Annual Report 2009

Message from misean cara Chairperson
Sr Maeve Guinan:

2009 will be remembered as a difficult year for people around the world. The effects of the global economic crisis were felt deeply in Ireland, but also had an enormous impact on the people in developing countries with whom misean cara’s members work. Irish Aid’s budget was cut by a total of €225 million during the year, and we in misean cara were faced with a decrease of €4 million in funding as a result of this drop.

Having to implement these cuts provided us with an obvious challenge, but also with an important opportunity to reflect on the range and value of the development work that our members are carrying out in the global south. In over 60 of the world’s least developed countries, funding from misean cara is enabling the running of vital projects in areas such as health care, education and rural and urban development. This year’s annual report gives an insight into the importance of this work, and of the very positive effects that ongoing solidarity from Ireland is having.

It is also vital for us to continually examine the impact of work that we support, and during the year, we commenced preparation for the introduction of new funding schemes that will enable us to better capture and document the positive outcomes of funded projects. Our reflections led us to conclude that the provision of integrated funding as a step towards the provision of support to our members through a programmatic approach was not the most suitable way for misean cara to develop into the future, and a decision was made to end this initiative. These decisions were not lightly made, but will help us to emerge as a stronger organisation that facilitates the uniqueness of the faith-based approach to development. The lessons learned from the experience gained by engaging in the work towards the programmatic approach will, of course, enrich the process of the development of the new funding schemes.

These new schemes will emphasise accountability and transparency, which are two of our key organisational values. In 2009, we developed and rolled out a new child protection policy, which strengthens previous measures that were in place, and details the criteria that members must meet in order to receive funding. We conducted a number of evaluations and monitoring visits, and provided support for members to carry out internal monitoring, as an important part of the ongoing assessment of the impact and value of the work that is being undertaken.

We would like to thank Irish Aid for their continuing support for our members: this report gives an indication of the ways in which the €16 million in funding which it provided during 2009 is having a real and enduring impact in some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized places. At this time, it is important that we all reaffirm our commitment to achieving the targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals. The growing numbers of people who are going hungry on a daily basis provide a stark reminder of the relevance of these goals, and the fact that the target date for their achievement, 2015, is fast approaching.

On behalf of misean cara members, I would like to thank the staff and Board members for their dedication and continuing hard work during a difficult year, which included undertaking the transition to new premises. Our thanks to Sr Breda Bird (MSHR) and Sr Betty Coughlan (RSM) whose terms of office ended during the year: we are very grateful for their dedication and commitment to the organisation. We were delighted to welcome Fr John Dunne (SMA), Sr Christine Heverin (MSHR) and Fr Sean O’Leary (CSSp) onto the Board. Our special thanks go to Sr Noelle Corscadden (IBVM), whose term of office also ended during the year, and who stepped down as Chair, having steered the organisation since its inception. We thank her for her immense contribution to the organisation’s development, and for the expertise and commitment which she gave in her role.

Sr Maeve Guinan
misean cara Chairperson
 

Click to view Annual Report 2008
Click to view Annual Report 2007
Click to view Annual Report 2006
Click to view Annual Report 2005
Click to view Annual Report 2004