Global Communities Archives

CHF Annual Report 2011: Partnership in a Changing World  The CHF International 2011 Annual Report is now available. This year, we have chosen as our theme Partnership in a Changing World. Partnership is at the core of CHF’s work and in a rapidly changing global environment, partnership is more important than ever. In his introductory…

Sixty aspiring entrepreneurs from the West Bank and Gaza have successfully completed the Ramallah Oasis500 Boot Camp. The Oasis500 Boot Camp is an intensive six-day training course designed to prepare potential entrepreneurs for their business launch. The training covered all business aspects, including business modeling, financials, pitching, facilitation and marketing. The training is designed to…

The Real Story in Liberia By David A. Weiss, President and CEO of CHF International This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post. Liberia once again captured international headlines, with former president, Charles Taylor, hearing his verdict in a courtroom in The Hague on April 26. Taylor was found guilty of aiding and abetting war…

Value Chain Case Study: Developing a Value Chain for a New Product in Compost The Challenge: Creating a “New” Value Chain The CHF Ghana Youth Engagement in Service Delivery (YES) Program is a learning initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which supports the creation of employment opportunities for youth, especially in low-income…

By Ibrahim Abu Kamesh This story originally appeared in Al Haya Al-Iqtisadeya. Ryada is currently celebrating its 17th year anniversary. Ryada started its operations in Gaza in 1995, and as a result of its accomplishments, won a grant that led to its expansion in the West Bank. Ryada now covers the entirety of the Palestinian…

Haiti – Reconstruction: A new beginning for the people of Ravine Pintade  This story originally appeared in HaitiLibre. Monday, May 14, during a ceremony, the U.S. government, along with partners CHF International and Project Concern International (PCI), and a representative from the Haitian government, marked the conclusion of the “Katye” project, which comprehensively rehabilitated the…

Meet a Few of the Women that are Helping to Rebuild the Liberian Economy (slideshow) These are some of the faces of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Certificate Program for Women Entrepreneurs, which CHF implements in Liberia. The the 10,000 Women Program trains female small business owners in better business practices, helping them increase their revenue and…

Value Chain Case Study: Development of a Public Sector Value Chain in Solid Waste Management The Challenge: Developing a Public Sector Value Chain What key strategies can be deployed for value chain development within a public service sub-sector? Can a Public Private Partnership (PPP) create a more sustainable value chain? Utilizing the experience of the…

CHF Liberia Case Studies Highlighted in Council on Foreign Relations Paper on Entrepreneurship in Postconflict Zones The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) released a new study last week “Entrepreneurship in Post-Conflict Zones”. Quoting CFR, in this working paper: “CFR Fellow Gayle Tzemach Lemmon argues for comprehensive, long-term, collaborative approaches to help entrepreneurs in conflict and…

CHF International Partners with Tenke Fungurume Mining A partnership to drive community urban development in the area surrounding the Tenke Fungurume mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo Silver Spring, MD – CHF International, the Silver Spring, MD based international development and humanitarian assistance organization, announced it has entered into partnership with Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM),…

Ghana – the Gateway to Africa By David Weiss, President and CEO of CHF International This story originally appeared in the Huffington Post. One of the first things you notice when you arrive in Accra’s Kotoka International Airport is a huge red sign that reads: “Welcome to Ghana, the Gateway to Africa.” I quickly discovered…

CHF International Microfinance Holding is Now The Vitas Group Silver Spring, MD –  CHF Development Finance International, LLC, a holding company established by CHF International, is pleased to announce the unveiling of a new brand identity—The Vitas Group—for its global microfinance network.  The new name and visual style will help consolidate the rich experience of…

On Earth Day, which takes place each year on April 22nd, we recognize the importance of clean air, clean water, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the natural world around us. CHF is working in many of its programs to promote environmental sustainability and contribute to the body of knowledge in regards to…

Using Public-Private Partnerships to Promote Community Development in Lebanon Funded by the United States Agency for International Development, CHF Lebanon Municipal Capacity Building and Service Delivery –TAMKIN program (2008-2012) succeeded in inducing the concept of Public-Private Partnership in the municipal community development work. Supported by the CHF/TAMKIN team and the Mohammara Municipal Development Committee [formed…

How Is Disaster Aid Being Retooled to Meet Catastrophes That Strike Cities? Past response strategies have focused on helping those in remote, rural areas. But when an earthquake, flood or other calamity hits an urban center, aid must take a different form By Larry Greenemeier  This article originally appeared in Scientific American NASA scientists may have…

Global Communities Office of Ethics Introduces New Standards of Conduct  Ethics is a critical part of Global Communities’ culture and a top priority for everyone who works here – in how we conduct our business on behalf of our donors, in how we work together as colleagues, and in how we work with our beneficiary…

The 21st Century Urban Disaster: How Do We Respond? By David Weiss, President and CEO of CHF International This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post. The 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan one year ago was the most expensive natural disaster in world history, totaling nearly $235 billion in recovery costs. It also…

Ethiopia: Needs Assessment Report Somali Region – Gode & Warder Zones I.  Executive Summary Following below average spring rains in 2011, acute drought conditions severely affected over 13 million people in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, creating conditions for famine, mass displacement, and destitution among pastoral and agropastoral groups. Of the total affected population, OCHA…