SELF HELP AFRICA REVIEW 2012/13
FARMS VITAL TO AFRICA’S FUTURE
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his report sets out to record the financial activities and accomplishments of Self Help Africa during 2011.
It also provides readers with some information about our work, and about some of the issues and challenges that we must address if we are to be successful in our work to eradicate hunger and poverty in Africa. The past year has been a busy one for Self Help Africa. It saw us conclude 15 years of work in Eritrea, and launch new projects in a number of countries. The grave food security crisis that forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in the Horn of Africa during 2011 underlined the great vulnerability of people who live off small farms in regions where support services are limited and where the climate is becoming unpredictable. It brought home too the vital role that farmers play across Africa, and how hopeless circumstances can become when communities are driven from their land. During 2011 we launched an important new document – an organization five-year strategic plan - to map out the future direction, aims and goals of Self Help Africa as we continue to develop our work into our fourth decade in Africa. That plan was the result of months of consultations between
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staff across three different continents – and is being built upon this year as we develop clear strategies for how we work in each of the eight African countries where we now have a presence. Much progress has been made in the fight to eradicate hunger and poverty in Africa – and the emergence of strong and confident new economies in many parts of the continent point the way for others in years to come. Of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world last year, six were in Africa. In Ghana and Ethiopia, that economic growth has been achieved on the foundations of agricultural production. For Self Help Africa, this reinforces our belief that farming and food production is critical not just at household level but also for Africa’s wider economic development.
our deep gratitude for the many successful collaborations that are taking place, and the key role you play in enabling more African families to end the cycle of hunger and dependence. I must also express my appreciation for the time, commitment and expertise provided by the members of our board of directors, trustees, advisory and technical panels, our field officers and ambassadors, who all play such a key role in the organization. And finally to all of our donors, we say ‘thank you’. We see every day the results of our work - when families who were once hungry find themselves with a food surplus or an offfarm income. This is truly transformative work and, without your support, it could not continue.
At home, we are grateful for the continuing backing that we receive – from individual supporters, from businesses, and from institutional supporters such as Irish Aid, the European Union, UK Aid and USAID. To our management and staff - in Ireland, UK, USA and across Africa we are grateful for the manner that you go about your business, ensuring that Self Help Africa is as effective as is possible in its work. To our local partners we express
Norman Sheehan, President, Self Help Africa Inc