Page 42 - Aidlink Annual Report 2020
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   Directors’ Report
For the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2020 Continued
 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
2020 was both a challenging and rewarding year for Aidlink. The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted our partners and
their ability to deliver planned programmes. It also altered our way of working in Ireland with all staff working remotely and routine fundraising plans severely altered. Despite this, the support and loyalty of our donors ensured we maintained income levels and the Government’s Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme contributed to
a reduction in costs. As a result, core programme objectives were met as Aidlink and our partners successfully pivoted programmes to meet the immediate needs of target communities in the context of Covid-19.
Aidlink’s primary focus in 2020
was on the poorest and most excluded communities in Kenya, particularly girls and women from the nomadic pastoralist Masai
and Turkana communities. The Irish Aid Civil Society Fund grant
of €310,000 supported the Kenya Inclusive Quality Education Project (KIQEP) in Kajiado and Turkana Counties. 2020 was the final year of the Aidlink – Irish Aid KIQEP three- year contract. Despite schools being closed, Aidlink and partners adjusted programme activities and maintained relations with target communities throughout the period.
Irish Aid funding carries significant restrictions and conditions.
These include the requirement
to contribute 30% to the Kenya Inclusive Quality Education Project from Aidlink’s own resources. Irish Aid recognises that the KIQEP entails significant inputs from the Dublin office and these costs are considered to be part of Aidlink’s KIQEP contribution.
In line with Aidlink’s commitment to women and children and building on the positive results achieved through our partnership since 2003, the Girl Child Network remains our key partner in the implementation of the Kenya Inclusive Quality Education Project supported by Irish Aid’s Civil Society Fund.
In 2020, Irish Aid has been particularly supportive and has amended the terms and conditions of its grant to recognise the challenges faced operating in the Covid-19 context. Aidlink made programme adjustments to meet this changing context which
were approved by Irish Aid. These adjustments included transfer from school feeding to household feeding, the provision of sanitary pads for girls at home while schools were closed, the installation of handwashing stations for at
risk communities, public health messaging and supporting Community Facilitators to maintain child protection surveillance and support vulnerable out of school children, especially girls.
The Kenya Inclusive Quality Education Programme reached an additional 16 schools (8 in Kajiado and 8 in Turkana counties) in 2020,
bringing the cumulative total
over three years to 33 schools. This programme is contributing to better educational outcomes for girls in targeted communities in Kenya.
In Uganda, government restrictions in response to Covid-19, in addition to floods and locusts, severely impacted Aidlink’s activities. Our engagement with communities
in Karamoja, was met by our long standing partner Voluntary Action for Development with the funding support of Foundations, Trusts and Corporate groups.
In late 2020 allegations of fraud were raised against one Aidlink partner in Uganda. Pending the results of a third party investigation and an internal Aidlink review, Aidlink delayed the on-granting of funds to said partner. Investigations established that no Aidlink funds or projects were impacted. As a result of the subsequent remedial actions taken by the partner, the board
of Aidlink are satisfied to continue working with the partner and release resources.
Key elements of the 2020 programme of work included:
• The expansion of the Kenya Inclusive Quality Education programme to 16 new schools reaching approximately 6,807 children, and their families.
• The provision of girl and disability friendly latrines and semi permanent classroom blocks in 2 community primary schools in Karamoja, Uganda.
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