ACDI/VOCA 2014ANNUAL REPORT

Who ACDI/VOCA is and what we do is embodied in our core projects, which we refer to as our anchor projects. These give us the opportunity to engage top-notch staff, mount effective training programs, build relationships with in-country public and private organizations, and ultimately have significant development impact.

Through this approach, we adapt and roll out our signature tools. We test and prove our technical model and vision for change while incorporating key stakeholders along the way. We gather and share learning to better equip our local partners. We grow stronger as an international organization as we implement these programs.

We build synergy around these anchors. Nontraditional donors come to the table, and the commercial sector is mobilized. Partners and market players align their resources with our vision to build momentum and help make local economies more inclusive for otherwise disadvantaged groups. The success of the anchor project cascades, amplifying its original scope and reach to benefit more clients.

So take a closer look at a sampling of these anchors from across the globe—Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America. Hear from farmers, entrepreneurs, and even a fashion designer who are achieving sustainable, far-reaching success in their communities and beyond. And join us as we pursue a world where every woman and man is empowered to succeed in the global economy.

Mortimer H. Neufville Bill PolidoroChairman, Board of Directors President and Chief Executive Officer

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GH

AN

A

$553,000 in agricultural and rural loans

reached underserved areas

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Cultivating collective growthBeing a smallholder farmer in northern Ghana can be a lonely and risky business. Growing maize on less than a hectare of land doesn’t make farmers attractive to buyers, processors, or banks. Smallholders lack access to the latest agricultural technologies and knowledge. They need better inputs and higher-quality seed to boost their farms’ productivity. They can’t afford to invest in their farms. What little they harvest is used to feed their families and saved as seed for the next growing season.

Given these conditions, a better-organized community of outgrower businesses can play a significant role in the economic development of rural areas. Medium-sized farmers provide a local solution and serve as a connection between resource-poor smallholder (“outgrower”) farmers and the often disjointed and ineffective agricultural market system. Outgrower businesses build a network around their farmers, boosting yields and profits. They also develop lasting partnerships with other drivers in the system, including buyers, processors, financial institutions, and government extension services.

The connections strengthen the entire agricultural system. Outgrower businesses have more and higher quality product to sell in the market. Private sector companies, like input dealers, gain new clients. All of this works together to expand the food basket for all of Ghana.

In northern Ghana, Atogitiba Amala (above) works with outgrower business owner Richard Akoka who supports more than 380 women smallholder farmers with training, plowing services, and access to certified seed and fertilizers on credit. These interventions have led to substantial increases in Atogitiba’s yields and income.

“Richard taught us how to use certified seeds and plant in rows; this has increased yields from 3.7 mt/ha to 6.1 mt/ha. The tarpaulins helped improve the quality of our rice, and we had good price for the rice.”

—Atogitiba Amala

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Sadha Laxmi and her husband grow vegetables on their hectare of land in southern India but have rarely made a substantial income from it. Staff from the ASI Sunhara Prayas project encouraged them to grow tomatoes on half of their land using a new technique of stacking. This simple shift in farming practices protected their tomatoes from heavy rains and improved their productivity.

“I am glad that I took the risk with a belief in the technique, now I have the courage to take risk. I did sow and so did I reap.”

—Sadha Laxmi

Connecting for sustainabilityIt might seem obvious: connect retail outlets in India, which want high-quality produce to sell in their stores, with local female farmers who need a market for their vegetables. In reality, these types of connections don’t happen on their own. They require a matchmaker who can link demand from the market with supply from smallholder producers.

Large retail outlets have buying power but often lack on-the-ground connections with local producers. Collection centers—vital infrastructure that brings the market to farmers’ villages—serve as meeting points for buyers and sellers. Retailers, wholesalers, and local traders also benefit from a greater appreciation of women’s role in agriculture and an understanding of how to successfully do business with them.

Social and cultural structures in India often prevent women in rural farming communities from participating in market activities. Self-help groups are one way to build women’s confidence and expand their

ability to engage in markets. By working in groups, the women have a greater volume of products to bring to the market and

better collective negotiating power with suppliers, buyers, and financial institutions. This ultimately increases women’s incomes and begins to shift social and cultural norms in favor of women and their equal participation in local economies.

IND

IA4

Participating farmers increased their incomes by

87%

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4,727 participants, including 1,515 youth, received

91,863 person-hours of

climate change training

JAM

AIC

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Uniting against climate changeThe island of Jamaica has experienced the devastating effects of climate change, from unpredictable rainfall and drought to pest outbreaks and stronger hurricanes. Empowered agribusinesses and farmers are joining together to find solutions to the problems created by extreme weather. They develop strategies that strengthen their ability to respond to climate variability and natural disasters while also building their resilience to recover from them.

Youth in Jamaican communities are also inspired to shape the island’s agricultural future as climate change agents. Their hunger for learning and a desire to build a healthier, more sustainable environment is a source of hope and drives transformation. They are making contributions in their communities by hosting educational forums to share their concerns regarding climate and disaster risks. Radio equipment is helping one group of youth improve communication when their community is isolated during episodes of flooding.

Training equips the island’s farmers to adjust their planting and crop care practices in response to potential weather events. They learn how to install new technologies such as water harvesting systems and the use of live barriers to control soil erosion. They now have the knowledge to respond proactively to climate and weather challenges—the power is in their hands.

Twanda Bryan (above right) was a student participant in Ja REEACH’s agriculture youth enrichment program. She is applying what she learned in her backyard garden. She grows peppers, bananas, and tomatoes and shares her new techniques with her parents.

“I participated because it helps young people look at what’s going on now to see that it is not only older people who can do stuff. We are the future generation.”

—Twanda Bryan

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Empowering the voiceless

Lia Samantha Lozano Rendón (above left) is the first Afro-Colombian fashion designer to present her designs on the runways of ColombiaModa, one of Latin America’s most prestigious fashion shows. Positive messaging about Afro-Colombian contributions paved the way for Lia’s work to be featured in Colombia’s leading media outlets and major fashion publications.

“I work toward a Colombia whose people cling to their cultures, instead of being ashamed of them, and whose fashion speaks boldly of their roots.”

—Lia Samantha Lozano Rendón

Colombian society has often overlooked and marginalized Afro-Colombian and indigenous populations and their rich history and cultural traditions. When many Colombians do hear stories about ethnic minority communities, they are primarily focused on poverty and violence.

Individuals from within these communities are stepping up to change that. Indigenous musicians take center stage throughout the country to share

their musical and cultural heritage. Local advocates use their collective voice to demand land rights and important social services. Municipal governments take action to ensure their policies and programs reflect the specific needs of their Afro-Colombian and indigenous citizens.

Youth are plugged into employment opportunities. Through targeted job training and placement assistance, Afro-Colombian and indigenous youth gain a foothold in industries that were previously closed to them, often due to racial and cultural prejudices. Not only are these youth building confidence that will serve them a lifetime, they are also becoming catalysts in Colombia’s economy.

These activities help Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities take pride in their roots. And they allow all Colombians to see ethnic minority communities in a different light, providing a human face and an emotional connection to heal the wounds of the past and build a stronger Colombia for the future.

CO

LOM

BIA

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6,000 Afro- Colombian youth

have found formal employment at more than

1,100 COMPANIES9

GLOBAL

212 volunteer assignments to Armenia, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan,

Liberia, Paraguay, and Tajikistan

GLOBAL

ACDI/VOCA joined CQI and other allies in the

Partnership for Gender Equity to improve working conditions and economic

outcomes in coffee value chains

Where we work

Current Activity

Past Activity

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Timor-Leste

661 new producers engaged in mud crab or monkfish

production using sustainable aquaculture practices

Tanzania

60,000+ farmers applied new farming techniques

to improve yields

ASI Malawi

Supported the Malawian government to reach 23,000+ farmers with

2 million+ extension text messages

to improve their productivity

Bangladesh

74% of children under six months in the project area are

exclusively breastfed, an increase from 41%

Affiliated Financial Institutions

5 countries, 223,624 customers,

$532 million in financing

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AFGHANISTAN Regional Agricultural Development Program-North (RADP-N) USAID

ARMENIA Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

BANGLADESH Program for Strengthening Household Access to Resources (PROSHAR) USAID/Food for Peace

BURKINA FASOFood Aid Quality Review (FAQR) USAID

Victory Against Malnutrition Project (ViM) USAID/Food for Peace

COLOMBIA USAID Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Program (ACIP) USAID

DR CONGO Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

EAST AFRICAAfrican Institutions Innovation Mechanism-Assist (AIIM-Assist) USAID

Support for Food Security Activities (SFSA) IQC USAID

ETHIOPIA

Agricultural Growth Program-Agribusiness and Market Development (AGP-AMDe) USAID/Feed the Future

Cooperative Development Program (CDP) USAID

Feed Enhancement for Ethiopian Development (FEED) II USDA

Launching Traceable Ethiopian Coffee through ECX IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative

GEORGIA Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

GHANA

Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) II USAID/Feed the Future

EDAIF Torgorme Irrigation Project (eTIP) Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry

Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

Ghana Commercialization of Rice Project (G-CORP) Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa

Rice Mobile Finance (RiMFin) NetHope

GLOBAL

African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) USAID

Leveraging Economic Opportunities (LEO) USAID

Mars Ambassador Program Mars, Inc.

Improving Nutritional Outcomes Through Optimized Agriculture Intervention (ATONU) FANRPAN

INDIA Sunhara Prayas Walmart Foundation

INDONESIA Cocoa Innovations Project (CIP) World Cocoa Foundation members

IRAQBroadening Participation through Civil Society (BPCS) USAID

Jobs and Livelihoods Program (Foras) USAID

COUNTRY PROGRAM FUNDER

2014 Projects

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COUNTRY PROGRAM FUNDER

JAMAICA Jamaica Rural Economy and Ecosystems Adapting to Climate cHange (Ja REEACH) USAID

KENYA

AgResults Kenya On-Farm Storage Pilot Deloitte

Resilience and Economic Growth in the Arid Lands-Accelerated Growth USAID/Feed the Future

Storage and Drying for Aflatoxin Prevention Project (AflaSTOP) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; USAID

KYRGYZSTAN

Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

Women’s Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises (WLSME) USAID

USAID Agro Horizon Project USAID

LIBERIA

Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

Liberian Agriculture Upgrading, Nutrition, and Child Health (LAUNCH) USAID/Food for Peace

Livelihood Improvement for Farming Enterprises (LIFE) III USDA

People, Rules, and Organizations Supporting the Protection of Ecosystem Resources (PROSPER) USAID

MALAWI Technology for Extension to Smallholders (TEXTS) Government of Flanders

MALIUSAID Cereal Value Chain (CVC) Project USAID/Feed the Future

Mopti Coordinated Area Development Aga Khan Foundation (AKF USA)

MOLDOVA Irrigation Sector Reform Millennium Challenge Account-Moldova

MOZAMBIQUE Livelihoods Empowerment and Development (LEAD) BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities (BSC)

PARAGUAYCooperative Development Program (CDP) II USAID

Risk Management and Food Security Program USAID/OFDA

PHILIPPINES Mindanao Productivity for Agricultural Commerce and Trade (MinPACT) Project USDA

SENEGAL Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

SIERRA LEONE Sustainable Nutrition and Agriculture Promotion (SNAP) USAID/Food for Peace

SOUTH SUDAN Food, Agribusiness, and Rural Markets (FARM) USAID

TAJIKISTAN Farmer-to-Farmer USAID

TANZANIA Tanzania Staples Value Chain (NAFAKA) USAID/Feed the Future

TIMOR-LESTE Food for Progress—Mud Crab and Milkfish Cultivation USDA

UGANDA Resiliency through Wealth, Agriculture, and Nutrition (RWANU) USAID/Food for Peace

ZAMBIAProduction, Finance, and Improved Technology Plus (PROFIT+) USAID/Feed the Future

Women’s Improved Marketing and Asset Control Project (WIMAC) Walmart Foundation

2014 Projects

*Projects managed by ACDI/VOCA’s affiliate organization Agribusiness Systems International (ASI) noted in blue

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2014 Financials

Includes ACDI/VOCA and ASI, Arvand, Frontiers, and KredAqroFigures are in US dollars

SUPPORT AND REVENUE

Contracts and grants 142,815,806

In-kind support 11,366,779

Income from subsidiaries 4,082,839

Interest income 68,368

Contributions 38,746

Other 84,440

Total support and revenue 158,323,972

EXPENSES

Overseas program expenses 131,062,275

General and administrative 22,118,218

Total expenses 153,180,493

NET ASSETS

Change in net assets from operations 5,276,485

Other changes to net assets (4,242,324)

Total change in net assets 1,034,161

Unrestricted, beginning of year 10,786,930

Unrestricted, end of year 11,980,576

Temporarily restricted, beginning of year 34,650,474

Temporarily restricted, end of year 34,490,989

Statement of activitiesRevenue by region

South Asia

Sub-Saharan Africa

South America

Global and Other

Middle East and North Africa

12%

8%

8%

6%

66%

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CHAIRMANDr. Mortimer H. NeufvilleInterim PresidentCoppin State UniversityBaltimore, Maryland

VICE CHAIRDeborah AtwoodExecutive Director, Initiative on Food and

Agriculture Policy Meridian InstituteWashington, D.C.

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRMANJames K. HoytFormer Vice President, Strategic Planning and

Corporate ServicesGROWMARK Inc.Bloomington, Illinois

PROJECTS COMMITTEE CHAIRMANR. Bruce JohnsonDirectorSouthern States Cooperative, Inc.Richmond, Virginia

David CobbFederal Relations SpecialistCHS Inc.Washington, D.C.

Charles ConnerPresident and Chief Executive Officer National Council of Farmer CooperativesWashington, D.C.

Kurt ElyVice President, Sponsor RelationsNationwideColumbus, Ohio

Jerry FennerDirector, Enterprise Risk ManagementAgriBank, FCBSt. Paul, Minnesota

Patricia Wilkinson GaramendiFormer Deputy Administrator, International

Cooperation and DevelopmentForeign Agricultural Service, USDAWalnut Grove, California

William HarrisDirectorCoBank, ACBLeRoy, New York

Dr. Gopal N. SaxenaDirector, Cooperative DevelopmentIndian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative, Ltd.New Delhi, India

2014 Board of Directors

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Lauren Bell, Peace Corps (cover, pg. 2, 3), Juan Moore (pg. 8), Joshua Cogan (pg. 9), ACDI/VOCA staff (all other photos)

EDITORS: Hannah Guedenet and Paul Guenette

DESIGN: Kate Thomas

We engaged a printer that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council for the production of this report. It was printed using sustainably sourced lumber and eco-friendly ink and is acid- and chlorine-free. The paper is 10 percent recycled content.

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