Impact Report Highlights Progress

Impact Report 2010
Concern Universal
November 2010
Final report compiled by James Treasure-Evans with support from:
Rose Farrington (project reviews, summary evaluations, partner surveys)
Jenny Ghikas (partner survey analysis/ tables)
Eleanor Chowns (data collection)

Contents:
Executive Summary
Impact Statement
Introduction
What is the problem we are trying to address?
What do we do to address it?
What are we achieving?
1. Enabling Community-Led Development (SO1)
1.1 Improving food security
1.2 Improving health
1.3 Improving respect for rights
1.4 Improving skills
1.5 Reducing vulnerability (to disasters)
2. Inspiring & Influencing Others (SO2)
2.1 More effective action by development agencies
2.2 More socially, environmentally and economically
responsible business practice
2.3 A stronger global movement to combat poverty and
inequality
How do we know what we are achieving?
What are we learning and how can we improve?

Executive Summary
The 2010 impact report is Concern Universal‟s key public document demonstrating
progress against our organisational objectives (See Annex 1 for summary). By
assessing our impact we are able to show we are an effective and efficient organisation
and that our model of development works.
Concern Universal assesses impact through the lens of three main voices: Concern
Universal voices (internal assessments and country level impact reports); beneficiary
voices (community impact tools); and independent voices (externally-led evaluations).
This is the second impact report published by Concern Universal synthesizing data from
12 country programmes and the global advocacy programme. Although the focus is on
Concern Universal‟s impact it must be made clear that almost all of Concern Universal‟s
work is done in partnership with government, NGOs and businesses. Partnership is one
of the key strengths of the organisation.
Concern Universal‟s first Strategic Objective (SO1) is to enable community-led
development by working together with people living in poverty. The impact statement
below, and the evaluations and studies annexed in the report, demonstrate the
widespread success in this area. In 2009/10 Concern Universal programmes worked
with over 1.4m people. Concern Universal‟s programmes have led to tangible
improvements in people‟s lives; 161,815 people have improved food security and
livelihoods and almost 1m people have improved access to health services. Importantly,
Concern Universal programmes have increased climate change adaptation work this
year and over 60,000 people were less vulnerable to disasters (floods, droughts, pests)
as a result of our projects. Concern Universal country programmes have also offered
intensive support to local partner organisations. Over 80% of the partners who
completed our 2010 survey felt that capacity building was the most positive aspect of
their partnership with Concern Universal.
In 2009 Concern Universal developed a new strategic advocacy objective to amplify the
voices of people living in poverty, enabling them to advocate for a more sustainable
world. Most of Concern Universal‟s country programmes have developed advocacy
initiatives which are responding to the needs and rights of their constituents. Although
challenges remain in measuring the impact of our advocacy programmes, there have
clearly been some key successes in the public education and business programmes.
For example, the development of a key policy brief on how business can contribute to
sustainable development, and the development of citizenship modules that have been
integrated in to the International Baccalaureate programme in two colleges are major
achievements. The advocacy programme is still relatively new and challenges remain in
measuring the long term impact. However new partnerships, networking opportunities,
and the development of policy and research documentation are all raising the profile of
the key organisational advocacy issues of climate change, aid effectiveness and good
business.
Concern Universal is continuously learning and the increased focus on impact this year
has raised a number of issues and challenges. In future more emphasis will be placed
on how to become a learning organisation and how to encourage cross-programmatic
learning within our decentralised structure.

Impact Statement
Introduction
Reporting on impact is a critical part of accountability, not just to those who fund us, but
also to the people we exist to serve. In 2009 Concern Universal published its first
Impact Report sealing a commitment to report on impact across all the country
programmes we work in. The organisational impact report will be published annually to
inform all of our stakeholders what we are doing well and what we are determined to
improve to enhance the impact and quality of our work, and will be supported by country
level impact reports, such as the one in Malawi completed in November 2010.
As an organisation committed to the values of partnership and integrity, and entrusted
with responsibility for utilising funds for particular purposes, we carefully track progress
towards our strategic objectives of improving sustainable livelihoods, health, the respect
for rights, and skills, and reducing vulnerability to disasters. As an organisation
committed to the values of human dignity and community focus, we believe in listening
to community voices and this is a key part of our assessment methodology.
What is the problem we are trying to address?
Concern Universal is an international development charity working in 12 countries to
reduce poverty and improve livelihoods. Our mission is to work in partnership to
challenge poverty and inequality. We support practical actions that enable people to
improve their lives and shape their own futures. Our global programmes are structured
around two overarching strategic objectives. The first organisational objective is to
enable community-led development by working together with people living in poverty to
enable them to improve the quality of their lives. This is done through practical work with
individuals, communities and partners in 12 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Our second strategic objective, developed through strong partnerships with local
organisations in our country programmes, amplifies the voices of people living in
poverty, enabling them to advocate for a fairer and more environmentally sustainable
world. Together, we aim to secure changes to policy and practice to help overcome
barriers to development.
What do we do to address it?
Concern Universal has a holistic appreciation of community development, believing that
communities face a number of interconnected issues that may result in high levels of
vulnerability and poverty. In order to make sense of the complex issues facing
communities and to tackle and reduce poverty in our country programmes we focus on
activities within five key thematic programme areas. We aim to work with the most poor
and vulnerable populations in the countries we work in. In 2009/10 Concern Universal
worked with over 60 local partners (See Annex 32 for a list of partners) in 12 country
programmes, that benefitted approximately 1.4m people.

Firstly, Concern Universal is improving food security and supporting sustainable
livelihoods for approximately 160,000 people across 12 countries. This is done through
agricultural development, nurturing natural resources, and enabling access to
microfinance and markets. In 2009/10 our projects trained 35,221 in new agricultural
techniques, ensured that 903 hectares of new land was irrigated, planted 1,207,270
trees and took on 48,036 micro-finance clients. The total spent on this programme was
£4,778,914.
Secondly, our country programmes improve health outcomes for approximately 1m
people living in poverty. This is done through improving access to safe water and
sanitation, promoting preventive healthcare, improving nutrition, and promoting action
on HIV and AIDS. In 2009/10 Concern Universal programmes provided 915 new or
rehabilitated water points, trained 750,957 people in sanitation and hygiene, provided
HIV awareness and education to 202,676, improved access to healthcare for 235,148
and gave HIV care and support to 1155 people. The total spent on this programme in
2009/10 was £2,915,213.
Thirdly, our programmes improve respect for rights within our target communities. In
2009/10, 542,530 people participated in rights-based training events, 9,734 people
attended advocacy events, and 39 service provision agreements were signed with duty
bearers. The total spent on this programme in 2009/10 was £970,068.
Fourthly, Concern Universal and our partner organisations are improving human capital,
improving skills through literacy circles, capacity building, and specialised training
schemes. In 2009/10 our programmes worked with 41,129 people, including 5,282
involved in literacy circles, 352 literacy-circle facilitators trained, and 3,914 children
participating in educational and arts activities. The total spent on this programme in
2009/10 was £483,668.
And finally we reduce people‟s vulnerability to disasters through disaster risk reduction
programmes, targeting approximately 70,000 people. During 2009/10, 26,817 people
participated in disaster risk reduction training, 5104 received emergency relief, and
1,494 received reconstruction/ rehabilitation support. The total spent on this programme
in 2009/10 was £939,933.
Concern Universal also believes that to reduce poverty it is important to address the
causes of poverty and vulnerability. This is done through our policy and advocacy work,
both in the UK and in our country programmes. Our policy and advocacy work has three
main themes and supports our mission to reduce poverty and inequality.
Concern Universal is working with others to promote more effective action by
development agencies on climate change and aid effectiveness. This is done through
advocacy, lobbying, and research. In 2009/10 we produced a report on climate change
(Climate Frontline), published a report and blog on impact assessment, developed an
organisational advocacy strategy and fed in to the BOND development effectiveness
programme.

Concern Universal is also calling for more socially, environmentally and economically
responsible business practice to achieve sustainable development. Work in 2009/10
focused on the Africa Progress Panel and the publication of a policy brief on how
business can support development. The programme has engaged with 500 businesses
and is promoting Concern Universal‟s „good business‟ messages. This programme also
developed a new strategy, and participated in external events such as the Hay Festival,
the World Economic Forum on Africa, and the Hereford and Worcester Chamber of
Commerce and Africa Emerging Markets Forum.
As the third theme of our advocacy work, the global movement programme sought to
combat poverty and inequality by engaging individuals to build a fairer world together,
and reached 15,000 people with global development messages.
Advocacy and lobbying is becoming increasingly important in our country programmes.
As well as providing community based evidence for our organisational advocacy themes
(aid effectiveness/ climate change/ business in development) each country programme
is also developing their own advocacy work around our five SO1 themes. A list of the
advocacy activities completed in 2009/10 can be found in Annex 3 and Annex 4.
What are we achieving?
1. Enabling Community-Led Development (SO1)
1.1 Improving food security (support to sustainable livelihoods)
Concern Universal‟s livelihoods programmes benefitted 161,815 people in 2009/10. As
well as improving crop and livestock yields for 53,346, the programmes have reduced
hunger for approximately 70,000 people and over 10,000 people have established
successful businesses that have improved their livelihoods. Through CUMO, a not-for-
profit rural finance company in Malawi started with support from Concern Universal,
over 50,390 people (85% women) have accessed affordable credit.
Concern Universal commissioned several evaluations and impact studies in 2009/10
that focused on livelihoods. One of these evaluated the „Encouraging institutions of the
poor to strive for improvements in their sustainable livelihoods‟ (EIPSISL) project in
Guinea. The evaluation found that two years after the project had ended market
gardening activities continued and communities continued to produce more than they
had before the project began, thereby improving access to food. Further impact studies
in Malawi found that as a result of Concern Universal‟s work 77% of targeted
households in Ntcheu district had improved their crop and livestock diversity, giving
them greater household resilience to drought.
Concern Universal has also conducted post-impact assessments using participatory,
community led techniques (Community-First Impact Tool, C-FIT) that were developed
by the organisation to verify the impact of sustainable livelihoods programmes. The

results from these have been generally positive, with the Gambia is Good (a social
business set up by Haygrove and Concern Universal) assessment showing that the
project has led to more disposable income for participants, less reliance on loans,
increased access to education, improved nutrition, and „greater harmony‟ in the
community because of improved standards of living.
1.2 Improving health
Concern Universal‟s projects have had a major impact on health outcomes. Almost 1m
people have directly benefitted; largely through our Bangladesh health programme
operating in the Chittagong hill tracts. Over half a million people who previously did not
have access to safe water now have access, over 800,000 have improved sanitation
and 5745 people living with HIV now receive support and are able to lead more
productive lives.
Specific examples of the improvement of health services and health outcomes include
the building of a community health centre in the Western region of Gambia to increase
access to decent health
services for refugees from the
Casamance region of
Senegal, the increase in the
number of men getting
voluntary HIV testing in
Concern Universal project
areas in Malawi, and an
improvement in first aid skills
amongst communities in
Kusamai, Gambia.
Concern Universal‟s water
and sanitation programmes
also have a significant impact.
In Malawi, for example, a 2009 ex-post evaluation was completed five years after the
end of project funding. The study, undertaken with Engineers without Borders, found
that 70% of all water points installed across the country continue to function. In Ebonyi
and Cross River States in Nigeria, Concern Universal has improved access to water for
134,400 people in 80 remote villages and water collection times have reduced from 70
to five minutes. See Annex 22 for a case study of this project.
1.3 Improving respect for rights
Many of Concern Universal‟s programmes are based on the principal of ensuring people
are aware of their basic human rights to life, liberty, and security as laid out in the
universal declaration of human rights (UN, 1948), and have access to their entitlements.
In 2009/10, Concern Universal supported programmes that improved the rights of over
100,000 women and 40,000 children. Through our 12 country programmes 8668
members of community groups were able to demand their basic rights from duty
bearers in their communities.

A list of advocacy and lobbying
initiatives within our country
programmes (Annex 4) shows the
diverse number of actions that have
led to an improvement in rights.
Highlights of this work include:
community committees advocating
for improved health services in
Brazil; the election of three young
people‟s associations to the
Municipal Council, community –
government agreements on basic
services, and the participation of
women from communities in public
policy on gender in Colombia; and
working with the Centre for Social
Accountability (South Africa) to support local government monitoring in Mozambique.
The impact of the rights work is as diverse as the activities that have been carried out.
For example, in Brazil an assessment of work carried out between 1998-2008 has
shown that support to local partner Casa Pequeno Davi has led to a reduction in the
rate of child labour from 70% to 14% amongst target children, a reduction in the rate of
home-based violence from 90% to 22% and improvements in primary education. For
further information on the partnership with Casa Pequeno Davi please see the case
study in Annex 22. Work in Brazil and Colombia has also resulted in the improvement of
rights for communities and improved education services within 46 schools (see Annex
12 on the Community Led Advocacy Initiatives, Latin America project). Another major
achievement that merits highlighting here is the Bangladesh anti-trafficking project. As a
result of Concern Universal‟s work with local partners the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Socio
Legal Aid Research and Training Centre and the Women Interlink Foundation 78,000
vulnerable families are being given support and there has been a reduction in trafficking
of women and children within the targeted districts (more details of this project can be
found in Annex 25).
1.4 Improving skills
Across Concern Universal‟s 12 country
programmes projects focusing on improving
skills have changed the lives of over 40,000
people. Concern Universal and local partners
have improved the literacy levels of almost
4,000 people, developed technical and
vocational skills of approximately 16,000
people and developed the capacity of over
15,000 people to represent themselves and
their community to duty bearers.

Concern Universal has also offered intensive support to local partner organisations
(community based and non-governmental organisations). As the results of our partner
survey show (see Annex 16, and Annex 17 and Annex 31 for background) over 80% of
the partners who completed the survey felt that capacity building was the most positive
aspect of their partnership with Concern Universal.
1.5 Reducing vulnerability to disasters
Many of the people that Concern Universal works with live in areas that will be directly
affected by the impacts of climate change. They live on marginal land that is susceptible
to flooding, droughts, and natural disasters. To help people adapt to climate change
Concern Universal worked with over 60,000 people in 2009/10 to enable them to reduce
their vulnerability to disaster risks. At the same time 2,638 people were supported to
rebuild their lives post-disaster through support to rehabilitation of livelihoods.
In some of our country programmes Concern Universal is known as a leader in climate
change adaptation. In The Gambia for example Concern Universal has worked closely
with the government to develop a national response to climate change impacts.
Specifically this has led to farmers in the Western region implementing contingency
measures so that they are able to respond to emergencies and farmers in the North
Bank region establishing Village Development Committees. Disaster planning in Malawi
has ensured that Disaster Risk Management plans are now in place and have been
included in District Development Plans (see Annex 14 for details of this project and
Annex 22 for a case study of the impact of the work).

2. Inspiring & Influencing Others (SO2)
Below is a summary of our progress against our second objective, to inspire and
influence others. There remain a number of challenges to accurately measuring the
impact of this work, partly because the measurement and attribution of advocacy
outcomes is in itself difficult, but also because this is a new strategic objective for the
organisation, having only been incorporated in to the strategy in 2009.
2.1 More effective action by development agencies
A number of significant outputs were produced in 2009/10 but given the relative infancy
of the programme Concern Universal has not yet been able to measure the impact of
the effective development advocacy programme. The current strategy, focusing on
climate change and aid effectiveness, is on track and a new strategy for 2010/11 will be
developed at the beginning of 2011 that will focus more on outcomes (see Annex 3 for
details of outputs and outcomes achieved). One of the most significant achievements
was the publication of „Climate Frontline‟,
a joint publication between national and
international organisations promoting the
views and impacts of climate change on
farmers. Climate Frontline was launched in
the run up to COP15 (Copenhagen) and
ensured that farmers voices were heard
during this process.
2.2 More socially,
environmentally and
economically responsible
business practice
The responsible business programme successfully engaged over 500 local and
international businesses to consider responsible business practices in 2009/10. In
particular, engagement with Cargill, a multi-national agricultural company, led to the
reduction of water usage in some sectors of their business.
A „Business Advocates for Development‟ group is emerging out of this work and this is
likely to have a positive impact on business practice globally. As a result of a focus on
good business practice Concern Universal has been able to influence government
policy in regards to sustainable business practice and Concern Universal was the only
INGO to take part in the Business Call to Action roundtable at 10 Downing Street in
June 2009. The most significant achievement was the publication of „Doing Good
Business‟ by the Africa Progress Panel. The report was an in depth study, sector by
sector, of business in Africa. The findings have been extensively distributed to business,
NGOs and government (See Annex 3 for details of outputs and outcomes achieved).

The promotion of social business practice has
also been developed through country
programmes (See impact on Gambia is Good
in Annex 21, and information on CUMO
above).
2.3 A stronger global movement to
combat poverty and inequality
Concern Universal‟s global movement work
has expanded significantly in recent months and by 2011 will work in approximately 90
schools in the west of England (Hereford/ Worcester/ Gloucester). The global
movement team has been closen by the Citizenship Foundation as their Giving Nation
Social Action Awards partner for the 2010 academic year. In 2009/10 over 15,000
people were reached with global development messages. Concern Universal has also
been encouraging local business employees to get involved in international
development activities and the organisation has organised very successful development
education trips to The Gambia. (see Annex 3 for details of outputs and outcomes
achieved)
How do we know what we are achieving?
Concern Universal assesses impact through our own internal assessments, the
assessments of the people and communities we support, and through independent,
externally-led evaluations. Within these three areas we use six key approaches to
understanding impact to ensure that we have captured a full picture of the changes that
have occurred as a result of the work that we have supported and have captured voices
from the people that we work with. Much of the information for this report has been
gathered through participatory M&E systems in which participants are involved in
assessing progress themselves. Below is a brief summary of the key methodologies
used and the data collected can be found in the Annexes attached.
1. Concern Universal voices
1.1 Impact summary for the whole organisation (Annex 2/3/4): this
captures „headline data‟ in one place, giving an at-a-glance overview of all we do to
quantify the outputs, outcomes and impacts of our work, and relate these to the inputs /
costs (both financial and environmental). This has been done for SO1 and SO2 (UK and
CP)
1.2 Country Programme impact summaries (Annex 5/6/7/8/9): Country
Programmes (CPs) have produced impact reports or statements using a variety of
approaches, including C-FIT, to show the specific impact of each Country Programme.
In 2009-10 Brazil, Colombia, Gambia, Guinea, and Mozambique produced impact
summaries, which have been included in this report.
1.3 Malawi Impact Report (Not annexed, available on request): In
November 2010 the Malawi country programme published an extensive country level

impact report covering all of their programmatic areas. The report is too long to annex
within this report but the key impact data from the report has been summarised in the
SO1 and SO2 sections above.
1.4 Project Outcome Reviews (Annex 10/11/12/14): By presenting a cross-
section of projects completed in the last financial year, illustrating each of our five
„impact areas‟, we hope to communicate the breadth of our work, and point to the
immediate outcomes that result. In 3 or 5 years‟ time, we will revisit these projects and
investigate whether, how and why the outcomes have endured.
1.5 Environmental Impact (Carbon Footprint) (Annex 15): Our work has
both positive and negative environmental impacts. We know that we need to reduce the
„carbon footprint‟ associated with delivering our work, as part of global efforts to counter
climate change.
2. Beneficiary voices
2.1 Partner impact surveys (Annex 16/17): Working in partnership is at the core
of our identity and our mission. We believe that we can increase the sustainability of our
work by strengthening the capacity of local organisations. Our partner survey has
asked partners what difference our support has made to them and to the communities
they represent. We have received 23 partner surveys from across our 12 country
programmes.
2.2 Community or People First Impact Tool (CFIT/ PFIT) (Annex
18/19/20/21): The C-FIT methodology is rooted in the core belief that community voices
should be at the centre of impact assessment. This reflects our fundamental values of
human dignity, community focus, integrity and partnership. C-FIT involves asking focus
groups to discuss the question „what changes have you seen in the last x years?‟
Facilitators identify „domains‟ for the groups to discuss, such as „culture and tradition‟ or
„gender relations‟. In 2009-10 C-FITs were completed in the Gambia and Kenya and the
results of the C-FITs are outlined below.
2.3 Case Studies (Annex 22): A number of projects have gathered anecdotal
evidence of impact through qualitative beneficiary interviews. A number of these have
been copied in the annex.
3. Independent voices
3.1 Summary of external evaluations (Annex 24/25/26): All of Concern
Universal‟s large, multi-year projects are evaluated externally by independent
consultants. The evaluations are managed in-country. The main learning from a sample
of evaluations is included in the report.
3.2 Long-Term Project Impact Reviews (ex-post) (Annex 27): An ex-post
evaluation of a project was conducted in Malawi in 2010. The UK-based Advocacy and
Learning Manager worked closely with the Concern Universal country team to assess
the long-term impact of a project in Malawi that finished 3 years ago. The team followed
up on case stories, and asked whether, how and why the changes reported at the end
of the project have endured. An outline of the ToR of the impact review has been copied
below. The review it self will be completed by the end of 2010.

3.3 Collation of references regarding Concern Universal (September
2010) (Not annexed, available on request): 19 individuals from our key
donors, NGO and business partners commented on our work in 2010.
What are we learning and how can we improve?
This impact report will be used as a way of developing our understanding of where our
programming is most successful and where we need to improve. Through the process
of developing, disseminating and getting feedback on the report we are able to listen to
our partners, beneficiaries, external stakeholders, and create a space for our own
reflection.
As an organisation we are committed to becoming more effective, both in enabling
community-led development, and inspiring & influencing others. We would like to
increase our accountability by strengthening community voices in the direction of our
work; increase our cost-effectiveness by focusing our efforts where we can make the
most difference; increase our environmental sustainability by ensuring that as much of
our work as possible contributes positively to environmental sustainability and ensure
that we do our part to reduce our negative environmental impacts; and increase the
impact of our advocacy work by doing all we can to help amplify the voices of people
struggling against poverty and inequality.
Challenges Solutions
Monitoring and evaluation data is
not standardised and is sometimes
difficult to compare/ analyse
Increase efforts to standardise the Country
Programme Monitoring (CPM) sheet and make
further efforts to improve verification.
Improve outcomes monitoring throughout the
organisation
Develop and distribute a template ToR for
external evaluations that will include Community
First Impact Tools
Reduce the number of impact data „asks‟ from
country programmes by increasing the utilisation
of data through external evaluations and
communications (ie case studies)
Difficulty in measuring success of
advocacy work
Develop our advocacy monitoring and targets so
that it is clearer to record success of our
advocacy work and communicate this success
Put in place long-term advocacy plans that focus
on power analysis and real change
Impact reporting could be used
more effectively to support country
programme level learning
Set up a Impact Report advisory group that will
include UKO staff, CP staff and trustees
Challenges Solutions
Consider the implementation of bi-annual ex-

post impact studies across the organisation
Consider the use of periodical UK meeting of
Country Directors (Policy and Advocacy
Committee, PAC) to increase learning on impact
assessment
Data is collected and published in a
number of different formats and
they often overlap
Redesign the web pages that include impact
data
Ensure that the „Annual Report‟ (brochure), the
Trustees report, and the Impact report all have a
clear purpose and audience and do not overlap
significantly
Partner, and stakeholder, voices do
not generally come out through
information published (online/
printed)
Encourage country programmes to further
promote partner voices, through case study
materials, partner visits and exchanges), study
on partnerships and ensure this comes out in UK
communications/ learning literature
Internal evaluation and impact
monitoring capacity
Build up our internal evaluation capacity, with a
strong community emphasis (moving away from
expensive external evaluations)

Annexes - Contents
CONCERN UNIVERSAL VOICES ................................................................................ 16
Annex 1: Vision, Mission, Values and Strategy 2009-2014.................................... 16
Annex 2: Impact summary for Enabling Community Led Development (SO1)....... 17
Annex 3: Impact summary for Influencing and Inspiring Others (SO2), UK ........... 19
Annex 4: Impact summary for Influencing and Inspiring Others (SO2), Country
Programmes........................................................................................................... 22
Country Programme Impact Reports (summaries)................................................. 23
Annex 5: Brazil Impact Report ............................................................................... 24
Annex 6: Gambia/ Senegal Impact Report............................................................. 25
Annex 7: Guinea Impact Report............................................................................. 27
Annex 8: Malawi Impact Report ............................................................................. 29
Annex 9: UK (Development Education) Impact Case Study .................................. 31
Project Outcome Reviews...................................................................................... 32
Annex 10: Improved food security in Kenya........................................................... 33
Annex 11: Improved health in Nigeria .................................................................... 36
Annex 12: Improved respect for rights in Latin America......................................... 39
Annex 13: Improved skills (education) in Mozambique .......................................... 41
Annex 14: Reduced vulnerability to disasters in Malawi......................................... 42
Annex 15: Environmental Impact (Carbon Footprint) ............................................. 45
BENEFICIARY VOICES................................................................................................ 46
Annex 16: Partner surveys - results ....................................................................... 46
Annex 17: Partner surveys – analysis of results .................................................... 48
Community First Impact Tool (C-FITs)................................................................... 52
Annex 18: Record of CFITs/ PFITS done 2009/10................................................. 53
Annex 19: Njawara community first impact exercise, Gambia ............................... 55
Annex 20: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) project, Gambia........ 56
Annex 21: Gambia is Good C-FIT.......................................................................... 59
Annex 22: Case Studies......................................................................................... 61
Annex 23: Irish Aid Case Study Example for Annual DevCom meeting................. 64
INDEPENDENT VOICES.............................................................................................. 65
Annex 24: External evaluations 2009/10................................................................ 66
Annex 25: Evaluation (Bangladesh) Prevention of Cross-Border Trafficking ......... 67
Annex 26: Evaluation (Kenya) Emergency Preparedness & Post Recovery.......... 70
Annex 27: Long term impact (ex-post impact assessment Malawi)........................ 73
TEMPLATE - ANNEXES............................................................................................... 74
Annex 28: Impact Report 2010 TORs .................................................................... 74
Annex 29: Case Story template ............................................................................. 77
Annex 30: CP Impact Report template................................................................... 80
Annex 31: Partner Survey ...................................................................................... 82
Annex 32: Concern Universal‟s partners................................................................ 84

CONCERN UNIVERSAL VOICES
Annex 1: Vision, Mission, Values and Strategy 2009-2014
Our Values
Human Dignity
Community Focus
Integrity
Partnership
Our vision is a world where justice, dignity and respect prevail for all. Our mission is to work in partnership to challenge poverty and
inequality. We support practical actions that enable people to improve their lives and shape their own futures.
Strategic Objective 2:
Inspiring & Influencing Others
We amplify the voices of people living in
poverty, enabling them to advocate for a fairer
and more environmentally sustainable world.
Together, we aim to secure:
 Changes to policy and practice to help
overcome barriers to development and open
up new opportunities; and
 More and better investment in holistic
community-led development approaches.
We do this in collaboration with others by:
 Promoting more effective action by
development agencies, both official and non-
governmental.
 Calling for more socially, environmentally
and economically responsible business
practice to achieve sustainable development.
 Building a stronger global movement to
combat poverty and inequality – engaging
individuals to build a fairer world together,
through development education and activism.
Strategic Objective 1:
Enabling Community-Led Development
We work together with people living in poverty to
enable them to improve the quality of their lives.
We do this through practical work with individuals,
communities and partners in 12 countries in Africa,
Asia and Latin America, to:
 Improve food security and support sustainable
livelihoods - through agricultural development,
nurturing natural resources, and enabling access to
microfinance and markets.
 Improve health - through access to safe water
and sanitation, preventive healthcare, improved
nutrition, and action on HIV and AIDS.
 Improve respect for rights - through
empowerment of women, children and other
vulnerable groups.
 Improve skills - through literacy circles, capacity
building, and other training.
 Reduce vulnerability - through disaster risk
reduction, integrating emergency preparedness and
response work with long-term development.
Action Learning
Factors influencing development prospects, addressed by all our work: Environment and climate change * Resource scarcity: food,
water, land, fuel…* Global business and markets * Governance and corruption * Conflict and violence * HIV and AIDS * Population growth
Action Learning

Annex 2: Impact summary for Enabling Community Led Development
(SO1)
Total number of people enabled by Concern Universal to improve their lives and shape
their own futures: 1,471,217 people
Impact Improved
food
security and
sustainable
livelihoods
Improved
health
Improved
respect for
rights
Improved
skills
Reduced
vulnerability
161,815
people
996,365
people
255,371
people
41,129
people
68,355 people
Through… Agricultural
development,
nurturing
natural
resources,
and enabling
access to
microfinance
and markets.
Access to
safe water &
sanitation,
preventive
healthcare,
improved
nutrition, &
action on HIV
and AIDS.
Empowerment
of women,
children and
other
vulnerable
groups.
Literacy
circles,
capacity
building, and
other training.
Disaster risk
reduction,
integrating
emergency
preparedness
and response
work with
long-term
development.
Outcomes 53,346
people with
improved
crop and
livestock
yields
509,806
people with
access to
safe water
111,365
women whose
rights are
more
respected
3893 people
now literate
60,424 people
enabled to
reduce their
vulnerability to
disaster risks
70,558
people no
longer
experiencing
„hungry
months‟
808,359
people with
improved
sanitation
and hygiene
41,446
children
whose rights
are more
respected
16,782
people with
other new
skills
2638 people
enabled to
rebuild their
lives post-
disaster
10,164
people that
have
established
successful
businesses
5745 HIV-
positive
people living
positively
8,668
members of
community
groups able to
demand their
basic rights
from duty
bearers
15,709
members of
community
groups with
stronger
capacity
Outputs 35,221
people
trained in new
agricultural
techniques
955 water
points
provided or
rehabilitated
542,530
participants in
training
5282
members of
literacy
circles
26,817
participants in
DRR training
32,564kg of 750,957 9734 352 5104

horticultural
produce sold
people
trained on
sanitation
and hygiene
advocacy
events
facilitators of
literacy
circles
trained
recipients of
emergency
relief
903 hectares
irrigated
202,676
people
reached with
HIV
awareness
work
39 service
provision
agreements
signed with
duty bearers
33,336
participants
in other
training
1494
recipients of
reconstruction/
rehabilitation
support
1,207,270
trees planted
235,148
people
enabled to
access
healthcare
3914 children
participating
in
educational &
arts activities
48,036
microfinance
clients
1155 HIV-
positive
people
receiving
care and
support
Inputs £4,778,914 £2,915,213 £970,068 £483,668 £939,933
£10,087,796 total project expenditure in FY 2009/10
Carbon footprint: 1405 tonnes (Concern Universal direct only)

Annex 3: Impact summary for Influencing and Inspiring Others (SO2),
UK
Since this is a relatively new Strategic Objective (as from April 2009) much of our work
in this area is in its early stages. Additionally, achieving impact in advocacy work is
arguably a longer and less direct process than with much of our work in directly
enabling community-led development. The summary below therefore contains more
qualitative and less quantitative information than the „Enabling Community-Led
Development‟ summary.
UKO
Impact Promoting more effective
action by development
agencies, both official and
non-governmental.
Calling for more
socially,
environmentally and
economically
responsible business
practice to achieve
sustainable
development.
Building a stronger
global movement to
combat poverty and
inequality
Through
…
Advocacy, lobbying, research
and impact assessment
Engagement with local,
national and
international
businesses
development education
and activism
Out-
comes
IA - Improved impact
information provides a better
basis for both
communications and
decision-making.
High level engagement
with two businesses
(Body Shop and M&S)
175 people pledged to
live more sustainably
IA - Increased organisational
commitment to long term
impact assessment.
Concern Universal only
INGO to take part in the
Business Call to Action
roundtable at No.10,
June 2009
Malvern College
committed to support
Community-led
development
Unique Business
Advocates for
Development group
emerging
Community-led
development and active
citizenship modules
integrated into
International
Baccalaureate study plan
at 2 colleges
£80k raised for new
women‟s enterprise
project in Ghana
20% increase in
Associate Members (net
699 additional AMs –
increase from 3473 to
4172).
Concern Universal
facilitated the Beira
Agricultural Growth
Increasing publicity
through two panel
discussions (involving 2

Corridor meeting with
UK business,
December 2009
Concern Universal
Trustees) at the Hay
Festival in May 09
6 individuals pledge to
become more involved in
the global movement - to
raise awareness of
Concern Universal‟s
work and international
development. (Specifics
can be reported in next
report)
One local business
reduced water usage by
5.2% (against a target of
2%) as a result of the
Water Matters project. 6
staff advocate for global
issues. Students at Lord
Scudamore school
raised £750 for Concern
Universal‟s work.
Outputs IA - Impact blog (Oct-Dec 09)
developed
World Economic Forum
on Africa (June 2009)
Cape Town – Concern
Universal contributed to
two sessions
15,000 people reached
with global development
messages
IA - Impact Report (2009)
published and put on website
500+ business people
(international, UK and
local) reached directly
with Concern
Universal‟s „Good
Business‟ messages.,
Many more thro
associations and mass
media
200 young people
involved in campaigning
to increase water
sustainability
R - Climate Frontline
document published and
launched in six countries
http://www.guardian.co.uk/kati
ne/katine-chronicles-
blog/2009/nov/26/climate-
change-african-farmers,
http://www.climatefrontlineafri
ca.org/
Africa Progress Panel
research conducted all
year. Consultations
with 20 business
leaders. Report
delivered Feb for
dissemination in 2010-
11.
6 individuals (teachers
and Concern Universal
staff) took part in a
„development education
experience trip‟ to The
Gambia in April 2009.
6 individuals took part in
the overseas trips to The
Gambia in Feb 2010.
A - Collaboration with 25
development agencies
through Partner Africa
New 2010-11 Strategy
developed
700 children from two
schools took part in
water sustainability

workshops
A - Engagement with Bond‟s
Effective Development
Programme, including helping
to kick-start the process of a
multi-NGO Partner Survey
Hay Festival, May:
business in Africa panel
discussion with a
celebrity chair
A - Meeting with Andrew
Mitchell, Shadow Secretary of
State for International
Development in October 2009
Concern Universal
Business leaders visit
to Ghana in May and
reunion in Oct.
A - Preparation of briefing /
commentary on Conservative
Green Paper on International
Development.
British Council event for
business leaders in
Ghana
H&W Chamber of
Commerce dinner May
– keynote speech
Richard Harvey
meeting with Gambian
business leaders, Dec
Africa Emerging
Markets Forum (Sept)
Cape Town; addressed
all delegates

Annex 4: Impact summary for Influencing and Inspiring Others (SO2),
Country Programmes
Bangladesh: Continuation of campaign to increase disaster resilience of WATSAN
infrastructure
Brazil: Community committees able to advocate for improved healthcare; Project level
blogs set up: http://www.claimbrasil.blogspot.com/, http://www.projetoaid.blogspot.com/
Colombia: Communication and exchange of information with Germany, diocese of
Aachen, schools and groups. Volunteers doing year of Social Service for peace and
reconciliation in Ibagué; Television programme on Human Rights and advocacy
http://www.proyectosycomunicaciones.com/index.php/programas/informativos/derechos
-humanos; Community members and Government staff to come to agreements about
essential rights and services. Government staff recognize that these are the only
opportunities for real citizen political participation; The election to the Municipal Council
of Ibagué of three representatives of the young people‟s associations, all formed and
trained by Concern Universal and local partner; Women beneficiaries took part in
preparation of the departmental public policy for Women and Gender of Tolima,
approved by departmental Assembly 30 December 2009; Young people beneficiaries in
Ibagué took part in the preparation of municipal public policy for Young people all 2009;
47 initiatives of political and legal advocacy have been worked on by beneficiaries from
15 communities in Tolima, Colombia, all demanding the right to health, education, water
and sanitation
Gambia: Commitment to using CFIT regularly; Participation in Alternative Energy
Forum; Working with Gambian government at COP15 (Copenhagen); Climate Change
awareness radio show; Translation of SPHERE training materials in to local Jola
language
Kenya: Social Clan mapping, now used as a tool for co-operation between government
and local leaders, NE Kenya
Malawi: 16 Days of activism campaign; Energy saving initiatives (solar power/ stoves)
through the Msamala Sustainable Energy Project; Participation in World Wide Views on
Global Warming and supporting 17 delegates to attend the event
Mozambique: Partnership with Centre for Social Accountability (South Africa) to
support local government monitoring initiative
Nigeria: Increasing local government involvement in WASH; Awareness raising on
women‟s rights to local government
Africa Regional: Development of C-FIT guidelines in collaboration with Partner Africa
NGOs

Country Programme Impact Reports (summaries)
Country Programmes have been asked to report on their country level impact over the
2009-10 financial year. The information has been collected through the monthly bulletin
and collates data on short and long term programme impacts. Country Programmes
were given the freedom to select their own methodologies and used a variety of
quantitative and qualitative tools, such as C-FITs, logframe analysis, beneficiary
interviews and surveys. Information from four countries (Mozambique, Brazil, Gambia/
Senegal and Guinea) is summarized below. The case story and CP impact report
template are in Annexes 2 and 3.

Annex 5: Brazil Impact Report
Concern Universal Brazil contributes to the reduction of poverty in Brazil through the
promotion of children‟s and women‟s rights in the state of Paraíba, northeast Brazil.
Concern Universal works with four local partners who focus on promoting and defending
child rights and livelihoods. One of the key, and most long standing partnerships, is with
Casa Pequeno Davi (CPD), a non-governmental organisation in João Pessoa working
with disadvantaged children.
In August 2010 the CPD co-ordinator and the Concern Universal Country Director led a
rapid appraisal exercise to assess the impact of the work that Concern Universal has
supported between 1998 and 2008. Their research found that between 2002-2008:
 the rate of child labour amongst CPD children reduced from 70% to 14%;
 the rate of violence in the home against CPD children fell from 90% to 22%;
 the rate of CPD children repeating primary school years fell from 73% to 49%;
 CPD had increased it‟s influence within the local community. This is due to the
fact that in 2009 advocacy actions, supported by CPD, led to an improvement in
local health services benefitting 4,000 people
Concern Universal‟s support to CPD has increased the capacity and sustainability of the
organisation to provide services and carry out community based advocacy. CPD now
has excellent facilities, secure and safe for working with children, appropriate transport,
well trained staff, strong administrative systems, and a clear mission and strategy. CPD
also has a strong reputation in the state for its work in education, combating child labour
and violence against children. Due to its institutional strength CPD has sustained and
increased the numbers of direct beneficiaries reached annually to 350 to 400 children
and their families. CPD has also increased its ability to advocate with and on behalf of
disadvantaged children in the state. CPD has worked in collaboration with UNICEF to
improve the rights of children and participated on rights councils and other decision-
making structures.

Annex 6: Gambia/ Senegal Impact Report
Since 2003 Concern Universal has worked with local partners to support refugee
communities from the Casamance region of Senegal both in the Western Region of The
Gambia and across the border in their home communities in Senegal. In 2010 Concern
Universal carried out a qualitative assessment of developments in the cross border
communities, taken from project reports and interviews with partners and project
managers. The results highlighted where Concern Universal and partners have made a
difference.
Peace-building - Concern Universal has increased understanding between refugees
from the conflict-affected Casamance region of Senegal and host communities in The
Gambia, and also between communities of the Casamance region and the rebel fighters
through community-based cultural and peace-building events. The events are aimed at
engendering a sense of unity and to explore the negative effects of war on society. The
peace-building events have led to:
 Communities becoming more accepting of each others‟ needs
 An increase in confidence and ability to talk freely amongst other ethnic groups
 A increase in safe movement from village to village
 Increased level of participation of rebel groups in community building
Food Security - Communities in the Western Region have changed the way they
approach problems and have engaged with a more business approach to food security.
For example, in the community of Faas Chamen seed storage had become a problem,
with seed stores being vulnerable to theft, infestation and fire. The availability of seeds
for farmers and production had become extremely low and standard of living had
dropped. The introduction of a community-owned and maintained food store using a
commercial approach has provided a long term solution. Farmers pay for the services
of the community store, and the proceeds are kept in a savings account, which is owned
and managed by the community. The profit is used to maintain and expand services,
according to need.
Capacity Development (partners) – Concern Universal has played an important role in
building the capacity of non governmental organisations in the region. This work has led
to:
 Local organisations have improved their ability to carry out services;
 Partners are now able to seek substantial funding of their own, using the proposal
writing skills that they have learned from Concern Universal
 The partnership approach of Concern Universal has led to improved networking
amongst local organisations. Non governmental organisations in the Western
Region are reaching out and finding synergies with each other, so that there is less
duplication of effort.
Improvements in social services - Health and education services have improved in
Concern Universal targeted areas. For example, the building of a community health
centre has increased access to health services and improved quality of life, reducing

journey time and cost for many in the farming community who before, had needed to
travel long distances for basic health care.
Disaster Risk Reduction – Concern Universal is recognised as the leading NGO on
matters of climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in The Gambia. Concern
Universal‟s work has resulted in:
 In the Western Region farmers have implemented contingency measures so that
they are able to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
 Community Disaster Management Committees have been put in place to
coordinate disaster response.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender (SRH) - SRH training and awareness
raising has led to:
 Increased awareness of how STIs can be transmitted, including increased
knowledge of human anatomy and how transmission routes
 Sensitisation of communities to the particular vulnerability of women to STIs
 There is still a lot of stigma attached to those living with HIV, but increasing
awareness is helping to reduce this.

Annex 7: Guinea Impact Report
Concern Universal Guinea commissioned an assessment to look at the long term
impacts of the project „Encouraging Institutions of the Poor to Strive for Improvements in
their Sustainable Livelihoods‟ (EIPSISL) implemented between 2003 and 2008. As one
of the longest-running projects by Concern Universal Guinea it was felt that looking at
some of the impacts of the project could provide interesting highlights as well as open
the opportunity for future lesson learning. The assessment was carried out by project
partner OCPH Kankan, who was Concern Universal‟s implementing partner for the
project. The assessment was undertaken over a two-day period in Kankan Prefecture,
one of the project‟s three locations. Interviews were held with three beneficiary women‟s
market gardening groups, consisting of a total of 187 members (19 of whom are men). It
must be said that this assessment provides only a small „snapshot‟ of the project‟s long
term impacts.
The assessment investigated whether there had been any long term impact on
household food security and income (the project goal) within the target communities.
The assessment found:
 All groups have continued with market gardening activities and use improved
gardening techniques, thus increasing food security. Members are also capable
of describing or demonstrating the techniques. Two of the groups held regular
meetings (sensitisation campaigns for group members, planning, cleaning the
fields and installing the plant nurseries) prior to commencing market gardening.
 Groups are continuing to use the wells that were built in their gardens. However,
one group had insufficient water supply for up to four months per year and
another group for one month every year (during the dry season) due to the wells
drying up.
 All three groups continue to use improved rainy season techniques for rice and
maize cultivation, for food that is generally harvested for household consumption.
 Two of the three groups continue with the improved marketing strategies to sell
their produce. The third group stated that they produce mostly for their household
consumption, so they have not actively continued with marketing.
 All groups have greatly increased their productivity, measured in the amount of
produce harvested at the end of each season. This has led to a reduction in the
lean season where food availability is lowest.
 Group members reported increases in household income of between one-fifth
and a half, based on incomes received during the duration of the project. Groups
also received higher market prices for their goods of between a fifth and a
quarter from the prices received during the duration of the project.
 With the profits from the group funds, one group purchased a second multi-
functional platform (used to grind or de-husk produce as part of food processing).
The platform assists the group members in reducing time spent on preparing and
processing food, and also allows them to generate increased income by
processing food (e.g. groundnuts into paste).

 One group established a „tontine‟ (savings club) to help equip community
members with furniture and metal sheets for their homes.

Annex 8: Malawi Impact Report
„Irish Aid has found Concern Universal to be a very competent and reliable partner with
a capacity to implement efficient programmes that deliver tangible results for poor
people. The Concern Universal team are highly qualified professionals that base their
decision making on scientific evidence and have the capacity to transmit these
messages in simple language to the people they work with in the villages.‟ – IA Rep.
Malawi
„Concern Universal has vast experience in farmers‟ mobilization and capacity building.
CU is therefore a very good partner for CIP to work with for the benefit of farmers‟ - Dr.
Paul Demo, International Potato Centre, Lilongwe
The Malawi country programme is currently drafting a country specific impact report. A
final version of this report will be distributed before the end of 2010. The draft report
highlighted some of the key impacts of the Malawi programme, including:
HIV programme: steady increase in the number of men going for voluntary testing;
proportionately it is now at 30%.
HIV programme: communities have formed support groups for PLHIV. At the meetings
real life testimonies are shared, which is a catalyst for reducing stigma and
discrimination
HIV programme: Concern Universal has contributed to the national impact mitigation
strategy, by providing support to 7,000 OVC (68% girls) in the form of early childhood
development and psychosocial support through community based child care centres
(CBCCC).
Environmental management: Concern Universal is recognised by authorities in Dedza
and Ntcheu districts and at national level as the catalyst of environmental management
capacity building at local government level
Environmental management: Concern Universal is supporting both Dedza and Ntcheu
district authorities to produce an EOR (Environmental Outlook Report).
Food security: By end of programme 77% of targeted households in in TA Masasa,
Ntcheu district had improved crop and livestock diversity leading to greater household
resilience to droughts, floods and attacks by pests and diseases
Food security: Msamala Sustainable Energy Project Achievements in two years:
Demand-side energy management: 6,700 energy-saving stoves being used by
households. 50% CO2 reduction and 2/3 less firewood consumed; RET (Renewable
Energy Technology): 8,500 pupils and 36 teachers benefit from PV systems in 11
schools

WASH programme: In 2009 (five years later) an ex-post functional sustainability study
was undertaken in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders to determine the level
of impact. The findings confirm that most water points installed continue to function
providing potable water. The vast majority of water points installed have experienced no
breakdowns and 68% of the water point committees established continue to collect
funds regularly for village level operation and maintenance.
Micro-finance: At least 47% of first-time loans went to agricultural related activities
(Social Impact Assessment, 2009). At the same time 80% of clients are very satisfied
with the loans received. When it comes to providing micro-insurance almost 94% of
clients are highly satisfied (Client Satisfaction Survey, 2007). One third of loan
recipients use the capital to establish new businesses, while two-thirds used the
additional money to invest in existing enterprises. Although the majority of loan
beneficiaries employed family members, as much as 20% hired non-family members on
a part-time basis. Almost 60% of clients are young adults (18-35) supporting families
and children.

Annex 9: UK (Development Education) Impact Case Study
„As a long term advocate of the concept of global citizenship I have been involved
previously with other charities in the tertiary sector. What attracted me specifically to
Concern Universal was their emphasis on tackling poverty and inequality in the context
of a changing global climate, an area in which I personally have done a lot of work.
Further to this the charity keeps low overheads and thus most of the funds raised go
towards the work on the ground, surely a key aim of any charitable body! On this basis I
was keen to be involved in seeing the work of Concern Universal first hand and so when
the opportunity arose to visit the Gambia I jumped at the chance. The trip itself was
inspirational for many reasons. The warmth of the Gambian people but also the extent
to which Concern Universal was making a real difference to the lives of local people; by
working in partnership with local NGO‟s a positive influence is being felt in local schools,
local farms, local markets and local governance. In returning to the UK I was more keen
than ever to illustrate the work of Concern Universal to anyone who‟d listen! In
collaboration with Concern Universal we organised a visit to my school with Nanpet
Chuktu, a guest speak from Concern Universal Nigeria, who inspired a host of
fundraising activities, from a cake sale, to a sevens rugby tournament. A group of VI
Formers even took it upon themselves to independently organise a 3 peaks challenge
event to raise funds for the Concern Universal after Nanpet‟s visit. It is hugely beneficial
for our school to have international visitors coming in, bringing a wider perspective to
their learning and challenging them to get involved in being the difference.‟
Rich Lilley, Birmingham, Queen Mary‟s Grammar School, biology teacher

Project Outcome Reviews
Concern Universal‟s work is delivered through specific projects that work towards
achieving Strategic Objective One through five main thematic areas (livelihoods, health,
respect for rights, skills-education and reducing vulnerability). Most of our projects run
over several years and benefit thousands of people. Below we have provided a short
project summary of five projects that came to an end during 2009/10. These project
were selected to provide an overview of the wide ranging impact of Concern Universal‟s
projects. Information about the outcomes of the projects has been taken from project
reports and, where available, external evaluations.

Annex 10: Improved food security in Kenya
Project title: Integrated Community Based Poverty Reduction Intervention
Objective: To improve the quality of life by enhancing development capacities of
communities in Ijara and Garissa to meet their basic needs
Outcomes: 103,768 people in Garissa and Ijara districts have benefitted from this
project. By the end of the project more than 95% of the planned benefits had been
delivered and acknowledged by the beneficiaries
Project Total Cost: £424,167
Project Dates: 1st
January 2006-31st
September 2009
Local partners: WomanKind Kenya (WOKIKE)
Project Location: Garissa and Ijara Districts of North Eastern Province, Kenya
Donors: European Community
Project Overview
Goal Results
Increased access to
sustainable safe water
supplies
Gabaya I & II Sub Surface dams were constructed in Sangaillu
division in Ijara District. The sub-surface dams serve 7,500 people
and 5,266 livestock
Project monitoring verified improved water levels for the community
54 people (51 men and 3 women) representing 11 water user
associations were trained in the management of the water points
Enhanced household
food security
692 households from 10 community farms in Garissa, Fafi and Ijara
Districts received a variety of seeds and seedlings
8 farmers (2 women, 6 men) representing 6 community farms were
trained on dairy farming and bee keeping by farmers from Kajiado &
Machakos Districts and by the Lenana Bee Keeping Station
8 Sahiwal cows were purchased and distributed to 6 community
farms, management from the farms met with WOKIKE and
committed to communally owning and taking care of the livestock;
sharing the milk amongst members, selling surplus milk and
depositing the money in their bank accounts;
37 Langstroth beehives and 1 honey extractor were purchased and
distributed to 10 community farms in Garissa and Fafi District. The
farmers agreed a plan to share the honey extractor and set up
apiaries with the assistance of the beekeeping officer under the
Ministry of Livestock Development.
Hidaya Group Farm, one of the 10 farms supported under this
project, was selected as the location for the celebration of the World
Food Day in North Eastern Province – an important recognition of
achievements
Strengthened
organisational and
community capacity to
manage and sustain
equitable development
30 Traditional Elders from Munyaya and Waliwana communities (12
women, 18 men) were trained on conflict resolution and peace
building. The elders nominated a peace committee representing 3
communities, to facilitate peace discussion and address conflict
issues in their communities. The Elders came up with a strategy to

reduce conflict and encourage good neighbourliness based on
customary Clan and Sub-clan systems.
60 people (26 women and 34 men) were trained on gender and
Rights Based Approaches in Garissa and Ijara Districts
30 youth from Ijara and Garissa Districts were trained on
leadership, human rights, gender and FGM (Female Genital
Mutilation).
30 people representing community peace committee members
were trained on peace building and gender roles in the Somali
community in Ijara District.
Increased community
prevention and mitigation
of targeted diseases
particularly water borne
diseases and HIV/AIDS
and malaria.
10 VIP latrines and two bathrooms were constructed at five water
pans and community sensitization was carried out at the respective
villages on the uses of designated facilities. The facilities are in use
and community members appreciate access to them, the facilities
will greatly improve hygiene and sanitation in the villages and assist
in the reduction of the outbreak and spread of disease
World Malaria Day on 25 April 2009: This day was
commemorated in Ijara and Garissa district, the theme was;
“Counting Malaria Out, Towards Malaria Free Kenya”. 600
Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) and 600 T-Shirts with
Malaria prevention were distributed in both districts. The community
was encouraged and trained on usage of mosquito net and to keep
the environment clean. District health officials tested 285 of those
present for malaria using the rapid diagnosis test, 36 were found
positive and treated. After the ceremony, football matches were
organised by the youth to further raise awareness on Malaria.
60 women from Ijara and Garissa Districts were trained on health
and nutrition. The women were trained on various diseases
(malaria, anaemia, bilharzia, typhoid, HIV-AIDS transmission,
prevention, care for People Living with HIV and the importance of
nutrition for infected pregnant women); balanced diet and its
importance; malnutrition signs and preventative measures, FGM
origin, types and its effects on women and girls and importance and
how to breastfeed. The women pledged to share the information
received at the training with other women in the villages. They also
requested for more women targeted training as they felt that it was
a safe environment for them to learn and share. Women in Ijara
reported they were including fruit and vegetables in family diet. The
women trained in Garissa reported that they would advocate for
elimination of FGM since they now understood its effects.
World Environment Day on 6th June 2009: the community was
sensitised on the importance of environmental preservation. Over
500 seedlings of indigenous trees and fruits were distributed to
schools, government offices and to communities with water pans.
60 youth (22 female, 38 male) from Garissa and Ijara were trained
on HIV-AIDS. The youth received accurate information on HIV-
AIDS; transmission; prevention; vulnerability etc. The youth
appreciated the workshop and follow up support and are
demonstrating that they understand the messages and are willing to
discuss the issues with their peers.
Football clubs in Garissa district involved in the training organised a

tournament in order to use the sporting occasion to share
information provided at the training to other youth and community
members. The football clubs are involved in raising awareness on
FGM and its effects, the importance of volunteerism for the youth so
as to attain experience required for employment, encouraging youth
to pursue higher education etc
20 Imams (Religious leaders) were trained on HIV so as to work as
ambassadors and change agents within the community. Religious
leaders have taken the initiative to spread accurate information
during Friday prayers at mosques as well as sensitisation of other
religious leaders. During the final evaluation visit, the Imams shared
practical ways they had engaged with and assisted PLWHIV in the
community.
30 youth (12 female, 18 male), representatives from various
communities in Garissa were trained as Community Owned
Resource Persons (CORPS) on human rights and child rights. They
are now positively viewed locally and used as reference points by
community members and local self help groups.
30 female members of youth groups, committed to assisting
community health, were trained. The training defined role and
responsibilities of CHWS. A discussion on challenges they face in
the field e.g. walking long distances, security issues for women
Training Community Health Workers (CHW‟s), lack of recognition of
their skill by some community members; transmission, prevention,
Home Based care for PLWHIV, services available; FGM - types of
FGM, reasons why its highly practiced in the Somali community,
effects of FGM, Islamic perspective on FGM etc. The CHWs
requested for equipment to assist them in their work along with
regular refresher trainings. During an evaluation visit, the trained
community health workers reported they had shared the information
with the community and had organised an awareness day for their
respective villages.
30 Youth from Garissa district were trained on hygiene and
sanitation with assistance from the Ministry of Public Health &
Sanitation. They were sensitised on personal hygiene and water
point maintenance, environmental hygiene, food hygiene, food
contamination cycle, waste disposal and water treatment
processes. The youth appreciated the training and advised that it
would be important to have the information packaged in a youth
friendly manner so that they could also share it and positively
impact the community to avert poor unhygienic conditions that
cause disease outbreak.

Annex 11: Improved health in Nigeria
Project title: Integrated Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project Cross River and
Ebonyi States
Objectives: Improvement in health of the rural population through reduction of water-
borne and environmentally communicable diseases in 4 Local Government Areas
(LGAs) within Ebonyi and Cross River States of Nigeria.
Outcomes: The project has improved access to safe drinking water sources for
134,400 people in 80 remote villages by constructing and rehabilitating boreholes. The
project has also improved hygiene and sanitation practices amongst the target
population. Women and children have benefited significantly through a reduction in the
number of hours spent fetching water. A single trip to collect water has been reduced
from 70 to five minutes.
Project Total Cost: £334,721.00
Project Dates: 4th
July 2006 to 3rd
October 2009
Local partners: RUCODEV (Formerly GRADO)
Project Location: This project is implemented in Yala & Obubra Local Government
Areas (LGAs) of Cross River State and Izzi & Ikwo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of
Ebonyi State in Nigeria.
Donors: European Community
Project overview
Goal Results
Water Point Construction and
Rehabilitation
A baseline survey (Needs Assessment) was conducted in all of
the communities, mapping the water points to provide a
comprehensive data base to the Local Government Authorities.
A total of 39 new boreholes have been drilled in 25 communities
with low access to safe drinking water in 4 LGAs. These 39 water
points serve a total of 40,000 persons providing year-round
access to water.
Hand pumps were installed by the project staff in partnership with
the community WASHCOM members.
These boreholes are all currently functioning and being used by
members of the communities; in some cases the sole source of
safe drinking water, thus reducing the risk of drinking
contaminated water and prevalence of water borne diseases.
56 broken down boreholes were identified and reinstalled by the
project staff in partnership with the community WASHCOM
members as practical training for the community-based water
management and maintenance committee to serve an estimated
population of about 89,600 persons with low access to safe
drinking water.
These boreholes are being maintained by the WASHCOM
members in most (85%) of the communities

The project team implemented the construction and protection of
16 demonstration roof water catchments. These were mainly
given to communities with large populations and limited number
of water points. All communities have improved access to safe
sources of drinking water according to internal and external
reviews.
However, while Concern Universal and partners appear ready to
provide water points for more communities, however 6
communities dropped out of the project due to their inability to
contribute 5% of the total cost towards water point construction.
The mandatory contribution is justified as this is one point that
shows community members sense of ownership of water points.
Community-based Environmental
Health Education and Sanitation
Promotion
80 demonstration SanPlat latrines were constructed in the first
two years of the project. After which this activity was changed
because the approach was found not to be sustainable. Concern
Universal and partners shifted towards Community-Led Total
Sanitation (CLTS); a more behavioural approach to address the
issues of hygiene and sanitation in the communities.
There have been community driven solutions to sanitation and
water point maintenance, including Community-Led Total
Sanitation (CLTS) and training on various ways to raise money
locally to enable the WASHCOM to maintain the water points.
Village-based health talks on environmental sanitation and
hygiene promotion (incorporating band and drama group training)
to formulate an action plan to be taken forward by the
WASHCOMs. The majority of the plans were centred on
eliminating open defecation and promoting the construction and
use of pit latrines using locally available materials. Ndiakparata
Igbeagu and Otam community has achieved defecation free
status as a result of the construction of latrines in each
household or within 2 minutes walking distance.
850 dustbins in 85 communities were distributed for community
refuse, these dustbins were located strategically and were being
used by the community members for dumping refuse
WASHCOM members in the project communities have been
trained on how to monitor; sensitise and encourage the
community members to change their sanitation and hygiene
practices to minimize the chances of contacting guinea worm
Improved community-level
management of water and
sanitation facilities
A participatory needs assessment was conducted and served as
the benchmark information for project monitoring and evaluation
Key findings of the Needs assessment are now shared with other
stakeholders during quarterly review meetings and coordination
meetings that the Cross River State Rural Development Agency
chairs.
In Ebonyi State, the State Agency for water and sanitation
receives regular reports from Concern Universal‟s partner
(SUFON) on progress made in communities to update the state
database, due to rational that SUFON is a key stakeholder in the
State‟s task group on Water and Sanitation.
1020 Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOM)
members from 85 communities were trained. The WASHCOM

members have become a formidable force behind community
sanitation and maintenance of water points. The project
mainstreamed gender, conflict resolution and the organisational
development during the WASHCOM trainings.
These committees have been equipped with the necessary tools
and initial stock of hand pump spare parts to enable them to
carry out repairs on their boreholes. The WASHCOM member in
most of these communities have been responsibly maintaining
the water points, although major breakdowns often take longer to
repair

Annex 12: Improved respect for rights in Latin America
Project title: Community Led Advocacy Initiatives, Latin America (CLAIM)
Objectives: Vulnerable communities are empowered to influence government duty
bearers and shape government policy and practice to benefit the well-being and
development of their community and Project lessons are utilised to inform other
initiatives that seek to promote the respect for Human Rights, both within and outside
Latin America
Outcomes: 3 separate local advocacy initiatives were carried out in 15 communities in
Brazil and Colombia; publication of procedures, results and lessons were circulated to
80 civil society rights organisations, 44 government bodies, 28 media actors and other
rights actors within and outside of Latin America.
Project Total Cost:
Project Dates: 01/01/07 to 31/01/10
Project Location: Brazil and Colombia
Local partners: Social Pastoral (Colombia), Casa Pequeno Davi-CPD,
Pastoral do Menor-PaMen, and Associação Comunitária
Nova Vida-ACNV, all from Brazil.
CLAIM has made, and will continue to make, a positive difference to the lives of people
from 20 targeted communities in Brazil and Colombia. Over 51,000 have benefited
directly to date through improved access to and better quality of essential public
services, especially services that benefit the community as a whole – potable water,
basic sanitation, health and education. It is estimated that a further 184,000 people from
these communities and the municipalities where they are located will benefit over the
medium to longer term from the already improved services and/or from other advocacy
initiatives that are ongoing at this time.
The project has led to the improvement of local public services through 40 community
based initiatives for 51,000 children, youth and adults from 18 communities. Over
184,000 from these communities and the municipalities where they are located are
expected to benefit over the longer term from these already improved services and a
further 19 initiatives that are ongoing at this time. The improvements include a number
of initiatives in the health and education sectors. For example, two local communities
now have access to health care as a result of new health posts being constructed. As
well as the new health centres, a further eight health clinics/posts are functioning better
because of improved infrastructure, more medicines available, and gynaecological
attendance.
Local advocacy initiatives have improved education services in 46 schools (e.g.
improvement of infrastructure, provision of transport services, and qualified teachers
contracted. Improvements have also been made to basic water and sanitation services.
Toilets and pipes were fixed in three schools; rivers cleaned and rubbish collected in

two communities; and a further eight schools and one hamlet provided with safe
drinking water.
The project also worked to increase dialogue between community groups and local
government. This led to important tangible outcomes for people in Colombia. For
example, government staff that participated in workshops provided „registration
services‟ in six communities, enabling many people that legally didn‟t „exist‟ to receive
birth certificates and identity cards ensuring their „citizenship‟ and previously negated
possibilities such as attending school, availing of health services or opening bank
accounts.

Annex 13: Improved skills (education) in Mozambique
Project title: HIV/AIDS Programme in East & Southern Africa
Objectives: To reduce the incidence of HIV infection and to mitigate its social and
economic effects. To empower communities to adopt safer sexual behaviour, improve
their livelihood and opportunities through education.
Outcomes: This project has led to higher knowledge of reproductive health rights;
improved linkages between community groups and government; improved community
livelihoods & standards of living; increased partner effectiveness & efficiency in project
implementation & management; strengthened development and stakeholder networks
and coordination mechanisms; and increased knowledge of community needs &
dynamics as a basis for improved understanding, learning & further engagement in the
influencing of policies at national & local government.
Project Total Cost: €724,410
Project Dates: 09/11/2006 to 08/11/2009
Project Location: Kenya and Mozambique
Donors: Irish Aid
Project overview
This HIV and education programme was implemented in Niassa Province, Northern
Mozambique and Garissa and Ijara Districts, North-Eastern Kenya through two local
partners, CCM (Christian Council of Mozambique) in Mozambique and WOKIKE
(WomanKind Kenya) in Kenya. Although primarily an HIV/AIDS project the emphasis in
Mozambique was on improving health through education and empowerment.
The project worked with 2342 people in 54 communities in Mozambique to develop
adult literacy circles. The literacy circles provided a space for discussion of issues,
including HIV and AIDS. The project has mobilised 54 local communities around adult
literacy, strengthening local networks and enhancing the ability of communities to direct
their own development. Through development of adult literacy circles, the project
reduced levels of illiteracy rates among communities, especially women. The women
who were trained in the programme Literacy Circles are now primary providers of
information and learning for their communities.

Annex 14: Reduced vulnerability to disasters in Malawi
Project Title: Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihoods Improvement (interim prog.)
Objective: to reduce vulnerability to disaster risk reduction, through improved food
security, microfinance, and nutrition
Outcomes: Evidence of improved disaster preparedness and management; increased
preparedness of communities to the effects of shocks; improved nutrition status of
communities; reduced malnutrition levels of under-five children; improved quality of life
for people living with HIV; reduction in HIV and AIDS incidence rates; increased health
seeking behaviours; improved crop production and income; improved income and
livelihoods through on- and off-farm businesses; and improved quality of response to
poverty and vulnerability
Project Total Cost: £1,152,529.04
Project Dates: April 2008-April 2009
Local partners: Local Governments and community based organisations
Project Location: Malawi
Donors: Irish Aid
Project Overview
Goal Results
Improved Disaster Preparedness
and Management
District Risk Management plans now in place and included
in the District Development Plans.
Extensive capacity building of Civil Protection Committees
(CPC) and the establishment of early warning systems
means that communities are now able to prepare for and
respond to disasters while also now having the
management skills and confidence in place to implement
and coordinate such activities.
The planting of 2.1 million tree seedlings have prevented
flooding
Increased preparedness of
communities to the effects of
shocks
The communities were able to react effectively and
efficiently to a potentially devastating outbreak of
armyworms.
District Assemblies were able to respond with food
interventions to mitigate the impact of crop losses
experienced by farmers in late 2008 and early 2009.
Improved nutrition status of
communities
Iodine deficiency has been reduced.
Mortality rates have reduced from 19.4% to 9.8%
Crop diversification/increased cropping resulted in more
nutritious food available.
Reduce malnutrition levels of
under-five children
Local capacity has been built to screen and refer
malnourished children to the appropriate service providers.
The cured rates for malnourished children in outpatient
care and within rehabilitation units have reached 80% and
90%, respectively.

Targeted nutrition support is now more effective resulting
in better service provision and response times.
CTC has been rolled out in Dedza and Chiradzulu districts
and preparation was ongoing in Ntcheu Districtat the time
of writing this report.
Improve quality of life for people
living with HIV and AIDS
Support services and resource centres available to provide
advice and support to PLHIV when required.
Community forums and awareness raising has reduced
the stigma and discrimination endured by PLHIV.
Income generating activities increase access to money,
food and medicines.
Reduction in HIV incidence rates Male and female condom availability and usage increased
contributing to a projected reduction in the transmission of
HIV.
Improved communications and trust between youths and
health workers allows for more honest discussions and
requests for support regarding HIV & AIDS and STIs.
Behavioural and attitude changes demonstrate that youths
and PLWHA are less likely to engage in risky behaviour.
Increase health seeking
behaviours
Due to increased local capacity, awareness and
infrastructure, individuals are better positioned to seek and
access medical advice and support.
Having support groups and advisors, e.g. traditional birth
attendants within communities‟, provides accessible
outlets for vulnerable people to openly discuss their health
problems or concerns in a non-judgemental environment.
People are now aware of their rights, who to avail them
from and who to hold accountable when there is a break-
down in the provision of those rights and services.
Improve crop production and
income
The distribution and replication of summer and winter seed
varieties has diversified the types of crops being grown
and hectares cultivated.
Enhanced and expanded irrigation systems enable
farmers to increase crop production (for sale and
consumption) whilst also reducing labour hours and other
opportunity costs; 595 households are accessing 72
hectares of irrigated land.
Effective and targeted capacity building has reduced crop
losses, improved post harvest handling and increased
storage facilities which contribute to enhanced food
security.
Improve income and livelihoods
through on- and off-farm
businesses
Value chain development has increased and strengthened
market linkages.
Increased agricultural output and storage facilities enable
farmers to better respond the demands of the market.
The provision of diversified livestock and bee keeping will
reduce peoples‟ reliance on crops and also spread the risk
of failure.
The establishment of farmer market associations has
strengthened their bargaining positions and reduced

transaction costs.
Expansion of rural financial services from 26,807 to 34,815
clients.
Improve quality of response to
poverty and vulnerability
Communities have the capacity to increase agricultural
production and household income.
More effective health and referral services can be
accessed within communities.
Environmental degradation has been reduced.
Awareness of HIV and AIDS, gender disparities and
inequalities have been brought into the open and
acknowledged.
Government and community capacity has been built in all
areas of the programme‟s activities which will ensure
sustainability and long-term improvement in the living
standards of the target beneficiaries particularly the
chronically ill, malnourished children, PLWHA, small holder
farmers and the youth.

Annex 15: Environmental Impact (Carbon Footprint)
Source Quantity Carbon Cost -
tonnes CO2e
Air travel 1,207,014 Km 202
Road travel 1,038,394 Km 677
Electricity 117,842 kWh 73
Paper and Printing 2819 reams 30
Drilling Rig and
Generators
148,870 423
Total 1405
The figures above show that there has been a slight increase from 2008/09 (1382
tonnes) and we have not reached the intended target of a 10% decrease over one year.
However, there was also an increase in programme expenditure so this is not
surprising. Even though we have not hit the target we set for ourselves in 2009 there
are many other positive environmental stories to tell, such as the development of carbon
offsetting relationships in Malawi, and these will be outlined in future impact reports.
Whilst it is important for the organisation to consider how to decrease the levels of CO2
emitted, and it is important to monitor the overall level of emissions, no matter how
crude, it will also be important for the UKO and country programmes to assess the
constructive ways we are contributing to a reduction in emissions over the year, both
through our direct but also importantly indirect emissions (ie the impact of programming
choices such as promoting mangrove conservation). By doing this, we will not penalise
growth per se (ie reducing flights at the same time as trying to provide more UKO
support to CPs, or ensure more partners visit the UK) but encourage creative and
innovative thinking on carbon emission reductions.

BENEFICIARY VOICES
Annex 16: Partner surveys - results
Q3: What are the most positive aspects of your partnership with CU? Responses were
varied, but largely focused on the following:
1. Capacity building, i.e. CU's commitment to the improvement of the skills and
competencies of the partners (15 out of 23).
2. Financial resources (10 out of 23)
3. Information sharing and open lines of communication (9 out of 23)
4. Positive relationships based on trust, equality, collaboration, emotional support, respect,
and freedom to implement partners ideas (12 out of 23)
5. Technical support (4 out of 23)
6. Improved credibility of partners, wider networking and acceptance from donors (4 out of
23)
Q4: What areas of your partnership with CU could be improved?
Responses were varied, but largely focused on the following:
1. Capacity Building, including training, on advocacy proposal writing, project
implementation, monitoring and evaluation sills (16 out of 23)
2. Technical support (transport, staffing and office equipment) and increased budget (6 out
of 23)
3. Improved communication (5 out of 23)
4. Improved efficiency of funding (3 out of 23)
5. Long term commitments and support (3 out of 23)
6. Exchange visits (2 out of 23)
Q5: How does your partnership with CU compare with your other partnerships?
Responses were very wide ranging, and partners appear to have understood the question in
different ways. Therefore it was difficult to pull out any trends.
Generally it appears that partners feel that CU is similar to its other partners in its commitment
to the beneficiaries, the fact that CU has procedures and deadlines and CU provides work
equipment and funding.
The differences cited between CU and other partners were even more diverse, making it very
difficult to analyse. However, the one notable theme in the responses was that CU has closer
(and better) monitoring and evaluation systems, and requires more regular reporting (7 out of 20
partners).
Q6: Over the past three years how has your organization changed?
22 partners answered this question
 91% of partners stated that their staff capacity has increased (45 percent said it had
increased a lot).
 86% of partners stated that the quality of their governance has increased (59 percent
said that it had increased a lot).

 95% of partners stated that the scale of their work has increased (54 percent said that it
had increased a lot)
 100% of partners stated that the quality of their work has increased (64 percent said that
it had increased a lot).
Q7: What are the main factors behind these changes?
Main factors behind positive changes:
1. Motivated and qualified staff, improved capacity of staff and training (9 out of 22
partners). NB it was not clear whether the partner related these factors to CU‟s work.
2. New and better methodologies and procedures for managing projects and good
governance (9 out of 22 partners). NB, again, not clear whether the partners related
these factors to CU‟s work.
3. Guidance and support from CU (6 out of 22 partners). NB where partners specifically
mentioned CU in their responses.
4. Financial support (4 out of 22 partners).
5. Strong relationships with communities and community activities (3 out of 22 partners).
6. Project areas have been widened (3 out of 22 partners).
Factors behind negative changes:
1. Colombia stated that the reduction of their staff and the scale of their work was due to
reduced funding.
2. Guinea SRR and OCPH both stated that the socio-political climate in the country
resulted in poor funding opportunities, which led to little or no improvement in their work.
Q8: Please rate CU on the following areas:
 83% of partners stated that CU‟s understanding of their needs and priorities was good or
excellent. 13% stated that it was ok, and 4% stated that it was poor (Nigeria CI stated
that this was largely due to poor communication).
 52% of partners stated that the amount of financial support they CU provided was good,
and 48% stated that the amount provided was ok.
 61% of partners stated that the amount of non financial support that CU provided was
good or excellent. 26% stated that it was OK, and 13% stated that it was poor (Nigeria
NGOCE, Guinea OCPH, and Ken WASDA).
 65% of partners stated that the quality of the non financial support provided by CU was
good or excellent. 30% stated that it was ok and 5% stated that it was poor (Ken
WASDA).
 82% of partners stated that the influence of CU on the development of their organization
was good or excellent. 18% stated that it was ok.
 78% of partners stated that the amount of information that CU shares with them is good
or excellent. 17% stated that it was ok. 5% stated that it was poor (Nigeria CI stated that
CU needs to improve on communication).
 57% of partners stated that the amount of influence that they had on CU was good or
excellent. 43% stated that it was ok.

Annex 17: Partner surveys – analysis of results
Partnerships are central to all of our work. A core indicator of our success as an
international community development organisation is our ability to support and
strengthen local partners. The Concern Universal partner survey is one of the key ways
we measure the progress of our in-country partnerships. Increasing our downwards
accountability to beneficiaries and partners is fundamental to „walking the talk‟ on
participation and empowerment and Concern Universal is striving to increase
accountability to all stakeholders. At its core the partnership survey asks what
mechanisms / processes do we have in place for making sure that we are accountable
to beneficiaries and partners, and what do they think of us?
As well as our own organisational surveys Concern Universal has been involved in
developing a sector-wide partner survey led by Keystone Accountability. This report will
be published in early December and will mark the beginning of a „benchmarking‟
process among UK NGOs, whereby local partners will have the chance to rate Northern
NGOs on how responsive and how accountable they are (individual ratings won‟t be
published). The results will increase the clarity about what partners appreciate and
demonstrate the value of our support to partners, from their perspective.
Concern Universal currently supports approximately 65 local partner organisations in 12
country programmes. This year we have received 23 partner surveys from local
organisations. Although we hope to receive more in future, an analysis of these surveys
gives us a picture of the support we give. A copy of the survey template can be found in
the annexes.
On the whole, the responses portray CU's influence as very positive. There was a
strong focus on capacity building, both in terms of the positive effect that it has had so
far, as well as a need for more in the future. The compilation of responses below gives
us a snapshot of our relationships with partners.
What are the most positive aspects of your partnership with CU?: Responses were
varied, but largely focused on the themes below. Each aspect is displayed according to
the percentage of partners who offered this response.

What areas of your partnership with CU could be improved?: Responses were
varied, but largely focused on the themes below. Each aspect is displayed according to
the percentage of partners who offered this response.
How does your partnership with CU compare with your other partnerships?:
Responses were very wide ranging, and partners appear to have understood the
question in different ways. Therefore it was difficult to pull out any trends. Generally it
appears that partners feel that CU is similar to its other partners in its commitment to the
beneficiaries, the fact that CU has procedures and deadlines and CU provides work
equipment and funding. The differences cited between CU and other partners were
even more diverse. However, the one notable theme which came through in the
responses was that CU has closer (and better) monitoring and evaluation systems, and
requires more regular reporting (according to 35% of partners).
Over the past three years how has your organization changed?: Chart below
displays percentage of partners that cited an improvement/increase.

What are the main factors behind these changes?:
Main factors behind positive changes:
1. Motivated and qualified staff, improved capacity of staff and training (39% of
partners). NB it was not clear whether the partner related these factors to CU‟s work.
2. New and better methodologies and procedures for managing projects and good
governance (39% of partners). NB, again, not clear whether the partners related these
factors to CU‟s work.
3. Guidance and support from CU (27% of partners). NB where partners specifically
mentioned CU in their responses.
4. Financial support (18% of partners).
5. Strong relationships with communities and community activities (14% of partners).
6. Project areas have been widened (14% of partners).
Factors behind negative changes:
1. Colombia stated that the reduction of their staff and the scale of their work was due to
reduced funding.
2. Guinea SRR and OCPH both stated that the socio-political climate in the country
resulted in poor funding opportunities, which led to little or no improvement in their work.
Please rate CU on the following areas:

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