Page 3 - Aidlink Financial Statement 2023

Aidlink Financial Statements 2023
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
For the financial year ended 31 December 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Aidlink exists to improve the lives of those living in poverty in Africa by empowering local partners and communities to take charge of their own development and achieve healthy and fulfilling lives.
Aidlink is committed to supporting small-scale, local development organisations in Africa. This partnership approach has been at the core of Aidlink’s work, based on the interlocking and complementary concepts of building indigenous capacity and working in partnership. Under our new strategy (2023 – 2027), this approach has evolved to encompass two additional elements: locally- led and fostering connections. These four, inter-linked and mutually enforcing concepts comprise our updated model and way of working. We believe that this approach makes us efficient, effective, and impactful in our work.
Our programmes focus on four strategic priorities:
Disadvantaged communities’ essential needs are met
Aidlink and our partners work with those living in poverty and on the frontline of climate change, to ensure that they have access to improved basic services. We support school-based programmes through the construction
of gender and disability sensitive water, sanitation, hygiene and learning facilities. We provide school meals to thousands of children so that hunger is not a reason to miss class. We support community-based activism and advocacy for policy change, with a focus on issues of inclusion and equitable allocation of resources.
Women and Girls can exercise agency and live free from harm
Aidlink and our partners are working to address the barriers that keep girls from engaging fully with and flourishing in society. We are working to promote gender sensitivity and further rights-based education in communities. In school, students, teachers, and Boards of Management are trained to support a child-friendly learning environment. Communities have been sensitised on the harm of cultural practices such as early marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). We train and encourage women and men to become champions and leaders of change within their community.
Communities are more resilient to deal with shocks and setbacks
Many of the communities we work with are living on
the frontline of climate change, with drought and food insecurity becoming constant realities. Aidlink and
our partners work on disaster risk reduction training and capacity building on climate-resilient agricultural practices. We deliver training on business management, nutrition, and finance as well as other skills key to sustainable agriculture.
Informed citizens committed to action on poverty and inequality
Aidlink believes in the power of connection across communities and continents; connections based on shared culture, experiences, and learning. Aidlink delivers development education, communication, and public engagement within Ireland. Aidlink delivers multiple immersion programmes each year between Irish secondary schools and schools in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana.
The impact of Aidlink’s work is measured against targets using a Results-Based Management system, assessed against Aidlink’s Strategic Plan, and benchmarks agreed with Irish Aid. Regular monitoring and evaluation are carried out by both local partners and Aidlink staff.
The on-granting of funds to local partners is subject
to annual project agreements with each local partner. Partners implement Aidlink’s programme at the local level, ensuring community-led interventions, the sustainability of the programme, and delivering the best value for money for both donors and beneficiaries.
Aidlink’s 2023 expenditure on Charitable Activities, including on-granted funds, development education activities and the relevant support costs, amounted to €1,013,456 (2022: €869,157), which accounted for 97% (2022: 97%) of Aidlink’s total expenditure for the year. A total of €754,412 (2022: €676,293) of the expenditure on Charitable Activities, was on-granted to partners in Kenya and Uganda to deliver programme activities at the local level. A further €95,314 (2022: €26,581) of the expenditure on Charitable Activities relates to Aidlink’s development education activities.
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