Advancing Locally-Led Solutions
At Global Communities, we understand that the challenges communities face globally are complex and require tailor-made solutions that center the voices of the communities in which we work. We are dedicated to promoting the localization of our work through a range of models.
In 2022, we helped establish local non-governmental organizations in Zambia and India, partnered with a network of organizations and operated independent subsidiaries throughout the Middle East, and led capacity strengthening programming in Brazil and Argentina.
We believe in investing in fresh ideas and local organizations, collaborating with private sector partners and innovative funding models, and taking bold steps to approach our work with a progressive vision for change. As the landscape of our sector continues to evolve, Global Communities will lead the way, with a resolute focus on elevating local voices and prioritizing assistance and technical support for sustainable solutions that are community driven.
Localization
Zambia
Localization | Zambia
Improving Economic Security for HIV Caregivers
Global Communities continued its work with the local organization Project Concern Zambia (PCZ) to mitigate the impact of HIV and improve the health and well-being of vulnerable children and adolescents through the delivery of high impact, evidence-informed and age-appropriate interventions. In 2022, USAID-funded Empowered Children and Adolescent Program II (ECAP II) identified women living with HIV who are caregivers to vulnerable children and adolescents and supported them in creating market-linked savings groups to help them improve their household economic security.
The program, supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through USAID, used a family-centered approach to target communities that are the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS while mitigating health, psychosocial, education and economic impacts of the epidemic on vulnerable children and adolescents.
Fast Facts:
- PCZ supported caregivers to 24,000 vulnerable children and adolescents in creating market-linked savings groups.
- A total of 151 savings groups formed in Central and Southern Provinces and accrued 1,876,567 Zambian Kwacha ($88,874) in savings.
- Three Women Empowered savings groups accessed grants amounting to 30,000 Zambian Kwacha (more than $1,400) in association with the Ministry of Housing and Rural Development.
- PCZ linked 234 vulnerable children and adolescents and their caregivers to social cash transfers through the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
- PCZ supported 78 participants with food security packs in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Security.
Brazil
Localization | Brazil
A More Fruitful Future in Brazil
In 2022, Global Communities partnered with large local agribusiness, Corteva Agrisciences and other local companies to implement PROSPERA, a program that is promoting the sustainable development of agriculture through the empowerment of rural producers and the maize production chain. Through these localized partnerships, we are transforming the socioeconomic reality of rural farmers in Northeast Brazil by providing an ecosystem of agriculture technologies that contribute to high yields of maize and, just as importantly, training on high-quality maize production techniques. In 2022, the program expanded to the state of Ceará, and in 2023, PROSPERA will be implemented in a total of four states: Pernambuco, Ceará, Paraíba and Alagoas.
Fast Facts:
- Global Communities trained 4,030 rural producers and impacted 10,881 community members (including agrarian science students and professionals) through PROSPERA in 2022.
- A total of 1,208 people participated in 4 online trainings.
- Farmers produced a median of 120 sacks of maize per hectare in 2022, compared to a regional average of just 15 sacks of maize per hectare.
- Farmers produced 54 tons of quality feed for animals per hectare compared to 20 tons previously.
- We worked with 51 partners across Northeast Brazil to implement PROSPERA.
Sri Lanka
Localization | Sri Lanka
Building Resilience through Economic Empowerment
Under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Social Cohesion and Reconciliation (SCORE) program, Global Communities is working with the Government of Sri Lanka, local partners and civil society to address underlying challenges to reconciliation. The program concentrates on supporting economic development and service delivery among marginalized and conflict-affected communities as well as providing psychosocial support and capacity building of women and youth as peace leaders.
With the onset of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka in February 2022, SCORE adapted its work to provide lifesaving assistance to those most in need by intensifying initiatives that build economic resilience while continuing its core activities related to social cohesion, reconciliation and development. In addressing economic resilience, SCORE worked to strengthen community platforms, civil society organizations and individuals through capacity building efforts and by providing cash assistance directly to crisis-affected people through short-term jobs and agriculture supplies.
Fast Facts:
- Nearly 22,340 participants were directly impacted by SCORE’s activities in 2022.
- Seven and a half acres of unused land were demarcated into individual plots for cultivation to 30 food insecure individuals through collaboration with the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute in Ampara District.
- A total of 104 individuals received farming materials to set up home gardens and participated in technical training provided by the Department of Agriculture in Sumendhangapura in the Trincomalee District as part of an agriculture-based economic recovery program.
- A total of 100 people received cash for work tied to home gardens for 35 days in Anaradhapura District and Trincomalee District.
- Six schools received seeds, water pumps, hose pipes and other agricultural tools to build vegetable gardens through community members who received cash for work for this project.
- SCORE stocked 6 tanks with fishing gear for 90 fishermen to support inland fishing and fish production, a major livelihood for rural communities.
Argentina
Localization | Argentina
Strengthening Communities through Volunteerism
Global Communities’ Sowing Futures program continued its work to strengthen the bridge between John Deere and home communities in Argentina through volunteerism. In 2022, the program returned to in-person activities after the most challenging part of the COVID-19 pandemic and saw outstanding commitment and participation from community members in Granadero Baigorria and Las Rosas. Sowing Futures supports community-led projects through our signature Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) approach while building highly localized partnerships with public and private sector entities.
Sowing Futures was able to begin two new projects in 2022, including the creation of a joint venture between youth group members from three sports clubs in the city of Las Rosas to represent the interests of youth in the municipality and work to address the main challenges for their city. In addition, a group of women in Granadero Baigorria started leading a project to organize a food preparation cooperative.
Fast Facts:
- Sowing Futures directly impacted 4,460 participants and formed 34 public and private partnerships in 2022.
- A total of 608 volunteers provided 5,966 volunteer hours and supported 7 communities across our programming.
- More than 535 people were trained in PACE methodologies for community engagement and participation.
India
Localization | India
Community Mobilization for Immunization Acceptance
In 2022, Project Concern India (PCI), a Global Communities Partner, continued to mobilize communities for increased acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, strengthening routine immunization more generally, and improving health-seeking behaviors to maintain population immunity. Based on monitoring and evaluation findings last year, PCI developed a plan to involve the staff of the National Health Mission (NHM) in supervising immunization-related activities, which has proved to be a crucial step in immunizing community members.
The program also supported local health departments in accelerating COVID-19 vaccination, continued to educate the community and create awareness, and dealt with vaccine hesitancy by organizing various communication activities such as information booths, community meetings and more.
Fast Facts:
- PCI organized 10 sensitization workshops in two rounds to ensure participation of NHM staff in immunization services.
- PCI covered 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh to vaccinate vulnerable populations such as nomads and the migratory population.
- More than 300 Accredited Social Health Activists received at least one training on interpersonal communication, developing a communication plan, data recording and reporting, vaccination due-list preparation and resource mapping.
- A total of 1,365 reluctant families learned more about the benefits of vaccines and agreed to routine immunizations for their children during a special immunization campaign.
Yemen
Localization | Yemen
Building Peaceful Communities
From August 2018 to December 2022, the USAID-funded Yemen Communities Stronger Together (YCST) program supported local communities in Yemen to mitigate conflict, strengthen social cohesion and promote peaceful resolution of differences. Global Communities implemented this program in partnership with the Field Medical Foundation, Build Up and Partners for Good. YCST laid the foundation for a peaceful and effective transition process in Yemen by engaging communities, building capacity and promoting peace.
YCST employed Global Communities’ signature Participatory Action for Community Enhancement (PACE) approach to engage communities and local leaders and build their capacity to develop a vision for their community. Together, they worked to identify and address issues through conflict mitigation and service delivery projects in targeted governorates and communities in Yemen. Communities chose projects that helped to address the drivers and impacts of conflicts, while participation in the process built social capital and skills within communities.
Through this programming, formal and informal local leaders, organizations and networks learned to serve as neutral arbitrators and peacebuilders and to meet community and constituent needs. YCST managed three different funding mechanisms to support initiatives that increase women's participation in peacebuilding, establish youth networks for positive engagement in civic life, and use technology and creative approaches in peacebuilding. Pilot stabilization activities were used to identify models to create conditions where credible and local authorities and systems can peaceably manage conflict and prevent a resurgence of violence.
Fast Facts:
Over the life of the program (August 2018 – December 2022), YCST:
- Reached 152,892 people through 15 service delivery PACE projects;
- Completed 25 capacity building initiatives;
- Reached 247,163 people through 8 stabilization projects;
- Engaged 145 women to actively resolve conflicts in their communities and address issues that affect women;
- Engaged 444 youth in civic life, including using their art to promote peace and co-existence;
- Supported 2,262 women and 1,753 youth to participate in a substantive role or position in a peacebuilding process; and
- Trained 52 groups in Participatory Conflict Analysis.
Read About Our Work in Other Areas
Triple Nexus
Global Communities believes meaningful solutions lie at the intersections that link humanitarian, development and peace-building programs – also known as the triple nexus. Our unique expertise allows us to leverage learnings for integrated programs and respond to rapidly changing circumstances.
Innovation & Technology
Global Communities embeds innovation at every level of our programming, creating space for digital solutions and agile approaches that can blaze a trail to new thinking and a more just and equitable world.