 of the poorestConcern’s urban Child Survival Program (CSP), reached more than 1 million people

BangladeshWith a population of 157.8 million, Bangladesh is the seventh most populated country in the world, with 40 percent of its inhabitants surviving on less than $1 per day. Bangladesh is also highly vulnerable to natural disasters caused by seasonal flooding. While 2009’s Cyclone Aila hit areas of the country particularly hard, Bangladesh is making steady progress toward stable democratic rule.

in seven areas, and has revolutionized the planning and delivery of maternal, newborn, and child health. As a direct result of Concern’s successful mobilization and coordination of existing local health services, community leaders, government officials and health volunteers, extremely poor people now have improved access to health care from local institutions. Concern also improved family awareness with community-based health services for children under five.

Ward Health Committees were also established to allow communities to manage and coordinate health services without Concern’s long-term intervention. Late last year, Concern formally handed the program over to local communities. Data shows that, while the entire community is benefitting from the Municipal Health Partnership Program (MHPP), the poor are benefitting the most, and key health indicators are sharply rising. MHPP direct beneficiaries included more than 390,000 women of child-bearing age and almost 210,000 children under five. Indirect participants totaled more than 755,000.

LIVELIHOODS—Improving the income and security of vulnerable groupsConcern’s livelihood programs are comprised of several key initiatives. Char dwellers, which are among the most disadvantaged members of the population,

are assured access to non-government organizations and government services and encouraged to participate in community-based organizations. Communities also have access to savings and credit support, villages get support for developing infrastructure to protect against floods, and disaster risk reduction committees were established.

Concern also oversees a protection and care program for street people (“pavement dwellers”). In 2009, 8,000 pavement dwellers had access to health care. Small groups engaged this population in savings initiatives. Concern also managed community-based microfinance initiatives, along with skills training and market access.

EMERGENCY—Providing immediate and long-term disaster reliefCyclone Alai wreaked great havoc, particularly in the southwest coastal region, where 11 districts suffered widespread damage and faced long-term inundation due to the breaching of tidal and flood embankments. Almost 1 million households were affected. Concern’s emergency response included distributing blankets and other vital supplies, cash-for-work programs, latrine construction, well repair and installation, food assistance, shelter, sand filters, construction and livelihood support.

16

Area: 28,000 sq kmPopulation: 7.8 mgDP per capita: US $341Infant mortality (per thousand births): 64.8Life expectancy: 50.1Living with HIV and AIDS: 110,000Literacy rate: 59.3%Without access to safe water: 29%Human development rank: 174 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 83/38.7

Concern has been working in Burundi since 1994 and currently operates programs in health, education and livelihoods.

HEALTH—Reducing child illness and mortalityCommunity education and mobilization are fundamental to Concern’s health programs in Citiboke Province. Key to Concern’s innovative approach is the establishment of 100 community-based groups in the Mabayi District, in which volunteer mothers are responsible for monitoring 10 households, while a more senior mother volunteer is in charge of surveying the health needs of 100 families. The program has reached 1,000 households, including more than 5,300 mothers of reproductive age and 41,000 children under five.

Concern’s Child Survival Program (CSP) began in Burundi in 2008, funded in part by USAID. Informed by learning gained from Concern Rwanda, which has operated CSP for a number of years, CSP in Burundi aims to reduce child illness and death from preventable diseases such as malaria and diarrhea through trained, frontline volunteer Community Health Workers.

CSP, which was designed to be scalable, also yields valuable research on household practices with regard to child health and nutrition, which in turn helps the

BurundiFollowing the end of Burundi’s civil war in 2005, an ethnically-balanced government is in place to ensure a measure of stability. The country is still struggling to rebuild, reintegrate refugees and former combatants, and ensure that its citizens gain food security and access to adequate health care, education and livelihood opportunities. More than three-quarters of Burundi’s population of 7.8 million lives on less than $2 per day.

government develop public information campaigns. CSP also provides for the training of health care personnel at local clinics, including the establishment of a health information management system.

EDUCATION—Improving enrollment and building safe schoolsConcern continued to work with dozens of schools to increase access to primary education for the poorest children. To enhance the quality of education, Concern built and rehabilitated classrooms, installed latrines, reduced class sizes, and supplied thousands of textbooks. Overall, Concern’s education efforts have benefited more than 1.7 million people, including students, teachers and families.

LIVELIHOODS—Increasing food production and income opportunitiesNatural resource management includes well rehabilitations, the establishment of community water management committees, and training—through farmers associations—in agricultural techniques that conserve soil and water. Agricultural production has greatly improved, along with farmers’ income, due in part to new crops with good market value, such tomatoes, maize and red onions.

Food production and processing initiatives included the distribution of seeds and

livestock, the establishment of community seed and food storage banks, and the installation of household compost pits. Storage banks encouraged farmers to retain some of their crops to avoid food shortages in-between harvests. Market interaction programs featured training in bee-keeping and tailoring, internal community saving and lending programs and access to markets, as well as the establishment of community development committees. Through these committees, Concern’s livelihoods programs were designed to place targeted populations at the center of their development activities. This includes the establishment of working relationships with government officials to ensure support and longevity, resulting in the construction of three new schools, with plans also in place for constructing a new health clinic.

BURUNDI

Cibitoke

Bujumbura

Bururi

RWANDA

TANZANIA

DR CONGO

•

•

•

PH

OT

O: B

UR

UN

Di,

CO

NC

ER

N W

OR

LD

WiD

E

17

YoUr ConCErn WorkS in BUrUndi

Education is Liberation“There were so many of us in class that we sat four or five to a desk,” recalls Claudine, a sixth-grade pupil at Masango Primary School in Burundi. The school is one of two that have been rebuilt in the past year, thanks to generous support from Concern’s donors. The education system in Burundi has suffered from years of underinvestment, lack of equipment and qualified teachers, and infrastructure damage caused by a 12-year civil war. At Gahoma Primary School, also rebuilt by Concern, buildings were so run-down that some parents feared that their children would be injured and so refused to let them attend classes. “Some walls had collapsed and others were about to,” remembers Pascal, a member of the school management committee. “One classroom had no doors, windows or roofing.” Sanitary conditions at both schools were appalling. “There was only one small waterless toilet, which was in poor condition, and we were afraid of a cholera outbreak,” explains André, a member of the Parent Teacher Association at Masango Primary School.

Concern built a new school to replace this crumbling, overcrowded structure in Ndava, Burundi.

Last year, Concern rebuilt Masango and Gahoma Primary Schools in northwest Burundi, improving education for 1,111 children. The children are now taught in safe, clean classrooms where they sit at brand new desks built by local carpenters. To protect the children from waterborne diseases, Concern built new latrines and provided access to clean water.

Claudine and her classmates are happy with their new school and are taking an active part in its upkeep. “We used to struggle to take notes in class because we kept bumping into each other, it was so crowded. But our new school is really nice, and it’s less noisy.” Besides giving children like Claudine the chance to learn in a safe, healthy environment, this project also provided employment opportunities for people in the local community. “i was very happy to be recruited as an assistant mason,” says Jeanine, a 19-year-old orphan who attends the local secondary school. “My salary helped me get a school uniform, pay my school fees and buy textbooks.”

18

Area: 1,280,000 sq kmPopulation: 10.6 mgDP per capita: US $1,477Infant mortality (per thousand births): 98Life expectancy: 48.6Living with HIV and AIDS: 200,000Literacy rate: 31.8%Without access to safe water: 52%Human development rank: 175 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 80/31.3

Concern began working in Chad in 2007, providing emergency relief to meet the basic survival needs of IDPs in four camps surrounding the town of Goz Beida in eastern Chad.

EMERGENCY—Meeting the basic needs of 54,000 peopleConcern is managing four camps for displaced people near the town of Goz Beida in eastern Chad, ensuring that families receive vital services and aid such as water, shelter, food and basic health care. Concern has also organized weekly meetings in each of the camps to give displaced people a voice to express their issues and needs. Concern actively promotes the establishment of women and youth committees to give those most vulnerable a voice. Concern has continued distributing essential provisions to over 54,000 people in camps.

Drawing on its experience since 2007, Concern is now fine-tuning its programs to allow for adaptations in accommodating IDPs according to their situations and villages of origin, with plans in place to expand existing activities and services.

Concern is also working in Chad to reduce environmental damage and protect vulnerable women through its “Portable

ChadChad has endured years of coups and internal conflict. The country also suffers the effects of violence spilling across its eastern border from neighboring Darfur. This fall-out, as well as political infighting and inter-communal and ethnically-based violence, has displaced 185,000 Chadians, now considered internally displaced people (IDPs).

Fuel Efficient Stove” project. The stoves require considerably less firewood than open fires. This results in women and girls not having to spend as much time searching unprotected for firewood outside the camps, where they are vulnerable to assaults from armed rebels. Concern has trained more than 2,000 women to build and use these fuel-efficient stoves and, in turn, teach other women once they return to their villages.

LIVELIHOODS—Reducing the vulnerability of more than 6,000 familiesMost of the IDPs used to depend on livestock and agriculture and, once uprooted, were cut off from that livelihood source entirely. Targeting the most vulnerable displaced people in the four camps, Concern distributed farming tools, seeds and livestock, while also providing training in agricultural techniques and animal husbandry. Concern has also planted and distributed 2,500 fruit and other trees to help protect the environment, enrich diets and help poor households produce products for the marketplace.

In 2009, the groundwork began to expand livelihoods activities to southern Chad in the area surrounding the town of Gore. Among the beneficiaries will be the most vulnerable families among local host

communities. Activities will include the distribution of both food and non-food items, as well as the improvement of water and sanitation conditions through the rehabilitation of existing water sources.

CHADLake Chad

NIGER

LIBYA

SUDAN

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

NIGERIAGoz Beida

Abéché

CAMEROON

N’Djamena•••

19

Area: 2,345,000 sq kmPopulation: 58.7 mgDP per capita: US $298Infant mortality (per thousand births): 81Life expectancy: 47.6Living with HIV and AIDS: 79,000Literacy rate: 67.2%Without access to safe water: 54%Human development rank: 176 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 84/39.1

Democratic Republic of CongoViolence has abated gradually in recent years but the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—especially North Kivu—continues to be highly unstable and dangerous for ordinary civilians, as fighting flared up again during the second half of the year. In the areas surrounding the town of Masisi, many farmers were forced to abandon their fields, which significantly reduced the food security of the most vulnerable.

Concern has been working in DRC since 1994, and current programs focus on emergency response as well as health, livelihoods, nutrition, and HIV and AIDS.

HEALTH—Fighting malnutrition and providing water and hygiene training to 17 villagesIn Maniema province, Concern works closely with the country’s Ministry of Health to treat malnourished children and distribute supplementary food to families suffering food shortages. Concern also works to construct roads, bridges and nutrition centers. Concern’s Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program mobilizes community leaders and health care volunteers, as well as professional caregivers to treat severely malnourished children in their homes, rather than in hard-to-reach hospitals.

CMAM also teaches families about the importance of immunization and how to spot early signs of potentially serious illnesses. In 2009, 2,000 children suffering severe acute malnutrition and 6,000 children with moderate acute malnutrition received treatment. Four hundred community health workers were also recruited and trained.

Concern’s water and sanitation program provided 17 villages with access to water, trained local water and hygiene committees to maintain the water systems, and gave families hygiene training sessions. Health and hygiene education information campaigns targeted 15,000 people.

LIVELIHOODS—Improving livelihood opportunities for 41,000 extremely poor people in Katanga and Maniema provincesConcern DRC’s comprehensive livelihood programs included the distribution of seeds, agricultural tools and livestock, the introduction of varied crops, and provided crop and food processing equipment, such as oil presses and cassava mills. Concern also introduced fish ponds and rabbit breeding. The programs offered vocational training as well as loans for start-up businesses. Crafts and additional vocational training included woodworking, sewing, radio and bicycle repair and salt extraction.

Through cash-for-work programs, Concern employed the poorest community members to help repair roads and bridges to allow traders to visit villages, and enabled farmers to travel to marketplaces, particularly in the rainy season. Concern DRC’s livelihood programs reached more than 41,000 direct beneficiaries.

EMERGENCY—Meeting the survival needs of 129,000 extremely poor displaced familiesConcern DRC’s emergency response programs in and near the towns of Masisi and Rubaya covered a wide range of initiatives. An emergency program in Masisi provided more than 10,000 displaced families living in Concern-managed camps for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) with essential non-food items such as kitchen sets, bedding, clothing, sanitation kits and plastic sheeting.

An additional program focused on food security, giving seeds and tools to impoverished farmers to improve food production, and enabled both IDPs and local host communities to meet basic household needs by diversifying their sources of income. Approximately 12,000 households were given access to safe water through the rehabilitation of existing water structures.

Cash-for-work opportunities assisted more than 2,700 people, while 17,000 people received cash vouchers. The cash-for-work program rehabilitated 20 miles of road and 18 bridges. This income was a huge boost for the local economy and the market mechanisms, which resulted in greater collaboration and support from all stakeholders, including the beneficiaries, traders, local non-government organizations, donors and government officials.

DR CONGO

ZAMBIA

UGANDA

BURUNDI

TANZANIAKasongoKinshasa

SUDAN

RWANDA

ANGOLA


CONGO Masisi

Katanga

•

• •

•

20

Area: 1,104,000 sq kmPopulation: 78.6 mgDP per capita: US $779Infant mortality (per thousand births): 80Life expectancy: 52.2Living with HIV and AIDS: 980,000Literacy rate: 35.9%Without access to safe water: 58%Human development rank: 171 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 82/31

Concern has been working in Ethiopia since 1973.

HEALTH—Improving health care for 274,267 peopleConcern’s health program in South Wollo focused on a public health information campaign delivered via home visits, public events and health education sessions at schools; the continued upgrading of two health clinics with new equipment and drugs as well as technical training for staff; improving water, sanitation and hygiene conditions through spring protection at eight sites; training of water management committees; and overseeing spring and latrine construction. Through Concern’s anti-malaria initiative, there were 50 percent fewer cases of malaria in the target area than previous years, with no new epidemics recorded.

NUTRITION—Expanding lifesaving treatment for 9,000 malnourished childrenConcern continued its five-year program to build the capacity of the local MOH in Kalu District to combat severe malnutrition, with a particular focus on Concern’s CMAM program. Concern supported the expansion of outpatient treatment at 52 health facilities, completed training 3,500 Volunteer Community Health Workers and health care professionals, and organized workshops for MOH staff.

Ethiopia2009 marked the 25th anniversary of Ethiopia’s catastrophic 1984 famine. The country remains vulnerable to shocks such as erratic rainfall, which resulted in a 75 percent drop in crops in 2009. Rising food prices, along with the impact of the global recession, worsened the situation, and the government requested emergency food assistance for 6.2 million people.

EDUCATION—Improving access to formal and non-formal education for 5,704 childrenOut of 5,704 children reached in 2009, 4,350 children attended non-formal schools, while 137 children attended pre-school. Schools offering Non-Formal Basic Education prepared the poorest children to enter Ethiopia’s formal school system. Concern also helped construct two new Access to Basic Education Centers for out-of-school children in remote areas.

LIVELIHOODS—Helping lift more than 72,000 people out of chronic poverty Natural resource management initiatives included efficient use of natural resources; deployment of low-cost conservation technology; construction of fresh, clean water infrastructure for human and livestock consumption and agricultural training. Food production and processing initiatives featured the introduction of potato and highland-tolerant fruit trees, and a high-yield sheep breed.

HIV AND AIDS—Raising awareness and promoting HIV and AIDS prevention Key community members were enlisted in a campaign to prevent HIV infection, including community and religious leaders, and a number of support networks for HIV and AIDS patients were also sponsored. Community structures included anti-AIDS

ETHIOPIA

Red Sea

Gulf of Aden

Indian Ocean

Lake Rudolf

SOMALIA

SUDANYEMEN

KENYA

ERITREA

North Kalu

Addis Ababa

Damot WeydeSheko

•

••

•

DJIBOUTI

clubs in schools and communities, as well as associations of people living with HIV. Concern also provided home-based support, including counseling services and medical care, and help to ensure patients adhered to their medical regimens. Income generating activities featured vocational skills training and savings groups, and the availability of small business start-up capital.

EMERGENCY—Responding to food shortages and drought-induced emergenciesDuring the 2009 food crisis—caused by a prolonged drought—Concern distributed seeds to 26,000 direct beneficiaries, including potato seeds, which are highly resistant to drought, nutritious and an effective cash crop. Concern’s emergency nutrition program reached more than 29,500 children and 10,500 pregnant and lactating women, and an emergency outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhea was also addressed. More than 30,000 people received health training, while a public information campaign benefited more than 940,000 people.

21

The traditional daily coffee ceremony in Ethiopia has been the heart and soul of community life for centuries. More than just a coffee break, the ceremony is an expression of friendship and an opportunity to give thanks and discuss important issues.

To fight high rates of HiV and AiDS and tackle gender inequality, Concern is supporting an innovative initiative that uses the coffee ceremony to move beyond talk to drive positive social change.

Concern identifies community leaders willing to be agents of change at community gatherings. By initiating informed dialogue, engaging more and more people in the conversation, and forging new alliances, communities are acting together and behaviors have changed.

The pilot has been so successful that the Ethiopian government launched this program in 500 locations.

YoUr ConCErn WorkS in EThioPia

Agents of Change

PH

OT

O: W

OL

Ay

iTA

, ET

HiO

PiA

, CO

NC

ER

N W

OR

LD

WiD

E

Impact: ■ increased acceptance and reduced stigmatization and

discrimination of those with HiV and AiDS—and their families ■ Reduction in harmful ritual practices for women ■ New laws that prohibit marriage for women under age 15 ■ Dramatic increase in knowledge regarding prevention,

transmission of HiV and AiDS and willingness to be tested ■ Women can now speak more openly in their villages

“Even though I am not even HIV positive, after my husband died I was not allowed to work or shop locally, use the communal water tap or latrine. My four-year-old son was stoned in the street and not allowed to go to school. If I had not joined Community Conversations I would have died.” —Woman in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia who participated in the program

Women are screened for malnutrition by Concern-trained health attendants in Ethiopia.

22

Area: 28,000 sq kmPopulation: 9.7 mgDP per capita: US $1,155Infant mortality (per thousand births): 59Life expectancy: 61Living with HIV and AIDS: 120,000Literacy rate: 62.1%Without access to safe water: 54%Human development rank: 149 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 76/28.2

Concern has been working in Haiti since 1994 with programs in health, water/sanitation, education, livelihoods and emergency relief.

HEALTH—Ensuring access to quality health services for the poorest women and childrenConcern’s Child Survival Program (CSP) achieved sustained improvements in the health of mothers, children and youth in five of the poorest neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. Mothers’ and children’s health was monitored and their needs attended to by 595 active youth volunteers, each responsible for 25 households in their immediate area. Concern also strengthened the ability of two local clinics to provide care to those cases that could not be managed in the home.

EDUCATION—Strengthening quality primary educationConcern Haiti’s education programs included efforts to mobilize community support for education, teacher training and administrative and financial training for school directors, construction of classrooms, provision of furniture and learning supplies, and the establishment of five new annex schools in areas without access to traditional schools.

HaitiFor Haiti, 2009 was a relatively calm year. There were peaceful elections for the Senate in the fall, and a change of government without major upsets. global food prices stabilized in the course of the year, slightly improving Haitians’ food security. The devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010 was an enormous blow to the country’s development. Concern launched a large-scale comprehensive emergency program reaching, at present, 110,000 people.

Concern provided drinking water and hand-washing stations, trained teachers on health issues, operated a deworming program, promoted HIV and AIDS awareness, and constructed latrines and cisterns. The school health program concluded a three-year term, reaching the targeted number of 15,000 students in 60 schools on the island of La Gonâve, and 9,000 students in 30 schools in the Port-au-Prince slum of St. Martin.

LIVELIHOODS—Reducing vulnerability and fostering stable income generationA major highlight of 2009 in La Gonâve came with the arrival of a backhoe—the island’s very first piece of heavy equipment. It was put to use in the construction and paving of the island’s first road network, which will bring a variety of benefits, including reducing the time girls and women have to walk to fetch water, and creating access to marketplaces for farmers and traders. Some 10,400 very poor people from remote parts of the island have gained access to fresh, clean water. 2009 also saw the completion of some 18 miles of paved roadway.

In Saut d’Eau and in St. Martin, Concern Haiti supported microfinance institutions by making their services available to those most vulnerable, trained and supported very poor micro-entrepreneurs in both urban and rural settings, used demonstration

plots, improved farmers’ technical capability to cultivate more lucrative crops, and developed the means for getting agricultural products to the marketplace.

EMERGENCY—Providing continued disaster relief to the very poorest communitiesThough the country was spared major natural disasters in 2009, Haiti was still recovering from the damage done by 2008 hurricanes and that year’s huge spike in food prices and subsequent riots. In Saut d’Eau, Concern worked on improving the income of 3,222 very poor farmer families, particularly those headed by women. Cash-for-work programs provided additional income to 2,000 poor farmers, including 800 women. On La Gonâve, 3,601 families affected by the previous year’s hurricanes received cash to boost their food security.

HAITICaribbean Sea DOMINICAN

REPUBLICSaut d'Eau

Port-Au-Prince

La Gonâve• ••

23

Area: 583,000 sq kmPopulation: 37.8 mgDP per capita: US $1,542Infant mortality (per thousand births): 54Life expectancy: 53.6Living with HIV and AIDS: 1,200,000Literacy rate: 73.6%Without access to safe water: 43%Human development rank: 147 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 56/20.2

KenyaIn 2009, Kenya was recovering from the shocks of drought and the global economic crisis of 2008. The first rainy season from April to July failed, and the resulting food scarcity was exacerbated by low foreign exchange value. The continuation from 2008 of numerous political, economic and environmental challenges made it a difficult year, with delays in the enactment of a new constitution, prompting both international and domestic tensions.

Concern has been working in Kenya since 2002, and is currently focusing on education, health, emergency, livelihoods, and HIV and AIDS.

EDUCATION—Securing access to education for 108,620 vulnerable children In 2009, Concern supported the Urban Slums Basic Education Campaign, which calls on the government to address the acute shortage of primary education opportunities in the country’s urban slums. A highlight in 2009 was the development of a week-long campaign on national television, made up of five powerful 15-minute documentaries.

The campaign recruited some significant allies, including senior officials in the Ministry of Education, who pledged their support. Most importantly, the campaign secured a commitment from the government to construct five public primary schools in the urban slums, something they had previously refused to do.

In the rural districts of Suba, Rarieda and Kisumu East, Concern enhanced the capacity of teachers, education officers and community members to address factors limiting children’s access to education. Increased enrollment among adolescent girls was attributed to improved sanitation facilities in the schools supported by Concern and its partners.

HEALTH—Providing nutrition to 93,864 young children, infants and mothersConcern works in the slums of Nairobi Province and Kisumu East to support health care for HIV positive children, and to manage malnutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers and children under five. In 2009, Concern supported partners to train 319 health staff and 414 community health workers.

As a result of Concern’s work in providing logistics and technical support to several Ministry of Health campaigns during the year, a total of 410,326 children under five received Vitamin A to prevent blindness; 8,576 were de-wormed and 240,509 vaccinated against measles.

LIVELIHOODS—Empowering 20,742 people to become self-reliantConcern’s livelihoods program is based in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya where predominantly pastoralist communities face recurrent droughts and floods. In 2009, Concern increased access to water and sanitation by building boreholes, dams, springs, wells and enforcing emergency action plans. Fruit and seedlings were distributed to farmers, and ox-plough and drip irrigation were introduced to improve harvests. To help the poorest earn more income, Concern provided training in beekeeping, tree planting, and livestock management.

HIV AND AIDS—Providing quality treatment and care to 123,657 peopleConcern’s program improved the capacity of five local partners to provide quality prevention, treatment, and care (PTC) services to communities in five districts in Kenya. The numbers of mothers receiving services at Concern-supported sites increased from 6,940 in 2008 to 10,980 in 2009, and a total of 1,949 men accompanied their spouses, signaling an emerging change in attitude by men towards the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT).

EMERGENCY—Responding to the immediate needs of 191,494 peopleIn 2009, mobile phones proved a crucial tool during the Kenya urban food crisis, when Concern used a pre-existing mobile phone program model to deliver cash transfers to 9,819 people, protecting them from a potentially devastating food emergency. Concern’s innovative cash transfer program in emergencies provides people with cash rather than food. It empowers them by giving them resources to meet their most urgent needs and does not disrupt the local market—like food aid.

KENYAUGANDA

TANZANIA

Moyale

Nakuru

Nairobi

SUDAN ETHIOPIA

SOMALIA

Lake Victoria

••

•Indian Ocean

24

decree is already being felt—a change in rating by the US government for Laos has led to the approval of new funding grants in the country.

Concern also worked with some 1,609 villagers (759 of whom were women), conducting trainings in sustainable harvesting techniques in six villages. Through a livestock initiative, 396 goats, 131 pigs, 10 buffaloes and 75 cows were distributed to families serving to increase their income. In addition, village veterinary workers were identified and trained in 28 villages in 2009, and livestock vaccination funds were established.

Small scale irrigation schemes were constructed to benefit 2,280 villagers who can now produce agricultural products in the dry season, improving food security through increased rice production. A pilot to introduce a new variety of rice increased production from 2.8 tons per hectare to 3.3 tons.

HEALTH—Improving quality and accessibility of health services for 99,455 peopleTwo mother and child hospitals, two dispensaries and one birthing hut were constructed in 2009 with Concern’s support, and the district hospital and district health office were refurbished. Communities now

Area: 237,000 sq kmPopulation: 6.1 mgDP per capita: US $2,165Infant mortality (per thousand births): 77Life expectancy: 64.6Living with HIV and AIDS: 5,500Literacy rate: 72.7%Without access to safe water: 51%Human development rank: 133 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 51/19

Concern has been working in Laos since 1992 and last year implemented programs in livelihoods and health.

LIVELIHOODS—Reducing poverty and creating opportunity for 50,715 people In April, the prime minister signed the Decree on Non Profit Associations, paving the way for civil society organizations to effectively aid in poverty eradication and allowing them to engage in a formal dialogue with the Laos government for the first time. Opening up a formal space for civil society organizations in this manner represents a substantial shift in direction for the Laos government and a major achievement for Concern.

The decree allows for federations of associations, thus legalizing civil society representative bodies. The implementation of the decree will provide a solid basis for a formally recognized civil society sector in Laos which will contribute to the eradication of poverty and ultimately develop a formal dialogue with the Laos government.

Concern’s close partnership with the government’s poverty eradication program was acknowledged by government officials as a major factor in this turnaround of longstanding policy and the impact of the

LaosLaos has been through remarkable stages of development in the last two decades. In only 17 years, life expectancy has increased by 13.5 years, while the development ranking—tracked by the United Nations Human Development Index—has increased 18 places. In 2009, Concern worked closely with the government in drafting the first legal mechanism dealing with civil society in the history of Laos.

have access to better maternal health services, expanded and renovated health facilities, improved medical equipment and essential drugs and vaccinations.

Based on an assessment of household and community water supply options in 22 villages, eight new water systems were constructed and four existing systems were repaired. In addition, 17 boreholes were constructed in four villages benefitting 2,635 people and three water systems were constructed in three villages benefitting 812 people.

A community-led sanitation project was scaled up in 22 villages after training and piloting in two villages. Prior to the project, it was identified that only 13 percent of 470 households had access to a latrine, a figure that rose to 86 percent as a result of the program.

CAMBODIA

THAILAND

LAOS

VIETNAM

Vientiane

CHINA

MYANMAR

•

25

Area: 111,000 sq kmPopulation: 3.6 mgDP per capita: US $362Infant mortality (per thousand births): 138Life expectancy: 57.9Living with HIV and AIDS: 35,000Literacy rate: 55.5%Without access to safe water: 36%Human development rank: 169 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 66/24.6

Concern has been working in Liberia since 1992, and is continuing the transition from emergency relief to long-term development programs.

EDUCATION—Increasing access to primary educationWith a start in Grand Bassa County, Concern Liberia began its education program with an initial target of 4,500 people in 18 communities as direct beneficiaries. The program will improve the quality of teacher training and teaching, strengthen student and community involvement in both local school management and national education issues, and give the poorest children access to a quality education.

HEALTH—Improving environmental health for more than 175,000 peopleConcern Liberia provided communities with safe water through the repair and construction of boreholes, water treatment, and the establishment of Community Water and Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) committees. Through the construction of more than 936 latrines, 22,200 people gained access to better sanitation. Forty-two wells were built and 45 were rehabilitated, reaching thousands of families.

LiberiaSeven years after the official ending of Liberia’s civil war, many formerly displaced people have returned home. Concern continued to provide emergency water and sanitation for the large proportion of people who remained without access to basic facilities. Liberia has made great strides toward improving its economy, but high youth unemployment, an increase in crime, and a dependence on imported food remain serious obstacles to progress.

LIVELIHOODS—Enabling people to manage their resourcesConcern’s highly successful farmer field schools have given technical advice, training and support for more than 3,000 farmers. Concern has also offered animal and fish restocking and maintenance, and seed saving programs, as well as distributing farming tools. Livelihoods programs also included the rehabilitation and repair of the country’s infrastructure—bridges and roads—to facilitate better access to markets.

Adult literacy classes, business courses and community empowerment sessions accompanied vocational training in such professions as carpentry, masonry, interior design, blacksmithing and mechanics. Concern pays special attention to vulnerable women’s groups, for whom it has formed 25 self-help groups, as well as additional self-help groups for farmers. Natural resource management programs featured the promotion of organic and environmentally-friendly farming. Farmers are encouraged to adopt such practices as crop rotation, compost-making, erosion control and other measures to protect the environment. In all, Concern’s livelihoods programs in Liberia directly benefited 200,000 people.

HIV AND AIDS—Reducing the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS among 70,000 extremely poor peopleIn Grand Bassa and Montserrado Counties, Concern’s HIV and AIDS programs directly benefited almost 70,000 people. These included key at-risk populations: men and women living in extreme poverty, sex workers, adult transport drivers, vulnerable youth and children, and people already living with HIV and AIDS, as well as their caregivers.

There were a number of HIV and AIDS education and awareness-raising activities, including radio drama and talk shows, house-to-house visits, and health forums. To strengthen this effort, Concern trained community leaders to speak to people about prevention, and coping with the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.

LIBERIAAtlantic Ocean

GUINEA

SIERRA LEONE

COTE D'IVOIRE

Bomi County

Monrovia••

26

“This is one of the best programs that I have ever seen in my 25 years of experience.” —Dr. David Pyle, senior public health specialist and program evaluator

Nearly 9 million children under the age of five die each year from treatable, preventable causes; close to 350,000 women die every year from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Traditional approaches to protecting maternal and child health involve directly delivering care to communities, but are expensive, difficult to replicate within national health systems and local communities, and they cannot reach large numbers of the poorest mothers and children.

in 1998, in the slums of Bangladesh, Concern made a bold decision to break from tradition: instead of directly providing health care to poor communities by running and operating our own health clinics, we shifted to an approach that empowers communities to manage and implement their own health services.

CommUniTiES TakE CharGE

A Revolution in Health Care

PH

OT

O: A

LLy

SO

N B

RO

WN

, CO

NC

ER

N W

OR

LD

WiD

E U

S

Concern closed its urban clinics and launched the Child Survival program.

There were health services and systems available in the communities we were targeting, but they were failing to reach the poorest populations. A sustainable solution required harnessing the power of all of the networks at local and national levels, with government, business and community leaders all united around one common goal: to increase the number of people reached by essential health services and to bring timely and affordable care to the doorsteps of those who need it most—the poorest of the poor.

Concern worked to set up nearly 100 ward health committees in the urban slums of Bangladesh’s growing, impoverished secondary cities. Our staff worked hand-in-hand with locally elected political leaders to create groups representing a cross-section of the community, including mothers and fathers, business persons, teachers, religious leaders, pharmacists, homeopaths,

Mothers’ meeting at a maternal health ward, Rangpur, Bangladesh

27

PH

OT

O: A

LLy

SO

N B

RO

WN

, CO

NC

ER

N W

OR

LD

WiD

E U

S

Ward Health Committee meeting, Rangpur, Bangladesh

grandmothers, and youth. Together, they set health priorities, supported the poorest residents during medical emergencies, organized health campaigns, and leveraged resources from the municipal coffers and the private health service providers. The Concern team invested literally tens of thousands of hours in education, training and outreach—meeting with families; facilitating discussions among leaders at village, district and national levels; building trusting partnerships; and helping government and community leaders reach a common vision.

in 2009, the Urban Child Survival Program in Bangladesh underwent its final evaluation after 10 years of operation: the results showed that in the 9 municipalities in which the program was active, it successfully reduced maternal and child mortality and empowered local authorities and community members to coordinate, manage, and deliver health care services to the poorest mothers and children on their own, without Concern’s help. Concern has now officially handed the program over to the communities to manage.

in ten years, Concern’s Bangladesh Urban Child Survival program:

■ reached more than 1 million people—including over 100,000 children under five

■ increased the number of women receiving post-natal care by 53 percent

■ increased the number of infants who receive Vitamin A supplements—major protection against illness and death— by 56 percent

■ more than halved the gap between rich and poor with regard to access to health services

The model has the capacity to be replicated and scaled up to serve all urban populations in Bangladesh—a total of approximately 46 million people. The cost of the program per person per year was US$1.37.

Concern now has active Child Survival programs in Burundi, Haiti, Niger and Rwanda.

28


Concern has been working in both the urban areas and rural regions of Malawi since 2002, with programs in livelihoods, health and education.

LIVELIHOODS—Working to improve the basic income of 26,607 householdsIn 2009, Concern worked with some of the poorest people to help implement disaster risk reduction programs, which included the promotion of drought resistant crop varieties, tree planting and conservation farming.

Through training in improved farming methods, particularly irrigation, the program helped participants increase food production: in one community, irrigable land was increased from half an acre to two acres per person, in another production grew five-fold.

Concern helped a total of 5,576 people to undertake irrigation farming, which has enabled them to diversify production to vegetables and legumes that has reduced the necessity for them to sell their staple crop, maize, leaving them with greater stocks of food.

In partnership with government workers from the Ministries of Agriculture and Community Services, Concern supported

MalawiMalawi successfully conducted peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2009, and the economy continues to grow. A National Statistics Office survey revealed that poverty levels have dropped; however, 40 percent of the population is still desperately poor. Concern continued to address social and economic inequalities among the most vulnerable and worked with local government representatives to address several issues, including access to food.

soil and water conservation activities by constructing two large dams, and 18 nurseries to prevent soil erosion for farmers.

It is estimated that the program will directly assist a total of 30,000 poor households in the three districts of Nkhotakota, Dowa and Lilongwe, over the first five years.

HEALTH—Implementing Community-based Therapeutic Care at national scale and reaching 32,724 peopleConcern is working in partnership with the District Health Offices to institutionalize Community Therapeutic Care (CTC), as well as to expand the approach to people living with HIV and AIDS. Currently 24 out of 28 districts implement CTC in the country with Concern’s support.

In 2009, Concern received a five-year, $41 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development and field testing of bold and innovative ways to overcome barriers to delivering proven maternal, newborn and child-health solutions in six countries, beginning in Malawi.

Concern launched a call for ideas from the public to address the barriers in a nationwide competition. The first of its kind in the country, the competition helped raise significant awareness about maternal and

child health and generated an unprecedented level of interest, with a total of 6,047 entries. The top 30 participated in the semi-finals in January 2010, and two winners were selected in March.

Each winning idea will be implemented at district level, with rigorous evaluation, to determine how effective the new strategies are in improving coverage of proven maternal, newborn or child health services and projects.

EDUCATION—Improving access to quality education for 18,736 children Concern has targeted 25 schools in Nsanje district and will begin implementing a new education program in 2010 to address the high drop-out rates for children. Following consultation with the District Executive Committee—composed of all heads of department in the district—a number of activities have been earmarked for the program. These include introducing initiatives that increase female teachers in rural environments, advocating for better teacher conditions, development of practical ways to protect children from abuse on their way to school, support schools to improve access to sanitation and hygiene facilities that are separate for boys, girls and teachers, and building awareness at community level on child rights, HIV and gender.

MALAWI

TANZANIA

Nsanje

Nkhotakota

LilongweDowa

Lake Malawi

MOZAMBIQUE

ZAMBIA

••

•

•

29

Area: 802,000 sq kmPopulation: 20.05 mgDP per capita: US $802Infant mortality (per thousand births): 105Life expectancy: 47.8Living with HIV and AIDS: 1,500,000Literacy rate: 44.4%Without access to safe water: 58%Human development rank: 172 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 68/25.3

Concern has been working in Mozambique since 1984 and is implementing livelihoods, education, and HIV and AIDS programs.

LIVELIHOODS—Helping the rural poor gain access to resources and participate in planning Concern worked in remote rural areas to help poor people gain more access to and control over resources and decision making processes that are affecting their lives. Through the program, poor people were provided with the opportunity to “borrow” goats from a group program and subsequently “repay” their loan in the form of kid goats. The number of goats in the program subsequently increased from 300 to 422.

Integral to the success of the program was the provision of skills training in animal nutrition, reproductive health, credit management and group dynamics. Also, the appointment of animal health workers or “vet scouts,” and their subsequent training was a vital component of the program. The lessons from the program are set to be applied to new programs in Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.

Concern also completed three solar power community water systems in the drought-prone district of Machaze, which will provide clean water to more than 1,700 families.

MozambiqueA combination of an economic slowdown, rising food prices, climate change and instability in neighboring countries meant that there were few positive changes for Mozambique’s poor in 2009. While overall levels of poverty are falling, inequality is on the increase and living standards for the extreme poor are on the decline.

EDUCATION—Providing access and quality education to vulnerable childrenAn evaluation of the education program in Mozambique highlighted its increasing influence on policy and practice at district and provincial level. In 2009, Concern piloted a community and teacher participation process to develop locally relevant curriculum content in Zambesia. The process was so successful that the local education authority has decided to adopt the model to help teachers develop local curricula across the region.

The education program worked to address the barriers of access to education for vulnerable children at risk of not completing their basic schooling, and for those not in school at all. In 2009, activities were expanded in Lalaua district from six to 18 schools, with a further 10 planned, subject to assessment.

Concern worked in 2009 to empower communities to claim their rights to good education for their children. Strategies employed included community mobilization, school council capacity building, awareness raising campaigns and social protection support for children that lack the minimum materials to attend school, such as books and uniforms.

HIV AND AIDS—Improving awareness, reducing stigma and advocating for change in the communityThe current national HIV and AIDS prevalence rate in Mozambique is approximately 19 percent, with infection rates as high as 25–35 percent in Zambezia, where Concern works.

In 2009, Concern worked to implement its community development program in cooperation with its partner Alliance 2015. Tackling stigma and willingness to test remain some of the biggest challenges in the Mozambican HIV response. Overall, there has been a clear and noticeable impact on the community in relation to openness about HIV, access to information on HIV, and a clear growth in numbers of people accessing testing and, since late 2007, accessing HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART).

In addition, Concern used opportunities such as gatherings, meetings and trainings to talk about HIV and AIDS with school teachers, parents, students and government officials. Concern also has been working with community-based HIV and AIDS organizations on awareness raising and risk mitigation among sex workers.

MOZAMBIQUE

TANZANIA

MALAWI

Maputo

Nampula

ZIMBABWE

ZAMBIA

SOUTH AFRICA

•

•

MADAGASCAR

30

Area: 140,800 sq kmPopulation: 28.3 mgDP per capita: US $1,049Infant mortality (per thousand births): 47Life expectancy: 66.3Living with HIV and AIDS: 70,000Literacy rate: 56.5%Without access to safe water: 11%Human development rank: 144 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 55/19.8

Concern has been working in the poorest regions of Nepal since 2006, implementing programs in livelihoods, water and sanitation and nutrition.

HEALTH—Preventing disease among 56,828 of the most vulnerable by providing safe drinking water and sanitation Nepal is one of the most physically challenging countries in which Concern works. One of our target communities, in Kalicot, is reached by a 30-hour walk from the district headquarters, which itself is only accessible during the dry season. Despite such challenges, our water and sanitation programs reached more than 56,828 very poor people in 2009: 25 new water sources were installed to reduce the occurrence of waterborne diseases in the remote districts of Jumla, Mugu and Jajarkot in the Mid-Western Development Region.

Concern’s urban program targeted slum dwellers and squatters in the city of Nepalganj—primarily from the lowest Hindu castes and Muslim minorities—who are at risk of contracting waterborne diseases. Despite their impoverishment, all participating communities contributed to a water and sanitation project through labor, local materials and small tariffs to establish funds for long-term water maintenance.

Nepal2009 proved to be a very divisive year for Nepal, as self-proclaimed autonomous “states” established parallel structures and armed militia to push their conflicting agendas. Little progress was made during the year on issues such as drafting the constitution, consolidating the peace agreement, dealing with thousands of Maoist ex-combatants, or providing basic services to the majority of the population living below the poverty line.

Concern’s Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) initiative was implemented to treat severely malnourished children in their homes rather than at hospitals, which are often long distances from rural communities. Between May and November of 2009, there were 985 new severe acute malnourished children admitted into CMAM in Bardiya district.

In 2009, Nepal’s health department adopted the program’s screening and treatment protocols in the routine delivery of health services. Government health workers implementing CMAM rated their feeling of ownership at 94 percent, and overwhelmingly advocated that the program be expanded throughout Nepal.

LIVELIHOODS—Improving access to food for 2,860 of the poorest people in 10 districts Concern provided training through Farmer Field Schools and Landless Life Schools for 2,500 farmers and 366 landless participants (50 percent of whom were women). Through the program, which spanned eight sub-districts and the two remote districts of Jajarkot and Kalikot, 28 irrigation and rainwater harvesting schemes were implemented, and mass livestock vaccination campaigns were carried out.

In addition, training and tools were provided to landless people in a range of vocations and livelihoods. As a result of a vegetable production program, participating women succeeded in forging strong links with local markets and significantly improved their incomes.

NEPAL

Jumla

Kathmandu

CHINA

Bajura

Surkhet

INDIA

••

•

•

PH

OT

O: N

iGE

R, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

Emergency cash interventions in Niger give women resources to meet their most urgent needs.

32

Area: 1,267,000 sq kmPopulation: 14.1 mgDP per capita: US $627Infant mortality (per thousand births): 116Life expectancy: 50.8Living with HIV and AIDS: 60,000Literacy rate: 28.7%Without access to safe water: 58%Human development rank: 182 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 78/28.8

Concern has been working in Niger since 2002, focusing on improving access to education, treating malnutrition, improving health services, and reducing risk of disasters.

EDUCATION—Training teachers and strengthening schools for the poorest childrenConcern built 24 classrooms and rehabilitated nine. In three of the areas in which Concern works, the numbers of girls attending school doubled from 4,722 in 2006 to 8,877 this year. To improve education quality, Concern trained 1,207 teachers, 576 contract teachers and 212 headmasters on the management of multi-grade classrooms and administrative management.

Teachers’ resource centers furnished with libraries were constructed to facilitate teacher trainings, and solar panels were installed in 17 schools to provide electricity for evening classes. Concern also supported 236 school management committees to strengthen administration, and a “child friendly, girls friendly” initiative was implemented to encourage enrollment.

The program also provided microcredit financing to families so that parents could afford to send their children to school.

NigerNiger is officially the world’s poorest country: 62 percent of children under five go without basic health care, and child and maternal death rates are among the world’s highest. The nation suffers frequent cyclical droughts, which contribute to frequent food shortages and chronic hunger. Average life expectancy is 50 years, and less than half of the population has access to safe water.

HEALTH—Reaching 86,424 people with training and the provision of health services In 2009, Concern launched a program to promote child health, reaching 86,424 people through 23 health centers and outposts during the first year.

Responding to a severe meningitis outbreak, Concern accelerated the Ministry of Health’s campaign by providing logistical support to transport and deliver a security stock of vaccines for more than 230,000 people.

Concern’s five-year “Pro-Santé Child Survival Project” continued to support the government of Niger to deliver quality, equitable child health and nutrition services in the rural areas of the Tahoua region, where conditions are particularly harsh for children. The Pro-Santé program supports 16 health centers and seven health posts in the areas of behavior change on health and hygiene practices; community mobilization, that serves to educate the community on how to manage common childhood illnesses; and health system capacity building, through the training of health workers.

In 2009, 27 nurses were trained by Concern, while ongoing training and information is being provided to health post and health center staff on management, reporting and methods of response to epidemics.

CHADLake Chad

NIGER

LIBYAALGERIA

MALI

NIGERIA

Maradi

ZinderBURKINA FASSO

Niamey• • •

BENIN

More than 30 donkeys and 15 carts were donated to 10 very remote villages to assist with the transportation of patients to their closest health center.

LIVELIHOODS—Improving access to food and water for the poorest familiesLocal communities are managing their own disaster reduction plans, after looking at their own vulnerabilities and identifying activities—such as cereal banks—that would reduce their risk. The cereal banks proved extremely useful in 2009, as erratic rain forced some farmers to sow up to eight times during the year.

Concern provided seeds to 1,600 vulnerable families, doubling production. Extremely vulnerable women were provided with livestock to help them gain a source of income and food. The women also received training in hygiene, financial management and livestock feeding and caretaking.

New water management committees were trained in nine villages allowing members to manage and protect water infrastructure, and maintain a high quality of water. In addition, 12 new wells were built to irrigate vegetable gardens in three districts.

33

Area: 121,000 sq kmPopulation: 23.7 mgDP per capita: n/aInfant mortality (per thousand births): 51Life expectancy: 67.1Living with HIV and AIDS: n/aLiteracy rate: n/aWithout access to safe water: 0%Human development rank: n/aglobal hunger rank/index*: 46/18.4

North Korea (DPRK)The government’s relations with South Korea and Japan have deteriorated, which has impacted food security. In 2009, North Korea’s economy continued to decline, which, along with spikes in food and fuel prices, worsened poverty and hunger in the country. Currently, one-third of the country’s population of 23 million is undernourished.

Active in the country since 1997, Concern is working in both urban areas and rural regions, with programs in health and livelihoods.

HEALTH—Providing 130,000 of the poorest people with access to water and sanitationIn the counties of Dockchon and Hoichang, in South Pyongan Province, Concern has built and repaired water supply systems in homes to benefit more than 130,000 urban residents. Information received from the local county hospital indicates a significant decrease in the number of diarrheal cases being treated in Concern’s areas.

In addition, the project improved the quantity of water available to meet the needs of both urban populations for the next 20 years through eight miles of pipelines and connections, the rehabilitation of pump stations and communal latrines, as well as the installation of approximately 50 miles of household pipes.

Through a pilot project, a renewable solar energy system was installed to pump drinking water to 260 households and the community was trained to manage, repair and maintain the system. The learning from this pilot will feed into the wider project in 2010 and 2011.

LIVELIHOODS—Reducing poverty in vulnerable communitiesConcern’s livelihoods programs meet the needs of three groups in South Pyongan Province: poor households that rely on farming on fragile mountain slopes, farmers and their families working on cooperative farms, and impoverished urban dwellers.

A vital aspect of the program is the rehabilitation of natural forests and lands, which have suffered from years of over-grazing and over-farming. In 2009, Concern introduced new seed varieties, which helped to improve yields up to 15 to 20 percent over existing varieties.

Concern is teaching community leaders and government workers about tree planting techniques, as well as about soil conservation technology and other environmental measures that will contribute to the sustained recovery of the environment.

Concern has boosted agricultural production by creating and improving the infrastructure of road ways, introducing crop and food processing machinery, and upgrading methods of animal husbandry and water management, which includes the fortification of stream banks to provide better protection against flooding.

DPR KOREA

SOUTH KOREA

CHINA

RUSSIA

JAPAN

Sea of Japan

Yellow Sea

P’yongyang•P’yong-song•

34

Area: 804,000 sq kmPopulation: 173.2 mgDP per capita: US $2,496Infant mortality (per thousand births): 67Life expectancy: 66.2Living with HIV and AIDS: 96,000Literacy rate: 54.2%Without access to safe water: 10%Human development rank: 141 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 58/21

Concern has been working in Pakistan since 2001 in urban and rural areas. Its programs focus on health, livelihoods and emergency operations.

HEALTH—Increasing access to clean water and improving primary health care for 27,916 peopleConcern’s health program is focused in Balochistan, Punjab and the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. In Quetta city, Concern’s Working Children’s Project provided several thousand working children with health and hygiene education to reduce the threat of waterborne diseases, and 54 community hygiene sessions were organized for a further 1,700 people.

Prior to Concern’s intervention in Punjab province, gastro-intestinal conditions and cholera were common, but since the installation of clean drinking water sources—to benefit 4,500 people—no epidemics have been reported and women and children, the primary water collectors, have had their workloads reduced.

Concern also provided free health camps to remote areas, equipment to rural health facilities, and trained and equipped trained birth attendants (TBAs) and lady health visitors (LHVs) to deliver services in the community.

PakistanPakistan is one of South Asia’s poorest countries, with 70 percent of the population living on less than $2 a day. In 2009, more than two million people were displaced from the Swat district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), when the military launched a major operation against opposition groups. By mid-December, more than 11,000 people had been killed.

LIVELIHOODS—Increasing income for 13,754 of the poorest people in rural and urban areasIn 2009, Concern built and rehabilitated irrigation systems, which allowed farmers to produce two crops per year instead of one. The program also introduced measures to mitigate the damaging impact of soil erosion caused by heavy landslides. Cash-for-work initiatives encouraged small landholders to cultivate fertile land, which in turn provided employment opportunities to hundreds of local agricultural workers.

Concern distributed more than 220 fuel efficient stoves in rural areas, and 10 bio-gas plants were installed to offset deforestation, the result of timber harvesting for cooking fuel.

Concern helped introduce diverse crops to the poorest farmers, and 20 fruit and forest nurseries were established to support women for income generation, and trainings were held on pruning and grafting.

The program organized informal education and vocational skills training for hundreds of working children, which helped them integrate into formal schools and helped older children learn less hazardous ways of earning a living: 200 adolescents received vocational training in 2009, and more than 100 were provided with tool kits and subsequently placed in new jobs.

In line with Concern’s global microfinance strategy, there was a shift from mere skills training towards an enterprise development approach: in Quetta city, 100 micro-enterprises were developed in 2009, 30 of which were established by women, who are now running home-based enterprises.

EMERGENCY—Meeting basic survival needs of 76,460 displaced peopleConcern responded swiftly when the national military offensive against militants resulted in more than two million people fleeing their homes in North West Frontier Province.

Along with its local partners, Concern provided essential aid items to more than 60,000 displaced people and emergency health assistance to over 12,000 people. In addition, almost 3,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) received vocational training, cash grants and tool-kits. Working through an established local partner helped ensure broad acceptance in the area.

INDIA

Arabian Sea

PAKISTAN

CHINA

AFGHANISTAN

IRAN

Islambad

Quetta

Rawalpindi •••

35

YoUr ConCErn WorkS in Chad

Cultivating Self Reliance and Potential

PH

OT

O: C

HA

D, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

72-year-old Hissein feeding one of the goats he received from Concern, Goz Beida, Chad.

Seventy-two-year-old widower Hissein lives with his eight children in a Concern-supported camp for displaced people in eastern Chad. it’s not easy being a single parent anywhere, but for elderly Hissein the challenges of trying to care for his children on his own in the midst of a civil conflict were overwhelming: “i never thought, at my age, that i would have to start life all over again.”

Hissein’s wife was killed in 2006 when their village was attacked by militia. With his wife dead, animals gone, and eight children to raise, Hissein fled his village for the relative safety of a camp in Goz Beida, eastern Chad. There, Hissein and his family were beneficiaries of goat fairs organized by Concern Worldwide, which provides vital livestock to displaced families. More importantly, Hissein and his children received ongoing agricultural training from Concern—critical in a region prone to periodic drought. The elderly father’s gratitude for such assistance is best represented

by the copybook he proudly showed to Concern workers. Full of neatly written notes in Arabic, the book holds information on such topics as livestock feeding techniques, animal health and the fabrication of animal salt licks, which provide his livestock with vital minerals.

Through Concern, Hissein has started a new life with his family, and can now support them again despite the devastating losses of war. At age 72, he is actually enjoying the chance to learn new skills. After mastering the fabrication of salt licks, which are keeping his livestock healthy and productive, he is proud to be able to pass his new expertise on to others. “i look forward to more training,” he says with a smile. Concern launched its emergency program in eastern Chad in currently works with 38,000 displaced people in four camps and with families in host villages in Goz Beida.

36


Concern has been working in Rwanda since 1994. Concern is focusing on helping people increase income and access to food. Our health program successfully increased access to services for the poor.

EDUCATION—Increasing enrollment and retention rate of children in primary schoolsWorking with 73 target schools in Gakenke, Huye and Nyaruguru districts, Concern elected members for Parent Teacher Committees (PTCs), which were subsequently instructed by community-based trainers. The overarching goal for Concern is to engage local government authorities at sessions organized by the PTC, enabling them to pass on vital information to schools outside the program. One obstacle Concern faces is the reluctance of some teachers and school administrators to fully embrace parental involvement.

A highly innovative element of Concern’s education program is the establishment of children’s committees at schools and involving children in the decisions affecting their schools. PTCs keep track of students who have dropped out of school.

RwandaRwanda is currently enjoying relative security and stability. But the country’s economic and social development still faces formidable obstacles. Rising costs of imported goods led to a sharp inflation at year’s end. For the 15th anniversary of the 1994 genocide, the country focused on fighting revisionism, while still coping with the re-integration of both victims and perpetrators.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION—Improving the health of mothers and children under fiveLast year, through its Child Survival Program (CSP) and its Community Management of Acute Malnutrition, Concern treated 107,147 children for fever caused by malaria, 27,303 children with diarrhea and 23,316 children with pneumonia—all three highly deadly but also highly treatable diseases.

Key to the success of CSP is the training and deployment of Community Health Workers (CHWs) who identify, treat (or refer for treatment) ill children, and teach mothers about the early warning signs of illness, nutrition, and where to seek care for children under five. Parents themselves are also enlisted to play such a role in their communities, with bicycles offered as an incentive.

A key aspect of ongoing community- based information campaigns is the focus on the importance of sound family health practices, which includes regular hand-washing. Concern built 4,630 hand washing stations in homes. Last year Concern trained 1,704 CHWs to work in connection with 20 health facilities. Malnutrition is also reduced with Community Kitchens.

RWANDA

Lake Kivu

UGANDA

BURUNDI

TANZANIA

DR CONGO

Musanze

Kigali City

Huye

••

•

LIVELIHOOD—Improving food security for 1,540 very poor householdsConcern works with poor farmers to increase harvests and to help them supplement their income with “non-farm” skills. The program includes instruction in agricultural techniques, controlling hillside erosion, restoring soil fertility by composting and manure, establishing homestead gardens, the establishment of seed banks, and rainwater harvesting. Through providing microcredit and community-based savings and loan schemes, Concern is also giving poor, landless farmers a chance to earn non-farm income. Beneficiaries saw significant growth in their incomes, allowing them to pay for health insurance and their children’s education.

HIV AND AIDS—Reducing the transmission of HIV and minimizing the impact of AIDSOperating in the Northern and Southern Provinces, Concern Rwanda reaches people living with HIV and AIDS, orphans, vulnerable children, and unmarried mothers as well as widows. The program reached 6,171 direct beneficiaries through information campaigns, AIDS clubs, counseling, and food and income-generating activities.

37


Sierra LeoneIn 2009, Sierra Leone reached a significant milestone in its recovery as the long-standing UN peacekeeping mission completed its mandate and was replaced by the United Nations Integrated Peace building Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), whose mission will shift to sustainable development. Although this transition signifies real progress, there is still much work to be done. Sierra Leone remains at the bottom of the Human Development Index, ranked 180th out of 182 countries.

Working in Sierra Leone since 1996, Concern continues to focus on eliminating extreme poverty, supporting sustainable development and strengthening institutions in the wake of a crippling eleven-year civil war.

EDUCATION—Providing quality education for 17,434 of the poorest childrenConcern’s education program in Sierra Leone aims to increase access to and improve the quality of education, while enhancing a safe learning environment in 66 schools across three chiefdoms (Kholifa Mabang, Malal Mara and Yoni). The program targets 512 teachers, 792 School Management Committee members and 17,434 school children. In 2009, two new schools were constructed and enrolment rates increased by 13 percent. A special emphasis was placed on increasing girls’ enrollment through community radio messages and training of teachers and School Management Committees (SMCs). Concern also enrolled 170 untrained community teachers in a three-year distance education program in 2009; support includes payment of college fees, school-based coaching, and provision of course modules. Further training activities included a workshop for nurses, SMC

members, and project officers on HIV and AIDS facts, life skills, and other health-related issues, benefiting 660 adolescent boys and girls in supported schools.

HEALTH—Mobilizing communities to improve their quality of life and manage their own health careConcern’s approach to developing sustainable health care systems and practices through government and community activities targets 85,000 direct and 316,872 indirect beneficiaries in 228 rural villages and six Freetown slums.

In 2009, two health facilities were constructed in the Grey Bush and Massaba slums, five rural health facilities were renovated, and community access to primary care increased by 29 percent. The rehabilitation and construction of wells, stand pipes, rainwater harvesting systems, and school hand-washing facilities is providing safe water to 29,096 people. Sustainability is ensured through Well Management Committees, and community volunteers in 20 villages, who have been trained and equipped as village pump mechanics. 233 low-cost community latrines have been constructed, benefiting 3,046 people, and school latrines have improved sanitation for an additional 6,764 children.

Pregnant Women’s Clubs are training women in pregnancy care, birth preparedness and child care. Pregnant women’s attendance at community clinics increased by more than 50 percent, from 738 in 2008, to 1,253 in 2009. There was also a 60 percent increase in fully immunized children, from 627 in 2008, to 1,054 children vaccinated against polio, measles, DPT, and yellow fever in 2009.

LIVELIHOODS—Working to alleviate poverty for over 43,000 peopleIn 2009, livelihoods-related initiatives targeted 43,932 people. In the urban target areas, Concern supported 1,200 vulnerable households by strengthening their ability to grow and produce food through Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and providing improved seeds, rice, cassava, cowpeas and tools. A similar approach in rural target led to a 50 percent increase in food availability for 6,095 target beneficiaries and a 100 percent increase in average cultivation area (from 1.5 to 3 acres for beneficiaries). 700 beneficiaries were provided with sheep and goats and community paravet trainings were held to diversify livelihoods. Over 3,000 beneficiaries participated in two Concern-organized People’s Forums that provided for open communication between communities and elected officials to facilitate transparency and accountability in taxation, budgeting, and funds allocation.

LIBERIAAtlantic Ocean

GUINEA

SIERRA LEONE

Makeni

Freetown

••

38

Area: 638,000 sq kmPopulation: 8 mgDP per capita: n/aInfant mortality (per thousand births): 109Life expectancy: 49.7Living with HIV and AIDS: 24,000Literacy rate: n/aWithout access to safe water: 71%Human development rank: n/aglobal hunger rank/index*: n/a

Concern has been working in Somalia since 1986, and is delivering assistance to more than 490,000 people.

EDUCATION—Improving the quality of education for over 11,000 children Concern expanded its work in 22 target schools in Mogadishu and the Lower Shabelle Region as part of its “Strengthening Child Opportunities for Primary Education” (SCOPE) project to provide affordable quality primary education. In 2009, the program reached 11,006 children from poorer households, of whom at least 39 percent are girls. As part of this effort, 313 teachers and 154 Community Education Committees received training and mentoring. Concern also supported community-led repair of 15 schools. Eight schools received new desks and benches, and over 5,000 textbooks, and other essential supplies were delivered across all 22 schools.

The Positive Attitudes for Life (PAL) Project provided children in Mogadishu and Afgoye district of Lower Shabelle region with skills, education and opportunities they need to resist joining militias and gangs. 1,288 at risk children participated in activities ranging from non-formal education, life skills training, sports, counselling and family reunification.

SomaliaIn 2009, Somalia captured the headlines because of piracy on the Indian Ocean and gulf of Aden. But the more urgent crisis of 9 million Somalis caught in entrenched violence and lawlessness is largely unreported. A parliamentary assembly in January resulted in the election of a new President, but the transitional government has yet to gain a firm hold in Mogadishu. The prevailing insecurity has limited NgO access to the country, with many being forced to suspend operations.

LIVELIHOOD SECURITY—Improving long-term income options for 16,152 poor households Concern continued its livelihoods program in Kurtunwarey, Awdheegle and Qoryoley districts of the Lower Shabelle region for 16,000 households. New crop varieties with market potential have been introduced including maize, somtux, groundnut, and mungbean. In 2009, 200 members of Farmer Field School (FFS) groups received training. The program also rehabilitated 20 canals. In addition, six new Self-Help Groups (SHGs) composed of 60 female groups received cash grants of $7,500 to start up small-scale income generating activities.

EMERGENCY—Meeting the critical needs of 294,952 people affected by drought and conflictConcern implemented four emergency interventions in 2009 in Benadir, Lower Shabelle, Bay, Galgadud and Gedo.

A cash-for-work initiative resulted in 40 km of canal rehabilitation and 19 km of river embankment fortification, and distribution of seeds and farm tools to 1,760 households. Additionally, 5,400 hectares of land have been put under cultivation. In Galgadud, Concern rehabilitated 577 kilometers of road, and rehabilitated water sources, with cash transfer benefiting 1,000 households and cash for work activities targeting 1,760.

HEALTH—Improving access to life-saving nutrition services for 1,065 mothers and severely malnourished childrenIn 2009, Concern launched a health and nutrition intervention designed to bring services to communities. The program is based on the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach. Thirty six members of the Community Nutrition Team were recruited and trained in CMAM. Nine nutrition centers have been opened, reaching 252 severely malnourished children, 537 pregnant and 276 breastfeeding women. Also, a de-worming campaign reached 1,511 primary school children.

SOMALIAIndian Ocean

ETHIOPIA

KENYAMogadishu•

DJIBOUTI

YEMEN

PH

OT

O: H

AiT

i, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

Distribution of humanitarian relief supplies to earthquake survivors, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

40


Concern has worked in West Darfur since 2004, and now has programs in three areas: Geneina and Krenick; Kulbus and Seleia; and Mornei, including Umshalaya. Our work focuses on camp management, meeting basic survival needs, reducing malnutrition, improving health and hygiene practices, and helping people grow food and earn a living.

EMERGENCY—Meeting the urgent needs of over 350,666 people in DarfurConcern expanded its activities in some areas in Darfur. We are meeting the needs of a total of 350,666 displaced people living in camps as well as vulnerable people in host communities. Our programs treat and prevent malnutrition and improve access to quality primary health care; provide access to basic survival needs and improve basic living conditions; ensure access to clean, safe water and adequate sanitation; improve access to food; and manage humanitarian aid in camps for displaced populations and coordinate delivery of services by aid agencies. We distributed essential non-food relief items to 21,894 people in camps in Kulbus, Seleia and Mornei. Our interventions addressed malnutrition in children under the age of five in Geneina and Krenick, assisting 21,900. In Mornei camp, nutrition interventions assisted 81, 047 people.

Sudan—NorthPolitical developments in 2009 added even greater complexity and uncertainty in North Sudan and worsened the humanitarian situation in Darfur, where civil conflict is ongoing, with an estimated 2.5 million people displaced. Despite challenging security issues, Concern continued to implement an emergency program to meet the humanitarian needs of 350,666 people in West Darfur and is also working in South Kordofan.

Concern helped ensure that the particular needs of vulnerable groups in camps—women, children, elders and people with disabilities—were taken into consideration. Concern also supported vulnerable families in the camps by providing resources for earning income and growing food through education on farming practices and distributing seeds and tools in partnership with the UN.

HEALTH—Improving access to health care for 30,000 of the most vulnerableConcern completed construction of a primary health facility in Abyei, South Kordofan. The facility has the capacity to serve about 2,000 people from the community and nearby villages. Concern also finished the first phase of constructing a midwifery and nursing training school in Abyei town, including three training rooms and the administrative office. The school is expected to benefit 30,000 people in Abyei area. In 2010, Concern aims to build boarding facilities for the school to allow people from rural areas to attend and remove the barrier of having to travel long distances from their homes. The program provided 20 “midwifery” kits to 13 certified midwifes and 7 traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in targeted villages. Concern held five educational sessions for 85 mothers to share information on personal hygiene and clean deliveries in the five villages.

WATER AND SANITATION—Bringing clean water, sanitation to more than 50,000 peopleThe construction of household latrines and new or rehabilitated water structures significantly improved access to water for 50,000 people in Abyei. Concern built 60 latrines, rehabilitated 5 water sources, and built one ground water well. We also trained 10 people to operate and repair water facilities and conducted hygiene training sessions.

LIVELIHOODS—Empowering conflict-affected households to improve income and food securityA total of 1072 households received “improved” vegetable seeds such as sorghum, groundnuts, millet, and sesame to improve crop yields. Concern also gave training to 520 farmers on agricultural practices and provided 83 other farmers with training on the use of donkeys to power plows. The program also improved and maintained grain banks to help communities safely store grains at village level. To boost food security and income, hundreds of fruits seedlings were delivered to 630 households; 90 goats were given to 9 women’s groups; and 300 chickens were distributed to 60 households headed by women. The program also provided blacksmith training and provided new tools to increase the participant’s productivity.

SUDANRed Sea

EGYPTLIBYA

CHAD

DR CONGO

ETHIOPIA

Khartoum

Yei

Yirol

AjiepAweilWest

•• •

•

•

ERITREA


UGANDAKENYA

41


Concern has been working in Sudan since 1985, and our current programs focus on emergency, livelihoods and food security, education, health care and nutrition.

EMERGENCY—Providing vital relief supplies to 27,752 peopleConcern provided basic shelter and relief supplies such as blankets, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, and cooking pots to 27,752 vulnerable displaced people returning to their home villages and to host communities in Aweil North and West Counties and Rashad County. Flooding in late 2008 contributed to a cholera outbreak: Concern established a cholera treatment unit at the Odum health facility and provided hygiene supplies and training to staff. Latrines and water purification materials were also provided. Concern offered immediate assistance to flood and fire affected communities in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and South Kordofan, distributing seed, tools, and non-food items.

LIVELIHOODS—Improving income opportunities and access to food for 34,849 peopleConcern provided agricultural training, distributed seeds and tools, supported seed banks and women’s “vegetable” groups, and promoted appropriate farming techniques throughout the rural program

Sudan—SouthFour years after signing the fragile comprehensive peace agreement that ended a 22-year civil war, South Sudan suffered a year marked by unrest and tribal conflicts. Elections were to be held in April 2009, but were delayed until April 2010, and the standing president was re-elected. Sudan is still struggling to maintain stability and rebuild basic systems for health, education, water, and markets.

areas, all of which has led to an increase in crops. The program also supported initiatives to train blacksmiths and construct dykes to protect communities and crops from flooding.

Concern established a demonstration farm, which acts as a learning center and provides on-site trainings on agricultural techniques. The program has reduced risk of harvest failure among the beneficiaries. Increased food production has directly improved nutrition and reduced the hunger gap among our targeted households.

EDUCATION—Meeting the needs of 15,780 pupils, educators, and PTA members Concern’s education program in Aweil West County is now starting its fifth year. Its specific target has been 35 primary schools. In 2009, 15,780 direct beneficiaries benefited from the programme. This includes primary school pupils, teachers and school inspectors, government officials and PTA members Concern worked with 35 schools to benefit a total of 15,780 people—including primary school pupils, teachers, school inspectors, and PTA members. An increase in numbers of families returning home after years of war has resulted in greater numbers of children enrolling: in fact, enrollment has increased from 9,776 students in 2008 to 15,069 in the past year in our program areas. Concern

worked with local partners to build 9 classrooms blocks in four primary schools and also provided furniture and equipment in those schools. Concern also proviced training to 35 head teachers and 180 PTA members.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION—Increasing access to water and health services for 68,164 peopleA total of 51,637 people received health care services to prevent and treat illnesses, and to improve nutrition. Concern also provided pregnant women and new mothers with access to antenatal care, skilled care for deliveries and immunization at health facilities. Concern supported the construction of two primary health care units and two ward blocks, with the participation of communities and the county health department. A health education initiative called “Community Conversations” organized meetings where community members discussed and identified their own health problems and found solutions collectively by mobilizing local resources. A total of 353 people benefited.

Concern provided new water sources and rehabilitated existing water sources, giving 15,973 people access to safe drinking water. Concern also worked in partnership with communities to construct latrines at five schools.

SUDANRed Sea

EGYPTLIBYA

CHAD

DR CONGO

ETHIOPIA

Khartoum

Yei

Yirol

AjiepAweilWest

•• •

•

•

ERITREA


UGANDAKENYA

42

Area: 945,000 sq kmPopulation: 41.3 mgDP per capita: US $1,208Infant mortality (per thousand births): 69Life expectancy: 55Living with HIV and AIDS: 1,4000,000Literacy rate: 72.3%Without access to safe water: 45%Human development rank: 151 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 60/21.1

Concern has been operational in Tanzania since 1978, with emergency response and long-term development programs focused on HIV and AIDS, good governance, improving incomes, and access to food and water.

HEALTH AND WATER—Reducing the rates of environmental and waterborne diseases for poor communitiesA five-year water and environmental health program was launched in 2008, and is now reaching 219,948 people. Concern has improved access to safe water in areas where its rehabilitation and construction of new water sources was been underway.

Concern’s innovative research in collaboration with local health centers aims to identify low-cost methods of controlling mosquitoes and reducing malaria such as planting mosquito-repellent plants—Mexican marigold and lemongrass—around people’s homes. Initial results have shown that the use of these plants has reduced malaria rates. Concern has continued to research the use of Moringa tree seeds to purify water and to treat acute respiratory infections. Hygiene and sanitation services have also been introduced in schools to educate children about ways to prevent illness.

TanzaniaDespite recent economic growth of approximately seven percent and modest political progress, Tanzania remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Rainfall shortage forced the government to distribute relief food in 38 districts. Poor farmers were particularly hard hit.

LIVELIHOODS—Contributing to the fulfillment of the right to food for 369,696 people living below the poverty lineConcern worked with the Ministry of Agriculture in the rural districts of Lindi, Masasi, Kobondo, Kasulu, Nanyumbu and Kigoma to improve incomes and access to food. Farmer Field Schools boosted farmers’ skills; farmers also received training in small livestock keeping. Concern distributed seeds and organic fertilizer, and provided equipment and instruction for food preservation and processing. Seed banks and tree planting campaigns contributed to natural resource management.

An important part of Concern’s livelihood program is the strengthening of institutions that help protect the land rights of the poor. These include the formalization of land ownership, capacity building for village land council members, rehabilitating village land registries, and other measures. Concern is eager to overcome inequality in land policies, laws and their implementation and to put in place effective agricultural policy that favors the poor. Concern is a widely recognized as an expert in equality issues associated with land, agriculture and water policies.

EMERGENCY—Responding to drought and the effect of rising food pricesConcern Tanzania distributed maize, sorghum, and bean seeds, as well as

cassava cuttings, to 2,500 of the poorest households in its target areas. This initiative, developed in the wake of two poor rainfalls in a row, will benefit approximately 15,000 people.

TANZANIA

Lake Victoria

Indian Ocean

KENYA

BURUNDI

DR CONGO

ZAMBIA

Dar es SalaamIsmani

MtwaraMasasiMalangali

Iringa

PawagaKigoma

Kibundo

RWANDA

UGANDA

MOZAMBIQUEMALAWI

••• ••••• •

PH

OT

O: S

iER

RA

LE

ON

E, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

Student Adamasay Tholliey in front of Concern-supported school, Mayira village, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone

44

Area: 752,620 sq kmPopulation: 12.3 mgDP per capita: US $1,358Infant mortality (per thousand births): 101Life expectancy: 44.5Living with HIV and AIDS: 1,100,000Literacy rate: 70.6%Without access to safe water: 42%Human development rank: 164 (out of 182)global hunger rank/index*: 72/25.7

Concern has been active in Zambia since 2003, with programs focusing on livelihoods, and HIV and AIDS.

LIVELIHOODS—Enhancing the livelihoods security of poor households in Zambia’s Western ProvinceConcern Zambia’s livelihoods program focuses on natural resource management, food production and processing, market interaction, and the strengthening of institutions. Protecting farmland hinges on disaster risk management plans, such canal clearing, and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Last year, more than 800 miles of canals were cleared, allowing more land to be available for crop production. District and village resource committees—20 new ones in 2009—established and supported by Concern play a crucial role, as do Area Farmers Associations, which Concern helped increase in number from 34 to 43.

To support farmers, Concern has established rice polishing plants and hammer mills, among other food processing facilities. In addition, the program distributes a variety of seeds to encourage crop diversification, farming tools, while teaching beneficiaries to apply agricultural practices and explore fish farming. Concern gave either chickens or goats to 1,200 of the most vulnerable households. Concern also helped built the

ZambiaWith crucial presidential elections scheduled for 2010, the year was marked by a degree of political and social unrest. Increasing fuel charges late in the year caused a panic among farmers. But Zambia’s economy continued to make steady progress, with inflation falling from 15 percent to 11.5 percent.

capacity of local government to provide similar services.

Advocating for the rights of small-scale farmers on both local and national levels, Concern also trains poor farmers in marketing techniques and provides assistance to help them get goods to market, such as making a truck available. In all, livelihoods programs indirectly benefited more than 184,000 people. Thanks to sales of vegetables, rice and honey, the income of participating families increased by 25 percent.

HIV AND AIDS—Improving the quality of life for people living with HIVAs part of its “positive living intervention,” Concern Zambia continued to create support groups for people living with HIV and AIDS where they get help to deal with nutrition and medical needs, as well as to cope with the stigma attached to their condition. Services offered through the groups include training in livestock and vegetable garden management; access to savings and loan programs, literacy training and medical counseling. Concern has also trained traditional healers in how to respond to the disease and advocate for better treatment of the sufferers.

Concern also revived and created new Anti-AIDS Clubs, whose members are trained in behavior change communication strategies

and basic life skills. The program also trains peer counselors and educators, and offers Voluntary Counseling and Testing services in the home as well at schools. Community information booths provide villagers with information and means of protection against the disease. Concern’s HIV and AIDS programming directly benefited 74,866 people.

ZAMBIA

MALAWI

DR CONGO TANZANIA

ANGOLA

ZIMBABWEMOZAMBIQUE

ZambeziLusakaMongu

•• •

PH

OT

O: U

GA

ND

A, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RD

WiD

E

Well and pump provided by Concern and maintained by community members in Pader District, Northern Uganda.

46

This period of relative stability allowed Concern to continue and expand its work targeting the most vulnerable in the areas of livelihoods and food security, HIV and AIDS, and emergency response.

LIVELIHOODS—Working with over 60,000 households to reduce dependence on food aidConcern works with the poorest households in Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Nyanga districts in Zimbabwe: 7,231 households received training in the reduction of soil erosion, crop rotation and soil fertility improvement as part of Concern’s Conservation Farming program. An FAO evaluation indicated that participants were able to grow double their annual food requirements, enabling them to pay for school fees, health care, agricultural resources and household goods. Concern also helped 2,721 households improve their food security through setting up vegetable gardens. 51,264 households received a seed and fertilizer support pack, enabling them to meet 86 percent of their household cereal needs, while 8,462 other households got seeds through Concern-organized seed fairs. 623 households received livestock training, with 415 receiving small livestock.

ZimbabweIn 2009, there was reason for measured optimism in Zimbabwe. Although a cholera outbreak continued, the establishment of a power-sharing government brought political stability and economic growth (4.7 percent) for the first time since 1996, the civil service returned to work and schools and clinics reopened, the harvest was better than expected, and the number of people in need of food aid decreased from 5 million to 2 million.

HIV AND AIDS—Educating people to break the silence on HIV and AIDSConcern rolled out an initiative in 17 neighborhoods through 164 “circle groups,” each led by a trained facilitator and consisting of 30-35 members who meet weekly to discuss the issues facing them and take action. Special emphasis was placed on addressing negative cultural practices through training 500 community leaders. These groups have opened new channels of communication, with positive messages reinforced by 36 theater groups and 8 youth groups. At the school level, 187 teachers and 146 school heads from 73 primary and secondary schools were trained in strengthening their “Anti-AIDS Clubs,” benefiting about 12,960 pupils. Five mission hospitals provided counselling and testing to 7,669 people (75 percent women), and 762 pregnant women received testing, counseling and referrals to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

EMERGENCY—Responding to a cholera epidemic and massive food shortagesThe cholera outbreak that began in August 2008 continued until June 2009, resulting in nearly 100,000 cases with 4,282 deaths. Concern’s response, in rural Nyanga, Gokwe North. Gokwe South, as well as urban Chegutu, included the provision of food and emergency supplies to

community health centers; distributions of cholera kits, including jerry cans for safe storage of clean water, soap, and chlorine tablets; and the activation of a network of community health volunteers trained in hygiene promotion messaging. Approximately 534,050 people were reached by our efforts. In October 2009, another outbreak of cholera was reported in Gokwe North; Concern responded with further distributions and hygiene promotion, targeting 45,509 households.

In response to the ongoing food crisis, Concern continued a vulnerable group feeding program in Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Nyanga, in partnership with the World Food Program. In the first phase—through April 2009—monthly food rations were distributed to 545,771 beneficiaries; the second phase—September 2009–April 2010—targeted 130,403.

ZIMBABWE

BOTSWANA

HarareLake Kariba MOZAMBIQUE

ZAMBIA

•

SOUTH AFRICA

NAMIBIA

Area: 390,757 sq kmPopulation: 12.4 mgDP per capita: n/aInfant mortality (per thousand births): 32Life expectancy: 43.4Living with HIV and AIDS: 1,3000,000Literacy rate: 91.2%Without access to safe water: 19%Human development rank: n/aglobal hunger rank/index*: 58/21

47

in 2009, Concern Worldwide US received a five-year, $41 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development and field testing of bold and innovative ways to overcome barriers to delivering proven maternal, newborn and child health solutions in six countries, beginning with Malawi, Sierra Leone and india (Orissa State).

A new conceptual framework and research methodology was developed. in each of the three countries, a comprehensive review of secondary data was completed followed by primary research covering several districts and a wide range of stakeholders, to determine the main barriers to the wide coverage of high impact maternal, newborn and child health interventions. One key barrier was selected in each country and a call for ideas was launched to invite ideas from the public to overcome the barrier.

innovations held the competition in Malawi in October and November 2009, and in Sierra Leone and Orissa in February and March 2010. The Malawi competition “Share an Idea, Save a Life” received 6,047 ideas. The Orissa “Give Light to Their Lives with your idea” competition received 3,998 ideas. The “Everyone Can Save A Life” competition in Sierra Leone received 2,690 ideas.

This competition was the first of its kind to be held in all three countries, and it contributed significantly to raising awareness and community dialogue about maternal and child health and generated an unprecendented level of interest across the country.

Each idea was independently reviewed by two assessors and the assessment was done in three stages. The following definition of innovation was used:

An approach or practice that introduces new and different ways of addressing critical barriers to delivering proven and high impact MNCH interventions. it should ultimately lead to improved health coverage and outcomes. it may include one or more of the following:

■ introduction of a new approach or practice ■ Substantial transformation of an existing approach or practice ■ Application and/or adaptation of a successful approach or

practice from a different context

Successful innovations are likely to be deliberately disruptive and will make a big difference.

A small group of participants were invited to present thier ideas to a panel of judges at the semi-finals in each country. Each semi-finalist was given training in presentation skills and one-on-one coaching to help them present their idea well. The judges then selected up to 10 of the best ideas for the finals. The finalists were then offered mentoring and technical support from maternal, newborn and child health specialists to develop their ideas further and present to a panel of judges at the finals. Two winners were selected at the Malawi finals, held in early April 2010. The Sierra Leone and Orissa finals were held in June and July 2010 respectively.

oUr ConCErn WorkS

Innovations for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health

Here are the two winning ideas from Malawi that are now being developed into plans for implementation over a 18-month timeframe:

■ Clement Mwazambumba’s idea aims to facilitate easier access to maternal and child health services by reducing queueing and increasing rapport between the health system and clients through the use of a computerized booking system, SMS technology and a database housed at the health facility.

■ Soyapi Mumba’s idea proposes using a hotline telephone service to prevent serious maternal and child health complications by facilitating two way communication between clients and healthcare workers to complement existing face-to-face interactions.

Each winning idea will be implemented at district level and will be rigorously evaluated to determine how well it improves coverage of proven maternal, newborn or child health interventions.

A multi-disciplinary and high level Global Advisory Group, chaired by Dr. Mary Robinson, was established to advise the global leadership team. Each country has also establised a National Advisory Group to support the teams in each country.

PH

OT

O: M

AL

AW

i, C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

47

48

Concern Worldwide US gratefully acknowledges the significant and diverse funding from USAID, which makes a critical contribution to our overseas programs.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Bangladesh: Fleeing persecution in Burma over many years, populations of the Rohingya ethnic minority sought refuge in Bangladesh. Concern has worked with the group since the 1970s. Given their refugee status, Rohingya women and girls are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and trafficking. With this first-time funding from the State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration, Concern is working directly with 5,000 refugees and training government agencies, police, judiciary and the Rohingya themselves to respond to and prevent these issues.

democratic republic of Congo: In North Kivu in Eastern DRC. Concern’s program helped conflict-affected people to rebuild their lives by providing agricultural assistance, vital household items, and cash-for-work.

Ethiopia: Concern worked with the Ministry of Health to include Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC) as part of the national health policy. Staff at 70 health centers received training in the CTC approach, which allowed them to treat 14,000 severely malnourished children and 36,200 children and pregnant and lactating women through the supplementary feeding program.

kenya: Concern responded to the nutrition and livelihoods needs of 46,022 drought-affected people. In conjunction with the Ministry of Health, Concern rolled out a Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program in areas with high rates of malnutrition.

Liberia: OFDA supported Concern’s emergency response to an outbreak of Army

USAID Partnership

USAID continues to be a significant source of funding for Concern Worldwide US’ overseas operations. In 2009, Concern Worldwide US received more than $9.4 million from USAID. The US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) provided $7.6 million to support emergency programs in 8 countries. We also received $1.7 million from USAID for our Child Survival programs in 5 countries.

caterpillars that was threatening the crops and water points of vulnerable farmers.

Pakistan: Concern has been working in partnership with OFDA to rapidly disburse funding to local and international NGOs providing emergency relief to families displaced by conflict. Over the course of the year, Concern has been assessing, allocating and monitoring grants from a fund of $3 million.

South Sudan: This program provides assistance to families returning to their homes after fleeing the violence of the civil war, helping to improve food security.

Sudan, darfur: The program ensured access to safe water and appropriate sanitary facilities for displaced people and local communities in the areas of Seleia and Kulbus and in Mornei camp.

Sudan, South kordofan: Concern is rehabilitating and building new wells and promoting better hygiene.

Zambia: Concern in launched a program to increase the capacity of government and community structures to withstand disasters.

Zimbabwe: In response to a cholera outbreak, OFDA supported Concern to launch an emergency response program.

DEVELOPMENT—Child Survival and Health

Bangladesh: The Municipal Health Partnership Program (MHPP) successfully concluded in 2009 after sustainably improving access to health services for the poorest. Strategies are now underway to promote global adaptation of this successful, urban health model.

haiti: Concern’s urban health program in Port-au-Prince reaches 10 percent of the city’s population. In 2009, Concern trained

over 900 youth and 70 private vendors to improve access to maternal and child health services.

rwanda: Responding to high levels of mortality due to malaria, diarrhea and inadequate maternal and newborn care, Concern, with its partners, the Ministry of Health, the International Rescue Committee and World Relief, expanded and scaled up its original Child Survival program to now cover 20 percent of the country.

Burundi: Concern’s community-based approach to child survival in Mabayi District aims to reduce rates of malnutrition and the prevalence of malaria among 95,400 women and children. Marked improvements have already been observed in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria and malnutrition.

niger: In October of 2009, Concern started its most recent Child Survival Program (CSP) in Tahoua Region. This project builds on Concern’s previous work within Niger and other CSP countries with the aim to decrease mortality of children under five years of age, addressing nutrition, control of diarrheal disease, and malaria and pneumonia case management. The program will directly benefit over 153,000 individuals and work with 29 health centers and 52 health posts to strengthen community linkages and health services; provide health education; and promote behavior change.

malawi: Concern received another grant from USAID to improve nutrition in Malawi. The program aims to enhance the effectiveness of community-based therapeutic care (CTC) services provided by the government. Concern will build the capacity of national and district-level health staff to fully manage CTC within the primary health care system. Five hundred health service providers across 27 districts will receive expert training from Concern. Approximately 40,000 severely malnourished children will benefit.

PH

OT

O: W

OL

Ay

iTA

, ET

HiO

PiA

, CO

NC

ER

N W

OR

LD

WiD

E

Malnutrition screening for children under the age of five, Wolayita, Ethiopia.

50

oUr ConCErn WorkS

Concern Responds to Hidden Crisis in Kenya’s Slums

Four million people living in the grinding poverty of Nairobi’s huge and overcrowded urban slums were at risk of a massive food crisis in 2009, prompting Concern to call on the Kenyan government for an immediate response.

Even though the Kenyan government had declared a national food emergency, there was no coordination mechanism within the country to determine how post-election violence and rising food costs had impacted people in the urban slums.

The findings in a joint report by Concern and partners confirmed Concern Country Director, Anne O’Mahony’s worst suspicions: “We know that the international standard for signaling a nutrition emergency does not apply in Nairobi’s slums: we must act now. If we wait until we have evidence of reaching that standard, it will already be too late,” she said.

Rising Food Costs and Shrinking IncomeThe problem in the slums was not that there was no food available in the markets, but that the poorest could no longer afford to buy it. Food shortages in 2009 were exacerbated by drought and poor harvests. Cooking fuel prices rose by 30-50 percent, and the cost of water more than doubled.

The crisis grew more serious, with visible signs of families resorting to desperate and risky measures such as begging on the streets, combing rubbish dumps for food, and a 30 percent increase in the number of children being pulled out of school. Petty and violent crime rates had also escalated.

The price of maize, the staple diet of most in the slums, rose by more than 133 percent between 2008 and 2009, forcing families to survive on just one meal a day, if they could even afford that. At the same time, people were earning less money—incomes shrunk by 20 percent. In just two “neighborhoods” of Kibera slum, the report revealed

mathare Slum, nairobi, kenya.

that more than 5,000 children under five years old were currently suffering from malnutrition, with one-fifth of these suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Concern’s Response Concern responded with emergency cash distributions using mobile phone technology rather than food aid—a move that served to drive income back into the local markets, and allowed the poorest to meet their greatest needs.

Food subsidies were provided to the poorest urban families to offset high food prices, and Concern expanded its emergency nutrition program to identify and treat malnourished slum children after the report found that 5,000 children under five were suffering from malnutrition.

Country Director Anne O’Mahony and her team continue to monitor and track the urban food crisis and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.

PH

OT

OS

: SP

EN

CE

R P

LA

TT,

GE

TT

y iM

AG

ES

FO

R C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

PH

OT

O: C

ON

CE

RN

WO

RL

DW

iDE

Musungu (1.5), Gloria (6), Aggrey (3). Gloria takes her two siblings to a health center feeding program every day on her own since her mother fell ill and was hospitalized. Mathare slum, Nairobi, Kenya.

52

Activities in the US

Seeds of Hope Annual Award DinnerAlmost 500 friends and supporters of Concern Worldwide US gathered at the New York Hilton on December 9 to recognize the 2009 Seeds of Hope honoree Denis O’Brien, chairman of the privately-owned Digicel Group, one of the fastest growing cellular companies in the world.

Concern Worldwide US Chairman Tom Moran and Chief Executive Tom Arnold recognized O’Brien for his singular achievements as a global entrepreneur launching mobile phone networks in emerging markets, and for his tireless energy as a philanthropist and humanitarian.

Craig Barrett, former chairman of the board of the Intel Corporation and 2004 Seeds of Hope Award recipient, introduced Denis, describing the source of his business pursuits and charitable activities as “an essential belief in the potential of every person.”

In his speech Barrett remarked: “If you are wondering who is actively doing the work of driving real economic development in

some of the world’s poorest countries, while at the same being a catalyst for human development—in the realms of health, nutrition, clean water, education and livelihoods—Denis is leading the way on both fronts.”

Women of Concern Brigid Awards Luncheon

The 2009 Women of Concern Brigid Awards luncheon was held on February 26, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The three honorees were Dr. Margaret Burroughs, Principal Founder of The DuSable Museum of African American History; Siobhan O’Donoghue, Associate Director for Community Service, DePaul University; and Kathleen Robbins, Co-Founder of Jatropha Pepinye.

The event raised funds for the Child Survival Program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. More than 8,600 women and children received help from this program that reduces the staggering rates of death among children under five by improving the quality of available health care.

Women of Concern Annual Awards LuncheonThe Women of Concern Awards luncheon, held on June 3 at the Hilton Hotel in New York City, was an outstanding success. Thanks to the generous support of our attendees and donors, this year’s event helped fund desperately needed health programs for vulnerable mothers, infants, and small children in the world’s poorest countries.

Two women were saluted for their generosity and leadership which they have demonstrated throughout their remarkable careers: Beth A. Brooke, Global Vice Chair, Public Policy, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement at Ernst & Young was presented with Concern’s 2009 “Woman of the Year Leadership Award”, and Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairperson, The American Ireland Fund was honored with Concern’s “2009 Woman of the Year Humanitarian Award.”

left: Page Thompson, Edward mc.Carrick with 2009 Seeds of hope honoree denis o’Brien and Siobhán Walsh, Fr. Jack Finucane, and Tom moran. right: Joan Carroll, Joan Squires and Lynda Baquero with Women of Concern honorees Loretta Brennan Glucksman and Beth a. Brooke and Concern rwanda assistant Country director Joanne Smyth

53


Winter Ball

With tickets snapped up in just 48 hours, the annual December event hosted by Concern Worldwide US raised more than $50,000 for Concern’s education programs in South Sudan, making it the biggest fundraising bash of its kind to date.

The cream of New York’s young movers and shakers turned out in force on December 11 for cocktails, dinner and dancing in the glamorous 35th floor party room at the corporate headquarters of Mutual of America in midtown Manhattan. Looking out at breathtaking views of the city, this year’s Winter Ball Chair John Murphy from the Irish Network of NYC beamed at the festive energy of the crowd: “It’s hard not to feel upbeat being here!”

Funds raised at the ball are earmarked for the support of primary education of children in South Sudan, a region beset by political and humanitarian crises. Concern’s work building seven new schools and improving 49 existing schools, as well as providing supplies and training to teachers in South Sudan benefits almost 14,500 children.

Empty Plate Campaign

In November, Concern launched its annual hunger relief program, the Empty Plate Campaign. Individual donors and companies supported the initiative with donations for those suffering from the affect of malnutrition in the Horn of Africa, especially in the slums of Kenya.

Concern focused its message on tackling the root causes of hunger by donating the cost of a meal and targeted donors with a direct mail appeal.

Through sponsorship of individuals who sign up to the campaign and agree to go without food for a day as well as through general donations, the campaign supports Concern’s food security and nutrition programs in the poorest communities.

Concern for Hunger 4-Mile Fun Run/Walk Runners, walkers, sponsors and supporters committed to fighting hunger around the world had the privilege of a salute by Miss Africa USA, South-Africa born Nyasha Zimucha, who sounded the horn to start the 11th annual 4-mile Fun Run/Walk to raise money for some of the poorest people in the world. At least 600 runners—and walkers—joined the fray.

Regularly crisscrossing the country on behalf of numerous causes, Zimucha said that “it is unacceptable that 20 million children suffer from severe malnutrition and that literally thousands die each day from hunger-related causes.”

left: 2009 Winter Ball Committee. right: Shane naughton and miss africa at Fun run.

54


New York golf Tournament

The 2009 Concern Golf Tournament was held on July 14 at Woodway Country Club in Darien, Connecticut. The event was a huge success, thanks to the support of almost 100 golfers who gathered to renew their commitment to supporting education programs for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Thanks to the generosity of our 2009 golfers, the Concern New York Golf Tournament raised more than $200,000, which will be used to fund programs that provide a safe refuge, learning, and the opportunity for a brighter future for children living in extreme poverty in South Sudan, Burundi, and Pakistan.

Event Co-Chairs Ed McCarrick and George Pappas spoke of their own commitment to Concern, and of the dramatic, lifesaving impact its programs have on the lives of the most vulnerable children in the world—those who would

Marathon Madness

On a blustery day on November 1, dispersed in an ocean of 40,000 athletes of all stripes, 13 brave runners flew the flag for Concern Worldwide US and the world’s poor. The 2009 edition of Marathon Madness was another smashing success for Concern as the runners and their sponsors raised more than $30,000.

Funds raised will go towards Concern’s program to help the working children in Quetta, Pakistan. Most of them refugees from Afghanistan, these children and their families struggle to make a living by picking through garbage heaps. Without a chance to attend school or receive proper medical care, few have places to turn to for relief.

To meet that need Concern has opened several drop-in centers in Quetta, where children come to wash up, rest, get basic literacy and math instruction and enjoy play and recreation. Some 3,000 youth are currently taking advantage of the centers.

otherwise have no chance to learn to read and write or escape lives of poverty.

Concern would like to pay tribute to the very generous sponsors who have helped make a tremendous difference in the lives of children born into extreme poverty including our corporate sponsors: Mutual of America; Mercedes-Benz, Manhattan; the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group; ICON International Inc; and MCS Advertising.

Chicago golf Outing

Chicago’s business elite turned out in force for the annual Concern Worldwide Golf Outing June 24 at Harborside International Golf Center. Funds raised brought clean water to the island of La Gonâve, Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” was the event’s honorary chairman.

left: 2009 Golf Committe with Concern staff and volunteers. right: Bob Fitzgerald, Jack Finucane, rich mcmenamin at Chicago Golf outing.

55

into the classroom. In 2009, Concern staff based in New York and overseas shared more than 45 presentations in schools throughout the NYC area. As teacher Sinead Naughton comments, “Concern brings the real world into the school”.

GCC’s flagship event is the Annual Global Concerns Student Workshop, an all-day hands-on conference where high school students from the New York City area gather together to explore and find solutions to a global crisis. In 2009, Concern partnered with Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs to host a workshop on the global hunger crisis. Over 70 students from nine different schools came together to think critically about the challenges of eliminating global hunger.

Ultimately, GCC instills the belief in participating students that it is possible to make a positive difference in their broader community, whether that community is in New York or half way around the world. As Concern’s Active Citizens Manager, Allyson Brown, states, “Tomorrow’s leaders are formed in today’s classroom—we simply have to be part of the conversation.”

Inspiring Youth to Become Active global CitizensGlobal Concerns Classroom (GCC) is an innovative and multi-faceted global education program of Concern Worldwide US that seeks to raise awareness of current international humanitarian issues in US secondary schools. GCC is unique in its design; it is one of the few global education programs that provides hands-on, personalized support and direct program delivery in schools. In 2009 alone, GCC directly worked in 25 schools in the New York City area and impacted nearly 4,000 students and over 820 educators.

At the heart of the program, GCC aims to inspire youth to become active global citizens. To achieve this, GCC encourages students to think critically and to engage in dialogue in order to explore new perspectives and solutions in tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. GCC empowers students to explore, speak out, and take action regarding critical issues facing the world’s poorest people—child labor, displacement, education, health, HIV and AIDS, hunger, water, women’s rights and more. GCC works directly with students

and educators in New York but in 2009 Concern expanded its national outreach—produced four educational videos that can be viewed online; held webinar training sessions with global educators outside of the NYC area and expanded our online presence through Twitter, Facebook and other youth-appropriate online outlets.

Concern’s GCC program provides a wide-range of resources and services free-of-charge to schools:

■ Quality classroom resources such as global issues guides, student-narrated videos and thought-provoking posters

■ Engaging presentations and guest speakers from Concern’s staff

■ Personalized and practical curriculum design support

■ Educator workshops and global education training

■ Interactive student workshops and after-school program activities

With more than 41 years of experience responding to emergencies and working with communities to develop long-term solutions to poverty, Concern is uniquely positioned to bring an authentic and passionate voice

Alexis, a high school senior who participated in the 2009 global Concerns Student Workshop summarized the day, stating, “The task of creating an action plan under realistic budget constraints was a meaningful way to explore all the factors that affect a problem as widespread as hunger and what can actually be done to solve it. It was really fun to share ideas with students from other schools who have an interest in the issues similar to my own, but who brought different knowledge and ideas to the table.”

above left: Students raising awareness about child soldiers on red hand day with teacher Joseph Ulitto at Trevor day School, new York City.

above right: Concern Program manager from Bangladesh, achyut aryal, speaks to students from St. Vincent Ferrer high School and Trevor day School, new York City.

left: annual Global Concerns Student Workshop, Fordham University, new York City.


56

Supporting Concern

Ways to give

Corporate PartnershipsIf your workplace has a Corporate Social Responsibility or Corporate Giving program, please let us know. We can introduce Concern and identify possible project sponsorship or cause-related marketing opportunities associated with our special events, online giving campaigns or other special projects.

United WayIf your employer promotes charitable giving though United Way, you can designate a set amount to benefit Concern Worldwide U.S. on a monthly basis through payroll deductions. Simply write in “Concern Worldwide U.S.” as your charity of choice on the United Way registration form.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) #1319Concern Worldwide is listed in CFC’s official listing of national organizations. If you wish to donate to Concern through the CFC, simply check #1319 and your contribution will be forwarded to us.

gifts of StockIf you donate gifts of appreciated stock to Concern Worldwide US, you can deduct the total value of the stock from your taxes and avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciation.

Matching gifts—Double Your giftAsk your employer about matching gift programs, and your gift to ConcernWorldwide US could be doubled. Please attach a copy of your company’s matching gift form along with your donation.

There are many ways to support the efforts of Concern Worldwide US to eliminate extreme poverty. By supporting our projects, you will be making a difference in the lives of the poorest people in the world.

By MailYou can send your tax-deductible donation to: Concern Worldwide US, Inc.104 East 40th Street, Suite 903New York, NY 10016or: Concern Worldwide US, Inc.332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 630Chicago, IL 60604

On Our WebsiteYou can visit our website at www.concernusa.org to make an online donation. You can also become a monthly supporter by visiting www.concernusa.org/monthlygiving.

By TelephoneNew York: 212-557-8000 (or 1-800-59-CONCERN)Chicago: 312-431-8400

In Honor/In MemoryMake a donation in the name of a family member, friend or business associate you wish to honor or remember.

Making a BequestYou can make a lasting contribution to Concern Worldwide US by including us in your will. If you have a will, or are planning to write one, you can bequeath a dollar amount, a specific property, or a percentage of your estate to Concern Worldwide US. Suggested wording would be: I give, devise and bequeath (amount, percentage or property) to:Concern Worldwide U.S., Inc.104 East 40th St., Suite 903New York, NY 10016

VolunteeringConcern has been fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers to provide their skills and services to raise awareness of our work. Volunteering for Concern can range from organizing a fundraising event in your workplace, school or neighborhood, to joining one of the organizing committees for Concern’s events. Camera crews, film editors, designers and writers have also volunteered their time and talents to tell stories for Concern from some of the most deprived areas of the world. All our volunteers’ contributions are as valuable as monetary donations.

57

Worldwide in the past year . . .

■ 211 million people were affected by emergencies or conflict

■ $180 billion in damages were caused by emergencies or conflict

■ 260 humanitarian aid workers were killed, kidnapped or seriously injured—making it the most dangerous year in history for aid workers

Concern in actionin the past 3 years, Concern responded to emergencies or disasters in a total of 33 countries, reaching 9.7 million people.

Reaching those in need, with what they need most

PH

OT

O: R

EU

TE

RS

/FA

iSA

L M

AH

MO

OD

, CO

UR

TE

Sy

OF

WW

W.A

LE

RT

NE

T.O

RG

young girl displaced from her home by conflict in Swat valley, Pakistan sits outside her makeshift shelter.

Some of our largest emergency responses . . .

Disasters

Kenya Drought/Food Crisis: Food aid, cash transfers, health, agricultural training.People reached: 191,494

Ethiopia Drought/Food Crisis: Emergency nutrition programs, water, food aid.People reached: 66,866

Bangladesh Natural Disasters: Shelter, emergency food aid, asset replacement, sanitation, seed distributions.People reached: 192,205

Conflicts

Somalia: Psychosocial support to victims of conflict, water and sanitation, education.People reached: 280,456

Darfur, Sudan: Coordinating aid services in camps; health and nutrition, water and sanitation, livelihood opportunities, emergency relief distributions.People reached: 350,666

Zimbabwe: Cholera response, health and hygiene, food distribution.People reached: 782,983

58

Concern Worldwide US Statement of Activities Year Ended December 31, 2009(with summarized amounts for 2008)

Financial Summary

Support and Revenue 2009 Total ($) 2008 Total ($)

Contributions and non-government grants 8,727,783 9,045,512

Support from Concern Worldwide IRL 1,248,084 1,297,341

Government grants 9,421,722 9,129,086

Special events—net 1,498,763 1,602,826

Investment income 2,904 21,875

TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 20,899,256 21,096,640

Expenses

Program activities 19,333,494 19,720,825

General and administrative 705,089 632,974

Fundraising 558,645 528,416

TOTAL ExPENSES 20,597,228 20,882,215

Change in Net Assets

302,028 214,425

Net Assets at Beginning of Year

838,578 624,153

Net Assets at End of Year

$1,140,606 $838,578

Analysis of Expenditure for 2009

Overseas relief and development 90.8%

Development education 3.1%

Management and administration 3.4%

Fundraising 2.7%

90.8%3.1%3.4%2.7%

59

Financial Summary

1

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Board of DirectorsConcern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc. New York, New York

We have audited the accompanying statement of financial position of Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc. (the “Organization”) as of December 31, 2009, and the related statements of activities and changes in net assets,functional expenses, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibilityof the Organization’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The prior year summarized comparative information has been derived from the Organization’s 2008 financial statements and, in our report dated April 13, 2009, we expressed an unqualifiedopinion on those financial statements.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financialposition of Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc. as of December 31, 2009, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLPPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaApril 8, 2010

60

International Co-Funders of Concern’s Operations Worldwide in 2009

Funder Country

Alliance 2015 Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation United States

British Government United Kingdom

Concern Worldwide US United States

Danish Government Denmark

European Union European Union

Irish Government Ireland

MAPS (Multi Annual Planning Program) Ireland

Other Grants Ireland

Isle of Man Isle of Man

Jersey Overseas Aid Jersey

Norwegian Government Norway

Scottish Executive Scotland

Scottish Government Scotland

Swedish Government Sweden

UN Agencies United Nations

Donations in Kind Donated goods and Services Country

British Government Foodstuffs United Kingdom

FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization) Seeds and materials United Nations

Other Donors Various Various

United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Food and non-food items United Nations

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Non-food items United Nations

United Nations Joint Logistics Center Non-food items United Nations

US Government (USAID) Foodstuffs United States

World Food Program (WFP) Foodstuffs and freight United Nations

concern worldwide us annual report 2009

Documents