FINN CHURCH AID
GLOBAL PROGRAMME 
ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Foreword.......................................................................................5
Part 1 
FCA programme overview.......................6
Finn Church Aid’s strategy and priorities...........................7
FCA’s working context and holistic programme...............8
FCA’s programme overview and progress made.............9 
in 2018
Right to Livelihood (R2L).....................................................9
Right to Quality Education (R2QE)....................................11
Right to Peace (R2P)...........................................................12
Guiding Principles and approaches....................................13
Rights based approach (RBA)............................................13
Gender...................................................................................15
Conflict sensitivity...............................................................16
Climate change....................................................................17
Innovations...........................................................................18
FCA’s working modalities.......................................................19
Development Cooperation..................................................17
Humanitarian Assistance..................................................20
Advocacy..............................................................................21
Investment – Capital for development................................22
Global programme’s main objectives...............................23  
and analysis of results in 2018    
Impact Goal and the Main Objectives.............................24
Partnerships and international collaboration.................31
Finn Church Aid cooperation partners.............................32
	
	
Part 2  
Annual programme reports..................34
Organisation.............................................................................35
Country programme annual reports by region..............36
Europe..................................................................................37
Asia......................................................................................39
Africa....................................................................................52
Middle East..........................................................................76
Programme in Finland...........................................................84
Networks and volunteering...................................................85
Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.....85
Teachers without Borders (TwB)........................................87
Women’s Bank....................................................................88
Changemaker.....................................................................89
EAPPI...................................................................................89
Table of Contents
photo credits 
Cover photo Patrick Meinhardt
p. 88, 89 Mirna Aho
p. 37 Socrates Baltagiannis
p. 100 Mohammed Barhoum
p. 4, 13, 15, 44, 54, 55, 76, 79, 81, 92 Tatu Blomqvist
p. 5 Jouni Hemberg
p. 28, 87, 94 Thomas Hommeyer
p. 86 Lilia Jiménez-Ertl
p. 12, 21, 30, 31, 62, 63, 65, 97 Jari Kivelä
p. 42, 43 Päivi Korpela
p. 34, 52, 90 Fredrik Lerneryd
p. 36, 56, 59 Saara Mansikkamäki
p. 10, 11, 17, 67, 71 Patrick Meinhardt
p. 93 Maria Miklas
p. 38 Ville Nykänen
p. 83 Olli Pitkänen
p. 9, 48, 50 Veera Pitkänen
p. 29, 69 Hugh Rutherford
p. 25, 73, 74 Sumy Sadurni
p. 6, 20, 27, 39, 40 Tine Sletting
	
	
Part 3   
Programme management..............90  
and support
FCA’s quality assurance and accountability....................91
Administration.........................................................................93
Finance and Administration..............................................93
Human Resources..............................................................94
Financing of the Global Programme in 2018..................95
Fundraising...............................................................................96
Domestic fundraising........................................................96
WeFood Finland..................................................................96
Parishes and dioceses........................................................96
Global grants.......................................................................97
Communications.....................................................................98
Risk management, internal audit and security...........100
Risk management............................................................100
Internal Audit.....................................................................100
	
Security...............................................................................101  
List of acronyms.....................................................................102

4
5
 F
or Finn Church Aid (FCA), 2018 was a year of action and 
new innovations. We continued our work as the larg-
est Finnish development cooperation organisation and 
provider of humanitarian aid, empowering people and local 
communities in fragile situations in their efforts to create just 
and resilient societies.
The principles of Agenda 2030 guide our work and the 
results of our work support the achievement of Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, FCA continued to pro-
mote inclusive and sustainable economic development that 
provides vulnerable people with increased opportunities for a 
decent living. Examples of this include strengthening the en-
trepreneurship of young people and refugees and Women’s 
Bank’s work with women’s micro-entrepreneurship. This work 
has now been expanded and includes small and medium 
sized enterprise (SME) loans and technical support. 
FCA continued to successfully promote Linking Learning to 
Earning (LL2E) approach in several countries, effectively im-
proving the interplay between skills, vocational training and 
employment, most often used in our work with youth and 
women in post-conflict and refugee contexts.
Negotiations between FCA Investments Oy (FCAI), estab-
lished by FCA in 2017, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs 
(MFA) of Finland reached a conclusion and the parties signed 
the first FCAI agreement with the State Treasury for a loan 
of EUR 16 million.
At the same time, FCA and Women’s Bank prepared for 
new activities in Uganda, namely the establishment of a 
social enterprise. The registration of the enterprise was final-
ised and a laying house of 15,000 chicken will rise near the 
capital city of Kampala during 2019, employing 30 people. 
Indirectly, the laying house will increase the earnings of sev-
eral hundred people.
FCA also began exporting Finnish entrepreneurship quali-
fications. We invested efforts in the education and training 
of refugees and youth exposed to the risk of social exclu-
sion and exported the first Finnish vocational qualifications 
Foreword
in business management, placing them within the reach of 
refugee youth in Uganda.
 Globally and locally, we entered into new partnerships 
with UN organisations, development banks, civil society or-
ganisations (CSO) and governments. We continued our co-
operation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 
and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and started a part-
nership with UN Women. In addition to the continued sup-
port by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, FCA’s new 
donors included the States of Belgium, the Netherlands, and 
Switzerland.
 Our operations also continued to grow. At the end of 2018, 
FCA employed about 450 people. In addition, 467 local 
teachers were hired in cooperation with UNHCR to work in 
FCA Uganda country programme.
 In line with our strategy, we continued to work in frag-
ile and volatile operating environments. From time to time, 
insecurity and unexpected events slowed down programme 
implementation in the Central African Republic, South Sudan 
or Syria. However, despite the challenges, we reached our ob-
jectives and supported hundreds of thousands of people in 
Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Once again, we are grateful for the trust placed in our work 
by the general public and our donors, enabling effective, ap-
propriate and timely operations with the related good results. 
Jouni Hemberg 
Executive Director 
Finn Church Aid 
Education, training and 
increased opportunities 
for young people, 
refugees and women

7
part 1
FCA’s vision of a world comprised of resilient and just societies 
is the foundation of our work. Together with our partners, we 
aim to empower people in fragile contexts to act for a positive 
and sustainable change.
Finn Church Aid (FCA) is the largest Finnish development 
cooperation and provider of humanitarian assistance. FCA 
is a civil society actor founded by the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church of Finland as an instrument of its international di-
aconia. 
FCA contributes to positive change by supporting people 
in the most vulnerable situations in fragile and disaster-
affected areas. We believe that the reduction of poverty re-
quires achieving peace and the realisation of human rights, 
and that the local communities have the most sustainable 
solutions to the challenges in their own contexts. We spe-
cialise in three thematic priority areas: Right to Peace (R2P), 
Right to Livelihood (R2L) and Right to Quality Education 
(R2QE).  
FCA programme’s main objectives are in line with the 
Finnish development policy guidelines and are closely con-
nected to the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals (SDGs). National poverty reduction strategies 
and other relevant context related frameworks, policies and 
standards also guide our work. 
Identity
FCA is a faith-based organisation. The Christian tradition of 
compassion and social justice guides us to reach out to the 
poorest, promote peace and ignite civil society advocacy. 
We treasure the different backgrounds and beliefs of our 
staff and partners. FCA is a member of ACT Alliance and is 
committed to working with its ecumenical and faith-based 
partners.
FCA is a rights-based actor
FCA’s action is guided by international human rights stand-
ards and principles. The PANEL principles of rights-based-
approach (RBA), namely participation, accountability, 
non-discrimination and equality and empowerment form 
the basis of our work. We believe that sustainable change 
requires tackling the root causes of inequality and nonre-
alisation of human rights. As a rights-based actor, FCA’s 
role is to facilitate dialogue and accountability between the 
rights holders and the duty bearers.
 FCA’s commitment to support the resilience of people 
and the empowerment of communities and people in frag-
ile contexts has a solid backing in the United Nations Hu-
man Rights instruments. Our humanitarian work is based 
on the humanitarian principles of humanity, humanitar-
ian imperative, impartiality, independence and neutrality. 
These principles outline people’s rights to protection and 
assistance. FCA continuously assesses its performance us-
ing the Core Humanitarian Standards - CHS.
FINN CHURCH AID’S 
STRATEGY AND PRIORITIES
We believe that 
sustainable change 
requires tackling the 
root causes of inequality 
and non-realization  
of human rights.
FCA PROGRAMME 
OVERVIEW

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9
FCA is committed to tackling poverty in fragile countries. 
The principles of sustainable development guide FCA’s 
operations and support the achievement of the Agenda 2030 
goals in our programme countries.
FCA’S WORKING CONTEXT 
AND HOLISTIC PROGRAMME
Strategic themes
FCA strives to support people in making a positive, sustain-
able change that enables resilient and just societies where 
basic human rights are fulfilled. FCA’s three thematic focus 
areas are associated with sets of rights: people have the 
right to live in peace and acquire quality education and sus-
tainable livelihoods. The themes are interrelated and inter-
dependent and form our holistic programmatic approach. 
Our programme also includes gender- and inclusion-spe-
cific dimensions as well as conflict sensitivity, climate change 
and disaster risk reduction (DRR) as cross cutting elements. 
Modalities of work
FCA promotes positive and sustainable change through 
four modalities of work; development cooperation, humani-
tarian assistance, advocacy and investment. All the modal-
ities contribute to FCA’s long-term impact and often more 
than one modality is integrated into a specific intervention. 
Fragile contexts
The realisation of the above-mentioned rights is most chal-
lenging in fragile and disaster affected contexts. In these 
contexts the obstacles to rights-holders’ ability to success-
fully claim their rights are the greatest and the duty-bearers 
are most likely to fail in providing protection and due ac-
countability towards the local communities. The majority of 
FCA programme countries are conceptualised by the OECD 
as “chronically fragile states”1 and often experience alter-
nating periods of relative stability and emergency caused 
by conflict or natural calamities or both, with considerable 
consequences for the local populations.
FCA’s long-term experience and knowledge of challeng-
ing contexts allows us to adjust the thematic focus and 
operating modalities to changing circumstances. Our re-
sponse aims to increase the resilience of people in fragile 
contexts, while also working with the rights holders and 
duty bearers to progressively support structural transfor-
mation as a prerequisite for sustainable change. 
International Policy Context 
FCA’s programme has a strong correlation with major donor 
policy priorities. This is due to a shared commitment to inter-
national frameworks, such as the Agenda 2030 and the com-
mitments of the World Humanitarian Summit 2016 (WHS). 
FCA’s work is fully in support of the 2030 agenda’s uni-
versality, applied to all countries, to all people, with an im-
plicit recognition of international collective action. Our pro-
gramme specifically promotes the interconnectedness of 
the SDGs. It effectively tackles poverty in fragile countries, 
namely through enhanced access to quality education, life-
long learning and promotion of peaceful and accountable 
societies. Our work also promotes inclusive and sustained 
growth and decent employment, and we continue to estab-
lish and develop partnerships that promote and add value 
to our work. Our work with the marginalized, vulnerable or 
excluded groups, and their inclusion in the development 
and peace building processes, is central to our thinking. 
This will directly contribute to reducing inequalities. At the 
same time, we advocate for a power shift and a more just 
global system. 
During 2018, FCA invested in an internal reflection on 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and on how to im-
prove our communication about FCA’s contribution to the 
achievement of SDG’s. Together with external partners, FCA 
explored the links between FCA’s themes, sub-themes and 
SDG targets and indicators, and ways to improve reporting 
on SDGs in the future.
1 See for example OECD: States of Fragility 2015. Meeting Post-2015 
Ambitions. Here the following countries are labeled as chronically fragile: 
CAR, DRC, Eritrea, Haiti, Liberia, Myanmar, Sierra Leone and Somalia. 
Local communities in fragile contexts are faced with multiple 
challenges caused by chronic poverty, conflict, climate change and 
general lack of opportunities. In 2018, FCA continued to support 
the empowerment and resilience of communities in three thematic 
areas – Right to Livelihood, Quality Education and Peace. 
FCA’S PROGRAMME  
OVERVIEW AND PROGRESS 
MADE IN 2018
Right to Livelihood (R2L)
In Right to Livelihood (R2L), FCA continued to consolidate its 
work as a promoter of inclusive and sustainable economic 
development that provides people in vulnerable situations, 
particularly women, youth and populations on the move with 
increased opportunities for a decent living. Creation of enter-
prises, jobs and instruments for sustained business growth 
remained the main vehicles in this work. Humanitarian liveli-
hoods experienced a shift towards market and cash-based 
programming from the more traditional material aid.
In 2018, FCA progressed its livelihoods programming in 
various fronts, exploring thematic synergies and implement-
ing pilots to test new approaches in different contexts. Liveli-
hoods related work is being both systematized and contex-
tualized, recognizing that one model seldom fits the different 
contexts we work in or serves the varying needs and interests 
of the people we work with. The various pilots undertaken 
in 2018 will bear fruit in the coming years, the results being 
rolled out across the global FCA in locally adaptable forms.
Linking Learning to Earning (LL2E) approach has proved 
to be an effective framework for ensuring employment and 
livelihood outcomes after vocational education. In 2018, the 
model was developed further, in line with the recommenda-
tions of an impact analysis made in 2017 and supported 
by FCA-produced materials for e.g. on-the-job instruction, 
business coaching and entrepreneurship training for train-
ers. More attention was paid to engaging private sector in 
all aspects of the LL2E cycle from curriculum development 
to offering job opportunities. These provide a direct link to 
both the requirements of the world of work and eventually 
to employment.
In 2018, LL2E saw significant progress in e.g. Uganda and 
Jordan, both hosting sizeable refugee populations. When im-
plemented in areas with a high refugee concentration, LL2E 
can help relieve the economic and social pressures on the 
host community and between population groups. As LL2E 
opportunities benefit and bring together refugees and mem-
bers of host community, it contributes to enhanced social 
cohesion and decreases potential inter-communal tensions. 
International donors show increasing interest in LL2E, thus 
offering further opportunities for scaling up as well as for in-
volving a wider range of education and industry sector actors 
and relevant government departments in the work. 
Linking Learning to Earning 
(LL2E) approach has proved 
to be an effective framework 
for ensuring employment and 
livelihood outcomes after 
vocational education.

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Right to Quality Education (R2QE)
In 2018, FCA continued to invest in the development of the 
Right to Quality Education -theme (R2QE). The preparation 
of the new Education Strategy started through a participa-
tive process and included Head Office, country and region-
ally based education specialists who also attended FCA’s 
first Global Education Workshop. 
Education in Emergencies (EiE) remained FCA’s biggest 
focus area in R2QE, measured by the number of benefi-
ciaries and by total budget volume. Most of the education 
supported was formally recognized, which is a priority for 
FCA. However, in very challenging environments, such as 
the Rohingya refugee crises, children and youth only have 
access to non-formal education.
FCA also adopted new integrated ways of working. For 
example, the holistic support to Rohingya refugee ado-
lescent girls and young women in Bangladesh combined 
education, psycho-social support, life-skills development, 
support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence, 
and increased protection. Integrated approaches are par-
ticularly important in extremely vulnerable situations, and 
FCA is increasingly integrating psychosocial support and 
child protection in its education responses.
The total number of TVET students supported by FCA has 
grown. The drop-out rates were very low due to intensified 
support to bridge the gap between vocational education and 
employment. The main linking to learning (LL2E) mecha-
nisms used were Career Guidance and Counselling (CGC), en-
trepreneurship training, start-up grants and kits, on the job 
–placements and internships. FCA’s investment to CGC has 
reduced drop-out rates also in general secondary education. 
FCA has significantly increased its support to and col-
laboration with Ministries of Education in various forms and 
at different levels from local to national level often linked to 
teacher education or TVET. In addition, advocacy efforts have 
focused on improving the image and attractiveness of TVET.
FCA collaborated with Ministries of Education in Eritrea and 
Cambodia to improve pre- service teacher education. The to-
tal number of teachers educated has increased from previous 
years. FCA supported in particular in-service teacher educa-
tion and teachers’ continuous professional development.
The number of female teachers in FCA’s operational con-
texts is alarmingly low; this is a concern in particular as the 
number of female learners also continued to be lower than 
that of male learners. In some contexts, the lack of women 
teachers may hinder girls’ opportunities to access education. 
According to UNESCO, female teachers are particularly under-
represented in displacement settings, largely due to safety 
considerations and cultural practices biased against women.
FCA continued to promote parents and other community 
members’ active participation in the provision of education 
services. This included support to school committees and 
PTAs that play a key role in creating a safe and support-
ive social environment for crisis-affected students. In many 
targeted areas, 100% of schools now have active commit-
tees or associations.
At the global level, FCA was engaged in the development 
of guidance documents for psycho-social support and con-
textualizing and piloting INEE teacher education materi-
als in East Africa. Furthermore, the career guidance and 
Entrepreneurship continued to gain importance in FCA’s 
work. While rural on-farm income diversification and 
farming­ ­as a business remained the mainstay, notable 
steps were taken in non-farm business creation, which can 
partly be contributed to the successes in LL2E. Countries 
like Jordan, Nepal, Cambodia and Uganda undertook to 
upgrade their entrepreneurship-focused programming by 
strengthening local R2L teams and private sector part-
nerships, at the same time developing tools to boost the 
growth of existing enterprises, both cooperatives and indi-
vidual small businesses. Cambodia was FCA’s forerunner in 
developing conceptual understanding and practical appli-
cations to address livelihoods resilience and climate change 
adaptation. In R2L programming from small-scale income 
generation to enterprises and cooperatives, access to af-
fordable finance continued to be one of the cornerstones.  
FCA’s intensified engagement with and in the private sec-
tor is exemplified by FCA Board’s approval of establishing 
a social enterprise, Egg Production Uganda Limited (EPL) 
with Women’s Bank financing. The company’s registration 
will take place in early 2019, and by 2020 EPL will start egg 
production with 15,000 layers and 30 staff, providing income 
opportunities to hundreds in the value chain. The pro bono 
support of Women’s Bank business and poultry specialists 
has been instrumental in the planning stage of EPL and will 
continue during the first years of operation; the presence of 
FCA Investments Ltd in Uganda will bring synergy benefits in 
e.g. setting up the systems of the company. 
FCA has also promoted business-to-business collaboration, 
gradually opening avenues for Finnish companies to source 
goods from our operating areas at the same time creating in-
come opportunities for the people we work with. The first such 
case in the crafts sector was launched in Kenya in 2018. The B2B 
element is also present in Women’s Bank initiated fundraising 
cooperation with FWEAN, the umbrella organization of women 
entrepreneurs in Nepal, which entered planning stage in 2018.
FCA’s work in humanitarian livelihoods work is informed 
by macro-level trends such as urbanization - already around 
60% of the refugees reside in urban settings – and the ever-­
growing importance of scalable new technologies in hu-
manitarian aid. While in many cases FCA’s approach to hu-
manitarian livelihoods remained traditional, R2L work after 
immediate emergency will increasingly apply high-tech and 
innovative solutions. An example of this is the FCASH initia-
tive launched by FCA with the support of a Finnish company, 
investigating the use of block chain technology in direct cash 
distribution in emergencies and humanitarian contexts. The 
technology can remove several safety-critical steps from 
cash transfers with a full protection of personal data. Cash 
is increasingly at the centre of FCA’s humanitarian interven-
tions; most of the cash-based support in 2018 was delivered 
in the form of cash for work. 
counselling manual developed in FCA, was updated and 
up scaled for secondary schools, including TVET and is now 
contextualized in four countries and available in English, 
Arabic, Khmer, Myanmar and Nepalese. FCA’s own guid-
ance “Improving Wellbeing through Education; Integrating 
Community Based Psychosocial Support into Education in 
Emergencies” was also published in 2018. In addition, FCA 
joined IAEVG (International Association for educational 
and vocational guidance). The membership connects FCA 
with a global network of career counselling professionals 
and promotes the quality and professionalism of our career 
counselling activities. 
Education in Emergencies 
(EiE) remained FCA’s key 
focus area in quality 
education, measured by the 
number of beneficiaries and 
by total budget volume.

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13
Right to Peace (R2P)
In 2018, FCA continued to support inclusive peacebuild-
ing with a focus on women, youth, people on the move as 
well as religious and traditional actors. All these actors and 
groups have a role in conflicts, are affected by them, and 
have a role to play in solving them but are often excluded 
from peacebuilding efforts. FCA supports their active role at 
local, national and international levels and supports com-
munity and grassroots actors to influence and participate 
in policy and decision-making processes. In 2018, FCA con-
tinued to serve as the Secretariat for the Network for Reli-
gious and Traditional Peacemakers, which FCA co-founded 
on the request of the UN.   
In 2018, FCA focused on further development of its R2P 
theme. FCA set up a thematic R2P portal on FCA’s intranet 
where staff and management involved in programme de-
velopment and fundraising can easily access key guidance 
and concepts as a basis for programming. A regional peer-
learning workshop on conflict sensitivity was organised for 
FCA staff in Asia. Building on these processes, FCA’s Right 
to Peace strategy will be revised in 2019.  
FCA’s peace work focused on the Central African Repub-
lic, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Myanmar, Ne-
pal as well as Cambodia. The work is in line with the UN’s 
goals for sustainable development and the UN Security 
Council’s resolutions 1325 (women, peace and security) and 
2250 (youth, peace and security). Promoting youth leader-
ship and empowerment is a growing theme in many FCA 
programme countries and the collaboration between youth 
and local and national level authorities was supported in 
countries such as Cambodia, Uganda, Nepal and Kenya.  
At the community-level, FCA supported members of 
community to deal with conflicts non-violently. The issues 
vary from land and property issues, human rights, gen-
der equality and women’s rights as well as access to key 
services. Work at the community level entailed supporting 
the establishment of community-based peace structures, 
strengthening capacities and facilitating a space for dia-
logue between and within communities. 
In South Sudan and Kenya, FCA supported the estab-
lishment of community-based peace committees by youth, 
women and traditional chiefs. As an example, the women 
peace committee led dialogue sessions in eight villages af-
fected by violence between age-set groups in South Su-
dan. Because of the women’s peace committee advocacy 
toward the perpetrators, the communities reported a de-
crease in violence. In Kenya, FCA together with its partner 
facilitated peace prayers bringing together communities 
who have been suffering from violent inter-communal con-
flict. Over 1500 community members attended the peace 
prayers, in addition to representatives from national and 
county government. 
Both at the community and national level, FCA supports 
dialogue between communities and duty bearers. We also 
collaborate with duty bearers and support their capacities 
for more inclusive governance and decision-making.  
In Nepal, eliminating caste-based discrimination was 
the main programmatic priority in 2018. FCA’s efforts fo-
cused on increasing solidarity between Dalit and non-Dalit 
communities and improving the implementation of non-
discriminatory legal framework in partnership with local hu-
man rights advocates, CBOs and youth. As a highlight of 
results in 2018, three rural municipalities in Nepal commit-
ted to allocate funds for the empowerment of Dalit commu-
nity and involve Dalits in the municipal planning and imple-
mentation processes. This also entailed a commitment to 
allocate funds to TVET benefitting young people from Dalit 
and other marginalised communities, underscoring FCA’s 
holistic efforts to promote the realisation of different sets 
of rights around participation, education and livelihoods in 
our target communities. 
FCA will continue to strengthen synergies between our 
three themes (R2P, R2QE, R2L) in our programmatic work. 
In Somalia, FCA continued to support the engagement of 
civil society in political dialogue and state building processes. 
A total of 22 awareness raising and capacity building efforts 
benefiting 1826 people were conducted by 332 trained com-
munity advocates on inclusive and participatory elections, 
National Development Plan, constitutional review as well as 
reconciliation. In collaboration with the Network of Traditional 
Peacemakers, FCA supports the Ministry of Interior, Federal 
Affairs and Reconciliation (MoIFAR) to develop National Rec-
onciliation Framework (NRF) and 14 consultation meetings 
were held among government authorities and CSOs.  
At the international level, we continued to bring the voices 
and perspectives of local peacebuilders to the global level 
discussions. The Network for Religious and Traditional 
Peacemakers is an integral part of FCA’s Right to Peace 
work and critical in linking local voices to international 
peacebuilding efforts. In the area of advancing freedom of 
religion and/or belief (FoRB), the Network co-organised the 
Alliance of Virtue conference attended by 300 religious ac-
tors and policy makers from around the world in February 
2018 in Washington DC. 
FCA is a rights based actor and our work is guided by 
international human rights principles. We promote gender 
equality and Do No Harm principles, and work for climate 
change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
Guiding Principles  
and approaches
Rights-Based-Approach (RBA)
Year 2018 was the first year of FCA’s new Global Pro-
gramme 2018–2023 with a more holistic approach. FCA’s 
commitment to rights-based approach (RBA) is at the 
core of our work in the three thematic areas and through 
the different working modalities. All FCA’s procedures and 
tools are based on the PANEL principles of RBA (partici-
pation, accountability, non-discrimination and equality, 
empowerment and linkage to the UN HR framework), 
further utilised throughout MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, 
assessment and learning) processes. 
FCA’s rights-based approach is at the minimum pro-
gressive but can also be transformative depending on the 
specific context and the overall space available for the 
civil society. The main aim is to tackle the root causes of 
poverty and injustice in legislation, customs, norms and 
practices, and to contribute towards the full realization of 
human rights standards and principles.
The holistic approach of the Global Programme has 
meant a shift in conceptualising FCA’s programmatic 
priorities and working modalities through three main 
objectives (MOs): People and Private Sector, People and 
Governance and People and Civil Society, creating new 
opportunities in our work with the duty bearers (DB) and 
right holders (RH) at different levels of governance and 
globally. 
In 2018, FCA continued to anchor the rights of educa-
tion, livelihood and peace in the UN HR framework and 
contributed to the Universal Periodic Review of selected 
programme countries. The UN HR treaties followed in-
cluded the International Covenant of Civil and Political 
Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant of Economic, 
Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention of the 
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 
(CEDAW), Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) and 
RBA was promoted through 
sensitisation, awareness 
raising, capacity building and 
trainings as well as dialogue-
building collaboration 
between various actors  
and interest groups.  
Promoting youth leadership 
and empowerment is a 
growing theme in FCA’s peace 
work, including in Cambodia, 
Uganda, Nepal and Kenya.

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Gender
In 2018, FCA continued to promote gender equality both 
through integrating gender equality systematically in 
all FCA’s operational work and working modalities and 
through specific women’s empowerment projects focusing 
on women’s economic empowerment and capacity building 
for women’s human rights advocacy work. FCA promoted 
gender equality through awareness raising, capacity build-
ing, trainings, programme development and advocacy.  
Awareness raising, capacity building and trainings have 
aimed at improving FCA and its partners’ capacities in iden-
tifying gender related practical and strategic needs, roles 
and power dynamics to promote gender equality more ef-
ficiently. Three training workshops were organised on gender 
equality and RBA. The workshops in Myanmar and Nepal 
were participated by FCA staff and project partners. In addi-
tion, two FCA staff members took part in the ACT Alliance’s 
online Gender-Inclusive Human Rights Based Training. 
In programme development, efforts were intensified to 
effectively respond to gender related strategic needs, in-
cluding equal access to quality education and vocational 
training, increased economic opportunities and secured 
livelihood, and equal participation in communal affairs 
and decision –making at different levels. Several funding 
applications for gender specific projects were approved, in 
Liberia, Eritrea and Somalia. 
In peace work, FCA strengthened the involvement of 
women in decision-making processes and peace work at 
different levels of governance. Women have also played a 
role in community mediation mechanisms reducing ten-
sions, which has also tackled issues on SGBV and domestic 
violence. In Kenya, “women talking circles” were established 
FCA’s work contributed 
to women’s economic 
empowerment, and equal 
access to education 
and decision-making at 
different levels.
Convention of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities 
(CRDP), with full understanding of the principles of uni-
versality, indivisibility, inalienability, interdependence and 
interrelatedness of human rights. In addition, we contin-
ued to utilize and work towards strengthening the imple-
mentation of Collective rights, such as the Right for Peace, 
UN Guiding principles on Business and HRs, and the uti-
lization of Thematic and Country Specific Special proce-
dures and other mechanisms (e.g. Commission of Inquiry).  
FCA’s new Global Programme has allowed us to deep-
en our understanding of fragile and volatile contexts and 
to position ourselves towards institutional or temporary 
duty bearers. The new global programme structure ac-
commodates situations where standardized rights-ap-
proaches are not fully applicable or fully functional. This 
may be the case in contexts where fragility has been 
caused by the lack of accountable and functional insti-
tutions and governance structures. Therefore, in addition 
to addressing humanitarian needs, FCA is building the 
resilience of the local communities, combining elements 
of a standardized needs-based approach while at the 
same time aiming for progressive right-based approach 
implementation. Especially in complex and protracted 
crises, humanitarian assistance and development take 
place simultaneously. FCA’s rights-based logic has al-
lowed our operations to move smoothly from resilience 
towards a more systematic rights-based response. In 
2018, in depth work around the concept of “resilience” 
in particular in Cambodia, further strengthened FCA’s 
understanding of the concept and supported the related 
conceptualisation. 
RBA was promoted in FCA’s Country Programmes 
through sensitisation, awareness raising, capacity building 
and training of Country Offices (COs) and partners. In pro-
gramme development, the focus was on rights based ana-
lytical tools and the use of comprehensive context analyses, 
and constructive and dialogue-building collaboration be-
tween different actors and interest groups at local, national 
and regional levels, related to our advocacy work.  
Several on-going projects were funded by the EIDHR 
(European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights), 
while in Eritrea, a two-year project “Promoting Gender 
Equality in Eritrea through Teacher Education” was finally 
approved for funding in mid-2018. 
FCA strengthened its capacity to promote inclusive socie-
ties, and namely the realisation of equal right to education 
for people with disabilities (PwD) and children with disabilities 
(CwD), particularly in Education in Emergencies (EiE). Devel-
oping good practices in promoting inclusive education con-
tinued. However, data was not collected by all country pro-
grammes and the number of direct beneficiaries still remained 
quite modest, mainly in Jordan, Cambodia and Uganda. 
At the HO level, FCA continued developing our collabora-
tion with Finnish Disability NGOs on increased inclusion of 
disability in humanitarian response and development work 
and started the drafting of a MoU with Finnish Disablity 
Foundation.
FCA continued collaboration with the LWF’s Local to Glob-
al RBA programme (L2G) to enhance capacity building and 
partner collaboration in reinforcing the implementation of 
RBA in programme and advocacy work, particularly related 
to the UPR projects in Myanmar, Uganda and South Sudan. 
FCA ‘2RBA’ 
Resilience and Rights Based Approach
as a way to give women a voice and recognition as active 
participants in peace building and separate women forums 
were organised for women and youth to discuss and con-
tribute to peace processes. 
In livelihood, FCA’s work continued to contribute to wom-
en’s economic empowerment, equal access to resources, 
assets and decision-making at different levels. Country 
programmes supported women’s capacity development in 
micro entrepreneurship and promoted diversified opportu-
nities in agriculture to strengthen or provide new means to 
generate increased income. In gender specific projects, FCA 
promoted women’s economic empowerment as a means 
to achieving equal enjoyment of human rights for men and 
women and raised awareness of GBV and ways to prevent 
it. We also worked increasingly with people on the move, 
paying particular attention to youth and gender disparities. 
more fragile
less fragile
Advocacy
Humanitarian 
Assistance
Needs- 
Based  
Approach
Resilience-
Based  
Approach
Rights- 
Based  
Approach
Development
Cooperation
Investment
Modalities
Approach

16
17
FCA continued to improve 
the integration of conflict 
sensitivity into all 
programme work to avoid 
any negative impacts and to 
maximizes positive effects.
FCA’s country programmes 
increasingly promoted 
the integration of climate 
change adaptation in 
programme planning and 
implementation.
Climate Change
FCA acknowledges the strong linkage between climate 
change adaptation, resilience and disaster risk reduction 
(DRR). In 2018, FCA’s country programmes continued to 
utilize FCA’s Climate Change Tool to promote effective 
integration of climate change adaptation in programme 
planning and implementation. Furthermore, increased at-
tention was paid to strengthening the holistic understand-
ing and interrelatedness between these concepts, and in 
particular to the conceptual development of resilience. 
Great progress was achieved with regard this as part of the 
EUAV programme in Cambodia.  
Many FCA’s programme countries are vulnerable to cli-
mate change and extreme drought, floods and/or other 
severe environmental effects. In 2018, FCA and our part-
ners continued to build the capacity of local communities 
to adopt alternative livelihood activities to strengthen their 
resilience and food security. In Kenya, projects successfully 
promoted climate change mitigation through honey har-
vesting, goat farming and basket weaving, aiming to en-
hance the economic status of the community members. 
As part of the education project in Somalia, members of 
the CEC, PTA and teachers in the targeted schools received 
training on DRR, the impacts of climate change and the 
relevant prevention measures against the expected threats. 
In South Sudan, vegetable farming and irrigation activities 
continued to be part of climate change adaptation, and 
watering cans and pedal pumps were used to promote 
farming throughout the year without having to depend on 
rainfall.
In Uganda in particular, increased attention was paid to 
climate change as a human rights issue, considering its 
often disproportionately negative impact on vulnerable 
and poor people. In addition, all FCA’s interventions are 
carefully planned with a view that climate change impacts 
are always gender and age bound. 
FCA’s Uganda country programme strengthened the ca-
pacity of communities and schools in school based DRR 
mechanisms. With the support of a DRR expert seconded 
through the EU volunteer platform, the schools enhanced 
their capacity to plan, prepare and respond to natural dis-
asters that have become more frequent and severe. In ad-
dition, smallholder farmers were encouraged to engage in 
the development and implementation of climate change 
strategies, including tree planting, community sensitiza-
tion, contour ploughing, use of fallowing and other climate 
smart agronomic practices. 
In Myanmar, more than 100 Community-Based Disas-
ter-Risk Management sub-committees were formed to im-
plement environmental conservation and climate change 
adaptation activities at community level. These included 
planting trees in collaboration with the Forestry Depart-
ment and developing disaster-risk reduction plans. Other 
actions included awareness raising of natural resources 
and environmental conservation, water catchment protec-
tion at village and township level as well as improved waste 
management measures. In June, the International World 
Environment Day was celebrated in 54 villages. 
In Cambodia, a separate project focusing on Climate 
Change Adaptive Agriculture (CCAA) started and included 
both long-term and short- term interventions in the drought 
prone area in Pursat province. The project built community 
resilience through capacity building of community mem-
bers, youth, children and teachers. Local authorities at com-
munity and district level were trained and supported in the 
development of EPRP. In addition, producer groups were 
trained on climate smart agriculture techniques, contribut-
ing to saving water. 
In Nepal, the effects of climate change on farmers and 
communities and the adaptive measures were discussed 
during a reflection workshop organized together with FCA’s 
partners. 
Climate change adaptation also continued to be part of 
FCA’s organizational goal setting. FCA is a WWF certified 
Green Office, and we continued to monitor our environ-
mental and climate change impact. Measures to reduce 
the ecological footprint include, for example, balanced 
Conflict sensitivity
In line with the requirements of the Core Humanitarian 
Standards (CHS) framework, FCA sought to improve the 
integration of conflict sensitivity into all of FCA’s work 
across country programmes to ensure programming 
avoids any negative impacts and maximizes positive ef-
fects. For instance, in displacement contexts FCA ensures 
that refugees and members of host community benefit 
from the interventions to mitigate potential conflicts be-
tween communities as well as to contribute to social cohe-
sion. For example in Uganda, in all interventions targeting 
refugees 30% were set aside to benefit the marginalized 
and vulnerable members of host communities. 
Country programmes were encouraged to carry out, 
keep up-to-date conflict assessments and analyses, and 
ensure meaningful participation and continuous dialogue 
with right-holders to adjust programming as needed. A 
number of FCA country offices conducted or updated 
their conflict analysis in 2018. FCA is developing further 
guidance and tools for assessing vulnerabilities, risks and 
capacities to better ensure conflict sensitivity in our work.  
In addition, a regional peer-learning workshop on con-
flict sensitivity and Do No Harm was organised for FCA 
staff in Asia. The purpose of the workshop was to build 
the capacity of FCA programme staff to have a better 
understanding of conflict sensitivity and to be able to use 
the Do No Harm –framework for ensuring the conflict sen-
sitivity of FCA’s self-implemented as well as its partners’ 
projects and programmes. In addition, as part of the Core 
Humanitarian Standard process, FCA continued to build 
staff knowledge and capacity on conflict sensitivity as 
part of the CHS. 
 Finally, FCA acts as one of the anchor organisations 
for INEE (Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emer-
gencies), in charge of rolling out the INEE conflict sensi-
tive education (CSE) training pack in parts of Middle East. 
In connection to this, FCA staff in the region were also 
trained. In 2018, a contextualised version of the INEE CSE 
training pack was included in the FCA regional training 
workshops on Education in Emergencies and INEE Mini-
mum Standards for Education for Eastern and Horn of 
Africa. The approach was found to be effective and will 
continue in 2019. This provides an additional opportunity 
for FCA to improve its ability to ensure conflict sensitivity 
of its work.   
In education, FCA promoted girls’ and boys’ equal ac-
cess to quality education and their continued attendance 
at the secondary and upper levels of education and in vo-
cational training. Furthermore, FCA continued to address 
gender equality issues in EiE and developed gender sensi-
tive measures and practices in community based psycho-
social support in humanitarian responses, as was done for 
example in Bangladesh in the Cox’s Bazaar in ensuring 
girls’ safe access to schooling and services. 
In collaboration with LWF Women in Church and Society 
(WICAS) Department and other participating organisations 
(WCC, Church of Sweden, Mission 21), FCA provided tailored 
capacity building on “Women’s human rights advocacy 
training” focusing on gender advocacy from faith-based 
organisations’ perspective and encouraging the utilisation 
of UN HR Treaty mechanisms, particularly CEDAW and 
UPR in programme development and advocacy. A one-
week training was held in connection with the 70th CEDAW 
session in Geneva in July with 41 participants, including 
six participants from Liberia, Nepal, Somalia and South 
Sudan. As a follow up to the training, FCA supported two 
partner representatives to take part in the CSO’s shadow 
reporting and participation in the Nepal CEDAW review in 
October in Geneva. 
FCA actively engaged with the Commission of the Sta-
tus of Women held in New York, USA in March. FCA took 
part in organising a parallel event, a panel discussion on 
“Do you have Faith in SDGs, faith sensitive gender justice 
mainstreaming in Faith Based Organisations” together 
with LWF, WCC, Islamic Relief and Side by Side. The event 
was co-sponsored by UNFPA and Global Affairs Canada. 
Other international advocacy activities included participa-
tion in the 16 Days of Activism against gender based vio-
lence campaign organised by WCC. 
FCA also participated in ACT Alliance’s Gender Equal-
ity and Justice Community of Practice (GEJCP) regular 
meetings and continued to follow the work of Interna-
tional Partnership of Religion and Sustainable Develop-
ment, particularly the work stream of Gender Equality and 
Empowerment. In Finland, FCA participated in the Friday 
group discussions, (a sub-group of the Population and De-
velopment group by the Parliament of Finland) related to 
Finland’s 3rd National Action Plan of 1325, and consulta-
tions and discussion events on gender equality, develop-
ment policy and Finnish development cooperation.

18
19
travel policy and promoting virtual meetings whenever 
possible. COs have increased the use of green energy (so-
lar power), reduced printing, increased the use of bicycles 
instead of other means of transportation whenever possi-
ble, and promoted the use of purified tap water as drinking 
water to avoid the unnecessary use of plastic bottles. 
FCA’s initiative “WeFood” – surplus food supermarket – is 
another example of an innovative way to reduce pressure 
FCA’s innovations mainly focused on  
improved learning environments and linking 
livelihood opportunities and quality education 
with private sector cooperation. 
FCA continued to support 
the most vulnerable people 
and to put into practice the 
principle of Agenda 2030 of 
“leaving no one behind”. 
Innovations
During 2018, FCA continued to promote innovations to ad-
dress complex development challenges in our programme 
countries and to enhance the results and impact of our work. 
Pilot projects were implemented in selected programme 
countries and the development of the innovation system 
continued. 
The development of the innovation system included the 
start of a more systematic mainstreaming of innovative 
thinking in all our work and by all FCA employees. As part of 
this process, the innovation coordinator visits FCA’s country 
offices and facilitates discussions at country level. The first 
country office visited was Myanmar in August 2018. 
The country office visits and the related internal reflection 
are meant to inspire employees in their work and to promote 
closer cooperation between different FCA country teams on 
innovation. The successes and lessons learnt of innovative 
activities will be analysed and stored into FCA’s strategy ex-
ecution and programme management system, NOW.
In 2018, the pilot projects focused on improved learning 
environments, linking livelihood opportunities and quality 
education with private sector cooperation and on developing 
innovative ways to promote youths’ voices and participation 
in local and national processes. 
In partnership with Disability Partnership Finland and 
Combi Works Oy, the development of the SMILE- the sus-
tainable, modular and inclusive learning environment in 
emergency contexts- continued. FCA and Disability Partner-
ship Finland adjusted the concept to the Nepalese context 
and Combi Works Oy produced the prototype and trans-
ported it to Nepal. 
FCA’s collaboration with Finnish design company Mifuko 
Oy pursued in Kenia. Mifuko Oy established new contacts 
in the Province of Turkana, close to Kalobeyei and Kauk-
man refugee settlements and is considering expanding its 
business model and production also to the north. Currently 
Mifuko Oy employs 600 women and provides access to pro-
ductive activities and business opportunities for refugees. 
This innovative project has great potential to scale up FCA 
Kenya’s livelihood activities in the area with the existing re-
sources.
Futurice Oy, Solita Oy and FCA launched the FCASH pro-
ject, investigating the use of block chain technology in direct 
cash distribution during emergencies. The technology guar-
antees transparent tracking of even individual donations up 
to the recipient of the aid, with full protection of personal 
data.
The FOCCA project that investigates the use of artificial 
intelligence faced some financial difficulties. However, FCA is 
assessing the use of the technology in reporting. Preliminary 
contacts were made with suitable partners and the func-
tionality of artificial intelligence was outlined. Based on the 
experiences by other organisations, reporting tools that take 
advantage of artificial intelligence have made reporting less 
time-consuming and efficient. 
FCA also played an active role in several innovative net-
works to gain and share new knowledge and to seek new 
partnerships, in accordance with FCA’s objectives. Further-
more, in addition to the private sector, FCA also collaborated 
with research institutions. For the third year, work with the 
Hanken Humanitarian Logistics Unit continued and included 
guidance on a humanitarian logistics course assignment.  
Omnia Education Partnerships (OEP) is the international 
commercial arm of four Finnish organizations, including FCA. 
It was founded to act as an ambassador of Finnish educa-
tion and training. OEP programs combine the best of Finnish 
know how with local expertise. In 2018, FCA and OEP estab-
lished a joint programme called FCA College. FCA College 
offers competency-based programs delivered by trained and 
certified local trainers supported by Finnish experts. FCA Col-
lege programmes lead to internationally recognized diplo-
mas mapped to the European Qualifications Framework. 
In 2018, altogether 20 Ugandan trainers were certified to 
OEP trainer certification. The trainers also completed Further 
Qualification for Entrepreneurs. As part of their training, they 
started training 60-refugee students in Further Qualification 
for Entrepreneurs at Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement.  
Development Cooperation
Development cooperation is one of the working modalities 
to implement FCA’s global programme. However, FCA rec-
ognizes that it is just one instrument to promote sustainable 
and positive results as well as in the midst of a dynamic 
change adapting to the new levels of complexity and inter-
dependency in the world. 
The enlargement of the development cooperation sys-
tem is in line with the ambitious and comprehensive 2030 
Agenda. In 2018, FCA remained committed to empowering 
people and local communities in fragile situations in their 
efforts to create just and resilient societies. We continued to 
address the challenges faced by people in the most vulner-
able position and contributed to putting into practice the 
principle of Agenda 2030 of “leaving no one behind”. 
At the heart of the Agenda 2030 are 17 Sustainable De-
velopment Goals (SDG), which recognize that ending pov-
erty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with 
strategies that improve education, reduce inequality, in-
crease democratic participation and spur economic growth. 
FCA believes that FCA’s strategic themes and supporting 
rights related to peace, education and livelihood as well 
as combining the three have potential for great and wide-
reaching impact. The link between the themes and FCA’s 
contribution to the accomplishment of the SDGs and their 
targets is visible in FCA’s work and results in 2018.
The adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs pro-
vided a reference frame for humanitarian and development 
actors to contribute to the common vision of supporting 
the furthest behind first and a future in which no one is 
left behind. Experience has shown that treating relief, re-
habilitation and development as separate processes fails 
to respond to the complexity of crisis situations, and con-
sequently strengthening the humanitarian-development 
nexus has been identified as a top priority by the majority 
of stakeholders.
FCA’s working modalities
FCA’s main working modalities are development cooperation, 
humanitarian assistance, advocacy and investment. The choice of 
the most effective modalities is based on the specific context and 
intervention and they all contribute to FCA’s long-term impact. 
In 2018, FCA continued to develop its thinking and ap-
proaches related to the development- humanitarian nexus. 
FCA’s internal discussions underlined the fact that in fragile 
contexts change is constant, often nonlinear and difficult 
to anticipate. Linear long-term development tools are not 
always contextually relevant and as a result, FCA acknowl-
edges the need to design and develop programmes that 
are flexible and innovative to better address the range of 
challenges faced by the people we work with. 
Furthermore, FCA’s work in promoting the humanitarian-
development nexus shows the limitations of the existing 
funding instruments for effective and appropriate respons-
es and enables us to advocate towards improvements. 
FCA also understands that in this new framework, differ-
ent ways of work are needed and new types of partnerships 
and joint actions are required. We continue to seek appro-
priate ways to engage with the private sector and estab-
lish closer ties with the multi-lateral development banks. 
We also believe that new innovations and technologies will 
contribute to transforming development cooperation and 
actively continue to seek and promote effective solutions 
to address the complex development challenges in our pro-
gramme countries.
on the environment. FCA opened WeFood supermarket in 
Helsinki as a way to support the reduction of food waste 
and to promote volunteer work. As a part of the initiative, 
school children and youth have been successfully engaged 
in the initiative e.g. through a campaign about food security 
and the environmental effects of food waste. Local school 
children and youth have also visited the “WeFood” super 
market and learned about its objectives and everyday work.

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21
Advocacy
In 2018, advocacy work was active in FCA’s programme 
countries, in Finland and at the international level. Advo-
cacy efforts focused on FCA’s strategic themes: R2QE, R2P 
and R2L as well as on broader aspects of development and 
humanitarian aid policy and funding and human rights.  
At country programme level, FCA supported local part-
ners’ advocacy initiatives that strengthened the voice of lo-
cal communities and increased the capacity of duty-bearers 
to effect change. Altogether, 695 advocacy initiatives were 
conducted out of which 69% provided a positive change. 
In Finland, FCA’s advocacy focused on the 2019 parlia-
mentary elections with three main aims: a clear plan and 
timetable for reaching 0,7% ODA level, corporate social re-
sponsibility law and ensuring education as the top theme 
of Finland’s development policy. Already in 2018, our long-
term advocacy yielded promising results when MFA com-
missioned a report “Stepping up Finland’s Role in Global 
Education” and established a related working group. FCA 
provided its expertise to both. FCA also prepared a joint 
communications campaign with the Finnish Red Cross and 
Amnesty Finland called ‘People, simply’, to be launched in 
early 2019. The campaign promotes a change towards a 
more multi-voiced, compassionate and considerate Finland. 
At the international level, mechanisms such as the Uni-
versal Periodic Review (UPR) and International Covenant 
on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) enabled FCA and its 
partners to increase international pressure for change. In 
Liberia, FCA together with its partner contributed to the Civil 
Society Organisations’ Shadow Report to ICCPR and pre-
sented it to Human Rights Committee in Geneva. As a re-
sult, the Committee’s recommendation to the Liberian gov-
ernment included FCA’s and its partners’ recommendations 
on addressing prison overcrowding and poor living condi-
tions with a specific recommendation for the appointment 
of Ombudsman at each prison facility and pre-detainees’ 
right to vote. FCA and our partners also continued to ensure 
that monitoring mechanisms are in place and that there is 
follow-up on the recommendations. 
In Jordan, at the end of 2017, the government of Jordan 
released a new set of regulations on home-based busi-
nesses that excluded Syrians from being able to operate 
in the sector. Yet at the same time, government of Jordan 
endorsed the 2018-2020 Jordan Response Plan, which sup-
ports home-based business programming. FCA together 
with Jordan INGO Forum presented their concerns to the 
EU delegation and other international donor agencies, who 
then put pressure on the government of Jordan to reform 
the legislation. In December 2018, the government issued a 
Cabinet decision to allow Syrians to operate home based 
businesses in certain sectors.
 During the year, FCA contributed to the Independent 
Progress Study on Youth Peace and Security, which was re-
quested by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 
response to the Security Council resolution 2250. FCA was 
a member of the Steering Committee of the Study respon-
sible for providing overall guidance and direction for the 
development of the study. In addition, Berghof Foundation 
with support from FCA prepared a thematic paper for the 
Progress Study entitled The Youth Space of Dialogue and 
Mediation. FCA communications unit produced a series of 11 
FCA’s added value stems 
from our agility to 
respond to crisis and 
ability to involve crisis 
affected people in the 
humanitarian efforts.
Humanitarian Assistance
FCA used 13.5 MEUR in humanitarian assistance in 2018. FCA 
received 2.9 MEUR from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) 
of Finland, mainly targeted to FCA’s programme countries 
where the humanitarian situation continued to be fragile, due 
to conflicts or post-conflict situations in the country or in the 
region. These were Central African Republic (CAR), South Su-
dan, Somalia, Uganda, Jordan, Syria and Bangladesh.  
FCA also used its own disaster funds, which were col-
lected from parishes and private persons. Most of the funds 
were used for humanitarian assistance in CAR, Nepal, Jor-
dan, Syria, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Myan-
mar, Greece and Bangladesh.  
FCA continued to invest heavily in global fundraising, 
such as applying funds from ECHO and UN organisations. 
UN or other international donors funded humanitarian 
operations mainly in Uganda, Somalia, CAR, Jordan and 
South Sudan in 2018.  
Since the autumn of 2017, over 700 000 people have 
left Myanmar for Bangladesh due to violence and persecu-
tion. Over 50 % of them are children and youth. FCA has 
supported ACT members to provide hygiene items, tools, 
seeds and livestock to improve their food security. Liveli-
hood support was provided through Cash for Work and the 
establishment of home gardens and community kitchens. 
In April 2018, FCA started a joint programme with DCA 
(Dan Church Aid) in non-formal education and protection 
activities among refugees in Bangladesh.  
FCA provided emergency support to the Northern Philip-
pines after it was hit by typhoon Mangkhut. Additionally, 
FCA supported ACT members working in Indonesia follow-
ing the earthquake and tsunami in the Sulawesi region. 
Emergency support consisted of distribution of shelter 
materials, hygiene kits, non-food items and cash support.   
FCA’s added value stems from its agility to respond to 
crisis and ability to involve crisis affected people in the hu-
manitarian efforts. FCA has identified livelihoods and EiE 
as its niche areas in humanitarian aid. In 2018, FCA con-
tinued the development of the humanitarian livelihood 
strategy and new innovative livelihood concepts based on 
previous humanitarian programmes and operations, such 
as Code+Create in Greece, to provide ICT skills to refugee 
youth and host communities to strengthen their liveli-
hood possibilities. FCA also launched the FCASH project 
to investigate and pilot the use of block chain technology 
in cash distributions in humanitarian work. In EiE, FCA 
started to develop its strategic guidance for the effective 
implementation of EiE programmes.
FCA worked towards strengthening its preparedness 
and rapid response capacity, both at the organizational 
and programmatic level, to be able to ensure timely qual-
ity responses in emergencies. FCA continued to develop 
technical solutions to manage its humanitarian roster 
and deployments in an effective way and to serve well the 
human resource needs in emergency settings and longer-
term humanitarian programmes.  
A great deal of humanitarian advocacy was done in Fin-
land and globally due to the changes in the working en-
vironment and policy discussions. In protracted crisis and 
fragile contexts, FCA tries to find durable solutions and pro-
motes a holistic approach for nexus between humanitarian 
aid and development cooperation. Resilience, restoration 
and continuity of services, psychosocial well-being and 
disaster risk reduction are at the core of our operations to 
diminish the impact of changes in humanitarian situations. 
Through our membership in the Global Education 
Cluster (GEC) and INEE network, FCA worked actively to 
strengthen and develop EiE work in the sector. FCA con-
tinued a close co-operation with UNICEF at the global 
and country level. FCA was an active member in the Glob-
al Education Cluster (GEC), also in the Strategy Advisory 
Group for the cluster. According to the agreement be-
tween FCA and UNICEF, FCA has seconded one stand-by 
coordinator to strengthen education cluster coordination 
at the country level as a member of the Education Clus-
ter Rapid Response Team. In 2018, she worked in Niger 
and Bangladesh to coordinate and strengthen the coun-
try level education cluster work.  FCA was also an active 
member in the global network for Charter4Change to pro-
mote localization and increased funding to local actors. 
In the summer, FCA participated in UNHCR’s Annual 
Consultations with NGOs in Geneva. FCA was also a 
member of the Finnish delegation in UNHCR annual Ex-
ecutive Committee meeting in the autumn.

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23
blog posts and social media images on the theme right to 
peace, including women and peace, youth and peace, and 
peacekeeping and crisis management. In Finland, Change-
maker was actively involved in developing the National Ac-
tion Plan on UNSCR 2250 (NAP 2250).  
In 2018, FCA had a special advocacy theme: youth. We 
produced a report “Youth on the Move” and launched it in an 
event with the UN Secretary General’s Youth Envoy Jayathma 
Wickramanayake. The report was received with great interest 
and effectively promotes the need to include young people 
living in fragile conditions in aid work. The report provided 
a number of recommendations to policy makers, which FCA 
will continue to advance throughout the programme period. 
The report was also widely shared in the social media, 
including by the UN Youth Envoy who tweeted both the 
report and the video produced by FCA to 84,000 follow-
ers. On FCA’s own Finnish and English Twitter accounts, the 
tweets about the report received almost 11,600 views and 
the video was watched over 12,000 times. On Facebook, the 
English news and the article on the report were viewed over 
83,000 times, and in the Finnish news over 5,200 times. 
The video received 4,300 views. FCA also published a series 
of blog posts, both in Finnish and English, on the theme 
and hashtag #YouthOnTheMove. The blog posts were read 
over 1,800 times on the website. 
In addition to the above advocacy examples, FCA dia-
logued actively with decision-makers, provided expert opin-
ions on request, organized and spoke in numerous events 
and was interviewed by the media. At the international 
level, FCA and its partners participated and advocated at 
UN General Assembly, the UN Human Rights Council, UN-
HCR Executive Committee, UNHCR NGO Consultations, 
Intergovernmental Conference on the Global Compact for 
Migration, UNESCO Mobile Learning Week, Committee of 
the Status of Women, Commission on Population and De-
velopment, World Bank Groups’ Civil Society Policy Forums, 
World Bank Fragility Forum, European Development Days, 
Global Partnership on Education Replenishment Confer-
ence, Asian Development Bank Youth Forum, Stockholm 
Peace Forum and Geneva Peace Week.
FCA also became a member of the UN Faith Advisory 
Council and PaRD, which are great building blocks for our 
peace, religion and development advocacy. In addition, 
FCA seconded an advocacy coordinator to Inter-Agency for 
Education in Emergencies (INEE) to support advocacy on 
right to quality education at the international level. 
An advocacy strategy was also developed to establish a 
solid foundation for FCA’s advocacy work during the global 
programme period. In addition, an online advocacy portal 
was set up on FCA’s intranet, including advocacy guidance 
and tools for efficient information sharing and capacity 
building. Advocacy decision-making processes were also 
clarified. These efforts have already increased FCA’s advo-
cacy effectiveness and capacity. 
Global programme’s main 
objectives and analysis  
of results in 2018 
The new six-year global programme period started in 2018.  
Within the framework of the global programme, we are creating new 
opportunities for people and strengthening the ability of individuals 
and communities to respond better to societal changes.
FCA’s new six-year programme period started in 2018. 
FCA’s Global programme results framework 2018–2023 
includes an impact level goal, three main objectives (MO1–
MO3) and eight sub-objectives. They are directly linked 
with FCA’s Strategy and its programmatic and organiza-
tional goals. The sub-objectives/outcomes have indica-
tors that are monitored globally annually.   
PART II of this report includes country specific 2018 an-
nual summaries showing which main objectives and sub-
objectives the respective country programme promoted in 
2018 as well as some of the related key results. 
FCA supported local 
partners’ advocacy 
initiatives that strengthened 
the voice of local 
communities and increased 
the capacity of duty-
bearers to effect change. 
Investment  
– Capital for development
A loan by MFA for a total of 16 MEUR loan, allowed the 
initiation of FCA Investments as a new tool for sustain-
able development targeting Small and Medium Sized En-
terprises (SMEs) in developing countries and fragile states. 
In 2018, most of the activities focused on developing inter-
nal tools and mechanism for the planned financial inter-
ventions and SME’s capacity building. Following external 
consultations, FCAI drafted its investment handbook, ESG 
management system, screening tools, and logframe. In 
addition, FCAI formed an advisory group, which is a net-
work of voluntary experts who will provide Technical As-
sistance (TA) and consultation services to the targeted 
SMEs focusing on, but not limited to ESG management, 
financial management, data administration & reporting 
and business strategy and planning.
FCAI also signed an agreement concerning its participa-
tion in “C4D-partners” fund, which is an Asian fund started 
by ICCO aiming to generate social and financial returns by 
investing in socially & environmentally responsible SMEs in 
developing countries.
FCAI continued to identify and establish partnerships 
with actors who provide financing for the private sector in 
order to meet SDGs (eg. IFC, IFAD, DGGF, EU), and devel-
oped a strategy and established a road map for the in-
tended direct investing. The investment tools and proposed 
plans were designed in accordance with FCA’s policies, and 
livelihood and education themes for further private sector 
development and engagement in the target countries.
FCAI made a progress with its plan to become an investor 
in Yield Uganda fund (which is an EU backed fund focussed 
on agribusiness SME’s in Uganda) and in Microfinance field 
in developing countries (e.g. BlueOrchard MF funds).
Progress was also made with the Fundraising Policy and 
Risk Management Plan. FCAI also submitted an applica-
tion to Finnpartnership to conduct a feasibility study and 
market research related to impact investing in Fragile Con-
text (mainly in Somalia). 
People and 
Private Sector
People and 
Governance
People and  
Civil Society
3.1. Local communities and their 
members play an active and leading 
role in the societal development, 
contributing to enhanced social 
cohesion.
3.2. Civil society partnerships and 
networks are strengthened and 
promote participation, open dialogue 
and positive social change. 
3.3. Disaster prone communities have 
enhanced capacity to save lives, 
alleviate human suffering [and bounce 
back] during and after disasters. 
1.1. Youth and young adults in 
vulnerable  situations become 
economically self-reliant and 
contribute positively to social 
cohesion.
1.2. People in vulnerable situations 
engage in and benefit from inclusive 
and sustainable economic growth .
2.1. Policies and processes 
promote a positive change  and 
are transparent, responsive and 
participatory.
2.2. Children and youth have 
equal and uninterrupted access 
to inclusive quality education/
learning.
2.3. Disaster affected people 
have access to essential  life-
saving assistance.
impact goal
People in fragile contexts are empowered to act for positive and sustainable change 
in creating resilient and just societies
Main Objective 1
People can claim and enjoy their right 
to inclusive and sustainable economic 
growth for poverty eradication.
Main Objective 2
People can claim and enjoy their 
right to improved and inclusive 
governance and services.
Main Objective 3
People fulfill their legitimate and 
active role for positive change.

24
25
youth and young adults benefitted 
from different Linking Learning to 
Earning (LL2E) linkages, including 
career counselling and business 
training, often coupled with 
access to start-up finance and 
business coaching. 
FCA facilitated the 
start-up of 1,087 new 
businesses in 2018. 
1,087
2,992
Impact Goal and  
the Main Objectives
All FCA’s work promotes the impact goal: 
People in fragile contexts are empowered to act for posi-
tive and sustainable change in creating resilient and just 
societies.  
In 2018, FCA’s work contributed to the achievement of the 
below global programme main objectives through specific 
partnerships, approaches and actions.
Main Objective 1
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy 
their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth 
for poverty eradication 
Under this objective, FCA’s pledge is to promote inclusive 
and sustainable economic development and growth fo-
cusing on people suffering from or at high risk of mar-
ginalisation and chronic poverty. FCA’s main beneficiary 
groups are women, youth and displaced people. Private 
sector plays a pivotal role in this work as a provider of mar-
kets, employment and economic opportunities. 
To build the economic self-reliance of youth and young 
adults in vulnerable situations, FCA is making long-term 
investments into developing its Linking Learning to Earn-
ing (LL2E) approach and model that applies multiple 
methods to support vocational graduates’ transition into 
the world of work either as paid employees or as self-em-
ployed. In 2017-18, the model was widely adopted in FCA’s 
programme countries and is now an integral part of six 
country programmes with pilots planned in several others.
In 2018, increased attention was paid to elements that 
in practical terms link vocational education to opportu-
nities for earning a living. These include market assess-
ments to determine the vocations that provide the best 
job or business prospects and mobilisation of private sec-
tor for ensuring the market relevance of skills sets as well 
as job placements. Career counselling and entrepreneur-
ship training with various support services at the start-up 
phase further improve the chances for successful entry 
into working life, as shown by the good results achieved in 
2018. Community awareness raising to increase the ap-
peal of the vocational track has also proven to be a pro-
ductive practice. 
In total, 2,992 youth and young adults, of whom 43% were 
female, benefitted from a combination of different LL2E 
linkages. In Uganda and South Sudan, concerted effort was 
made to offer livelihood opportunities to youth with increased 
vulnerability to various forms of exploitation, including sex-
ual exploitation, criminal activity, armed groups or other 
negative coping strategies. In Uganda and Jordan, refugees 
from the conflict-ridden neighbouring countries constituted 
a major part of the beneficiaries. The most widely adopted 
LL2E method was career counselling (2,483); business train-
ing was offered to 1,155 students, increasingly coupled with 
access to start-up finance and/or business coaching. 
Five country programmes – Somalia, South Sudan, 
Uganda, Nepal and Jordan – reported encouraging LL2E 
results. Of the 706 graduates surveyed six months after 
graduation, 71 percent earned a living either in paid jobs 
(39%), as self-employed (31%) or as entrepreneurs em-
ploying others (1%). The remaining 29% were either unem-
ployed or could not be reached e.g. due to migration. Out 
of the 706 graduates, only 23 individuals discontinued 
their studies mid-term, which indicates that the training 
offered was considered highly relevant by the learners 
themselves.
In LL2E, FCA pays special attention to increasing earn-
ing opportunities for women. Minimum 50% female enroll-
ment is targeted, which is also taken into consideration 
when selecting the vocations to be trained, and women are 
encouraged to choose unconventional trades. According 
to the survey conducted in 2018, there was clear pattern 
of men seeking paid employment, while the majority of 
women opted for self-employment either out of personal 
preference or necessity, as paid jobs were not readily avail-
able for women. In this situation, entrepreneurship training 
and start-up support to women has proven to be a suc-
cessful strategy. Also, all the enterprises with employed 
staff were owned and managed by women.
When examined by age group, adult women (25 years 
or above) had the lowest prospects for gainful work. Only 
46% of adult women were earning an income during the 
6-month monitoring period as opposed to 72% of female 
youth (15-24 years) or men in both youth and adult cat-
egories, 76% and 80% respectively. 
Creation of new entrepreneurship is also one of FCA’s 
vehicles for inclusive economic development. In 2018, 
FCA facilitated the start-up of 1,087 new businesses. As 
with LL2E graduates, entrepreneurial activity was most-
ly women’s domain; 903 (85%) of all new entrepreneurs 
were women. This is largely due to FCA’s strong focus on 
women’s economic empowerment, augmented by FCA’s 
affiliation with Women’s Bank (see page 87 for more in-
formation). 
Over 60 per cent of women’s new businesses can be 
classified as market-oriented offshoots from agricultural 
activities (550) while 354 are non-farm micro-enterprises 
that employ the owner only. Additionally, women estab-
lished 71 micro and small enterprises that provided em-
ployment to others as well. The highest numbers were re-
ported from Nepal, which alone accounted for over 30% of 
all women-run businesses established in 2018. Enterprise 
creation and development have a long history in Nepal 
where Women’s Bank has been supporting women’s sav-
ings and credit cooperatives since 2009. The prevalence 
of on-farm activities as women’s major income option is 
partly owing to FCA’s specialisation in agricultural coop-
eratives in Cambodia and Nepal coupled with focus on 
rural livelihood diversification in Myanmar and Uganda.
Men seem to prioritise non-farm activities, yet also for 
men self-employment is the most common livelihood 
option (134 out of 151). In addition, men set up 17 micro-
enterprises. Of all business startups in 2018, FCA’s Link-
ing Learning to Earning graduates accounted for 20 per 
cent (227).
Practically all emerging enterprises received some form 
of start-up support including entrepreneurial training, 
business coaching, market networking and/or upgrad-
ing of production skills (e.g. in agribusiness). In addition, 
637 existing enterprises were supported with business de-
velopment services to boost up their productivity, profit-
ability and/or management and leadership capacities, 
or in production or market development. Out of these 
418 (66%) showed marked improvements in performance 
during the monitoring period. In addition, FCA supported 
976 jobs of which over 600 were new jobs and 63% were 
jobs for women. This figure does not include cash-for-
work activities, which provided short-term employment 
to thousands of individuals in humanitarian interven-
tions.
All in all, year 2018 saw increased attention to the pri-
vate sector as a partner and the primary provider of jobs 
and business opportunities for the people we work with. 
Notable developments in this regard took place in Ugan-
da, Somalia, Jordan, Nepal, Cambodia and Myanmar, 
while the focus in the most fragile contexts remained on 
interventions building resilience and ensuring basic sus-
tenance or centered on FCA’s other thematic priorities. 
FCA continued to promote the role of women in inclusive 
economic development, but the work done particularly in 
LL2E increased the number of youth and young adults of 
both sexes as direct beneficiaries of our work; a trend that 
will carry on in the future as well.

26
27
learners supported by FCA in 
2018. FCA’s support to service 
provision was mainly in education 
and emergency aid.  
212,382
98,520
Main Objective 2
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their 
right to improved and inclusive governance and services
Under main objective 2, FCA’s seeks to ensure that people 
can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive 
governance and services. This entails contributing to trans-
parent and accountable institutions through improved duty 
bearer capacity and promoting effective, participatory and 
inclusive decision-making through enhanced collaboration 
and dialogue between rights holders and duty-bearers. 
In 2018, FCA engaged in various advocacy initiatives to 
promote positive change in policies and practices relating 
to three inter-related and dependent rights: Right to Peace, 
Right to Quality Education and Right to Livelihoods in our 
programme countries.  On the one hand, FCA supported right 
holders to claim their rights and created opportunities to am-
plify their voices through different means of advocacy at all 
levels of decision-making, and on the other, supported min-
istries, authorities and institutions in our programme coun-
tries in fulfilling their duties and obligations. Altogether 695 
advocacy initiatives were conducted in FCA’s programme 
countries, out of which 69% provided a positive change. Over 
the year, FCA participated in 625 consultations and meet-
ings with decision-makers, organised 39 campaigns, wrote 
several policy briefs and advocacy letters and used media 
to support the advocacy calls.
FCA’s advocacy efforts for inclusive peace building fo-
cused on promoting the active role of women, youth, people 
on the move as well as religious and traditional actors and 
supporting them to influence and participate in decision-
making processes. In Somalia, FCA and the Network for Re-
ligious and Traditional Peacemakers supported the Ministry 
of Interior Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MoIFAR) in the 
development of a national reconciliation framework based 
on broad inclusion and participation. In Nepal, eliminating 
caste-based discrimination was the main programmatic pri-
ority. FCA’s efforts focused on increasing solidarity between 
Dalit and non-Dalit communities and improving the imple-
mentation of non-discriminatory legal framework.
In the education sector, FCA’s advocacy work on improved 
possibilities for young people to link learning to earning re-
sulted in increased government funding for TVET for unem-
ployed youth in Nepal. In Eritrea it lead to the development of 
an inclusive TVET programme at School for the Deaf and TVET 
sector development plan with National Higher Education and 
Research Institute. In addition, FCA and its partners advocated 
the government of Cambodia to establish a national Career 
Guidance and Counselling (CGC) Committee to strengthen the 
policy and implementation of CGC in Cambodia. 
In livelihoods, FCA engaged in activities and campaigns 
promoting improved and equitable access to livelihoods relat-
ed services both at community and policy level. In Cambodia, 
FCA participated in civil society networks promoting the co-
operative sector and contributed to the national consultation 
conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 
(MAFF) on government services to agricultural cooperatives. 
Country programmes also supported advocacy towards 
the international decision-makers and power centres. In Jor-
dan, active advocacy with Jordan INGO Forum towards the 
EU and international donors resulted in increased pressure 
on the government of Jordan and eventually in a Cabinet 
decision allowing Syrians to operate home-based busi-
nesses. In Liberia, FCA’s partner SHED contributed to Li-
beria’s review of the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights (ICCPR), participated in the writing of the 
CSO’s shadow report and supported the participation of the 
civil society delegation in ICCPR review session in Geneva. 
As a result, the recommendations put forward by the CSOs 
shadow report were included in the Human Rights Commit-
tee’s concluding observations to the Liberian government. 
In Nepal, two FCA’s partners contributed to the joint civil 
society shadow report on Nepal CEDAW and joined the civil 
society delegation to the Nepal’s CEDAW review in Octo-
ber. In Myanmar and South Sudan, FCA continued support-
ing partners in the follow up work on the implementation 
of UPR recommendations. Many programme countries 
also increased awareness on gender-based violence (GBV) 
through participation in the international 16 Days of Activ-
ism against gender based violence campaign.
FCA improved the capacities of duty bearer’s service deliv-
ery and accountability toward rights holders. FCA supported 
ministries, authorities and institutions in our programme 
countries to make sure that there is improved capacity to 
deliver services and increased accountability of duty bearers 
towards the right holders. In some contexts, there may be 
a sharp disconnect between the rights-holders and duty-
bearers. In Nepal, due to the new federalist structure and the 
devolution of authority to the local levels, FCA enhanced its 
collaboration with the local level government and focused 
on building the capacity of the local representatives on the 
legal provisions and local operation acts and policies. The 
awareness raising and capacity building activities contrib-
uted to enhanced local level capacity to take on its new role 
in policy implementation and monitoring and evaluation. 
FCA’s support to and collaboration with Ministries of Edu-
cation increased and took various forms at local, district and 
national levels, mainly linked to teacher education or TVET. 
In 2018, FCA provided support e.g. in creating harmonised 
curriculums or qualification frameworks for TVET, improving 
quality of teaching and building connections with the private 
sector actors. In Cambodia, FCA’s capacity building of the 
relevant education stakeholders resulted into larger imple-
mentation of CGC in schools and gradually as part of the 
wider education system. In Eritrea, FCA’s continued support 
to teacher education institutes has contributed to improved 
teacher education, while collaboration with the higher educa-
tion authorities and the Ministry of Education has built the 
capacity of the Eritrean government as the duty bearer. Both 
in Eritrea and Cambodia, FCA collaborated with Ministries 
of Education to improve pre-service teacher education. FCA 
also supported in-service teacher education in several coun-
tries, consciously moving towards longer-term and contextu-
alized continuous professional development (CPD) approach.
FCA operates in fragile and conflict affected countries 
where the temporary duty bearers, such as the UN or IN-
GOs, may need to take on a greater role in the provision of 
goods and services. In 2018, FCA’s support to service provi-
sion was mainly in education and emergency aid.  FCA’s 
contribution especially in education is widely recognized, 
and for example in Uganda, FCA took a more prominent 
role in education coordination by becoming a co-lead with 
UNHCR and the Ministry of Education and Sports. The total 
number of learners supported by FCA in 2018 was 212,382 
(112,479 M / 99,903 F), which is slightly less than in 2017. 
Primary education continued to be the biggest form of 
education supported by FCA particularly through Educa-
tion in Emergencies in involuntary displacement settings. 
The total number of learners at primary level was 158,139 
(86,226 M, 71,913 F) and at secondary level 28,598 learners 
(13,756 M, 14,842 F). FCA supported also a small number 
of ECDE learners (6,340) in Nepal, Myanmar and Kenya. 
The total number of TVET students supported by FCA was 
4,020 (2,071 M, 1,949 F), showing a considerable increased 
from 2017. The drop-out rates in TVET were very low due to 
intensified support during studies and the successful linking 
of vocational education and employment (LL2E). The main 
LL2E mechanisms used were Career Guidance and Counsel-
ling, Entrepreneurship training, Start-up grants and kits, on 
the job –placements, and internships. The number of teach-
ers educated continued to increase and was 6,643 (4,205 
M, 2,438 F). 85.77% of the teachers who were followed-up 
reported a positive change in their confidence, knowledge 
and skills after having participated in FCA’s teacher educa-
tion activities. The integration of psycho-social support into 
EiE also contributed to improved wellbeing. In 2018, a total 
of 822 teachers, PTA members, social workers or education 
staff received training in psychosocial support.
In 2018, FCA provided emergency relief in Indonesia after 
the earthquake and tsunami hit the country in Septem-
ber. Additionally, FCA supported people in the disaster af-
fected areas in the Northern Philippines after the typhoon 
hit the area in the autumn. In Bangladesh, ACT members 
supported Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar by 
distributing shelter materials, tools, seeds and life-stock 
and establishing community kitchens and home gardens 
to improve food security in the refugee camps in the Cox’s 
Bazar region. All in all, 198,520 people benefitted from 
emergency support in Indonesia, the Philippines and Bang-
ladesh, provided in cooperation with other ACT members. 
FCA Humanitarian livelihoods interventions responded to 
needs starting from life-saving provision of basic essentials 
to actions that supported the transition to early recovery 
and development. One of the main tools used was cash-
based programming, mostly Cash for Work, benefitting over 
18,783 vulnerable households. In addition to cash, FCA sup-
ported food security through direct provision of seeds, tools 
and access to land e.g. in South Sudan and CAR. With the 
adoption of cash and market-based approaches, the role of 
material aid is rapidly diminishing.
people benefitted from 
emergency support in 
Indonesia, the Philippines 
and Bangladesh, provided 
in cooperation with other 
ACT members.

28
29
Main Objective 3
People and Civil Society: People fulfill their legitimate and 
active role for positive change
Under Main Objective 3, FCA continued to support people 
as members of civil society to claim and fulfill their legiti-
mate and active role in societal development.  Recognizing 
the crucial role of vibrant and representative civil society, 
FCA engaged diverse civil society group and actors to lead 
efforts toward positive change. In 2018, FCA extended 
support and promoted the participation of community 
and civil society actors in development, peacebuilding 
and governance, provided targeted capacity-develop-
ment and networking support and facilitated spaces for 
dialogue and action. 
FCA supports civil society and community-based actors 
to address issues affecting their communities in a non-vi-
olent way. In 2018, FCA engaged with diverse community-
based and grassroots actors and organizations to ensure 
they can contribute to and lead societal change. These is-
sues varied from socio-economic issues, land rights, and 
civic participation in governance to addressing human 
right’s violations such as gender-based violence. To ensure 
active civil society and community roles in societal devel-
opment, FCA sought to increase right holder’s awareness 
on rights and responsibilities and provided tools, capaci-
ties and resources for them to claim these rights.  In total 
226 community-based and civil society organisations were 
supported to participate in development processes. Link-
ing to efforts under MO2, FCA also supported the creation 
of an enabling environment for dialogue and collaboration 
between right holders and duty bearers.
At the same time, FCA recognizes that there are groups 
who are often left behind and excluded from decision-
making. Therefore, in addition to mainstreaming gen-
der equality and women’s empowerment across our 
programming, FCA paid specific focus to promoting the 
meaningful participation and leadership of women and 
youth.  For example, in Nepal, FCA supported the forma-
tion of 16 local women’s groups, each consisting of 20–25 
women. These women groups are the key local actors to 
discuss, identify and solve the socio-economic problems 
of women. The groups have also promoted savings and 
entrepreneurship of women in their respective communi-
ties and have undertaken several advocacy initiatives to 
ensure women’s rights and participation in local decision-
making processes. In Kenya and South Sudan, FCA sup-
ported the creation of women peace committees in pasto-
ralist communities to address intra- and inter-community 
conflicts through the promotion of women’s leadership. 
Furthermore, in a number of FCA programme countries 
we supported young people’s civic activism and leader-
ship at the community and national levels. In addition to 
supporting the formation of youth peace committees or 
youth volunteer networks, FCA sought to ensure young 
people can take part in and influence decision-making. 
For example, in Uganda, FCA supported young people 
to convey their concerns and recommendations to duty-
bearers to prevent violent extremism and promote peace-
ful co-existence. In Cambodia, FCA provided targeted 
leadership and capacity development for 105 young peo-
ple to support their meaningful participation in commu-
nity development.  In addition, they benefited from small 
grants to conduct youth-led activities in the community, 
targeting other youth, local authorities as well as other 
relevant stakeholders. 
To support community involvement in education, FCA 
has supported the establishment of Community Educa-
tion Committees as well as Parent-Teacher associations. 
These structures facilitating parental participation in 
schools correlates with increased commitment by com-
munity members to the education of their children. In the 
long run, these local structures are also expected to con-
tribute to the sustainability of the activities, even in the 
challenging situations of CAR, Syria and South-Sudan. 
In many FCA’s target areas, 100% of schools now have 
active committees or associations. In 2018, FCA sup-
ported schools in seven countries had over 450 function-
ing parent-teacher associations. In Uganda, following a 
community sensitization meeting, community members 
including parents and local leaders formed a committee 
to lobby toward the local government to improve the local 
school facilities. Following the community’s advocacy and 
lobbying, the local government constructed the additional 
requested classrooms.
In 2018, all FCA country programmes strengthened civil 
society through empowerment, capacity building, trainings 
and networking support. In 2018, FCA supported 79 civil 
society networks and partnerships in 12 countries. For ex-
ample, in Nepal, FCA supported the formation of alliances 
between human rights advocates to combat caste-base 
discrimination. 
FCA continued to collaborate with community-based co-
operative and financial institutions both by building their 
operational and financial self-sufficiency and by support-
ing their agendas towards duty bearers particularly in Nepal 
and Cambodia. As a substantial number of these are wom-
en-managed, promotion of gender equality in economic 
development both in communities and on the national level 
remained at the forefront, supporting their primary role as 
engines of local economy. The cooperatives increasingly ac-
cessed government resources for local development needs 
civil society networks 
and partnerships 
supported by FCA in 12 
countries.
226
79
community-based and civil 
society organisations sup-
ported to participate in de-
velopment processes, includ-
ing women led cooperatives 
that successfully accessed 
government resources for 
local development needs.
ranging from agricultural extension services to specific 
funds directed to women’s or youth empowerment. In Ne-
pal, following the adoption of a state federal structure and 
the ensuing local elections in 2017, women’s political par-
ticipation and lobbying skills also received attention.
Finally, FCA worked with disaster prone communi-
ties to save lives, alleviate human suffering and bounce 
back during and after disasters. FCA provided in total 
113 trainings on preparedness and disaster risk reduction 
at schools and communities in Nepal, Somalia, Ugan-
da, Cambodia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar and 
South Sudan. In Bangladesh, FCA’s disaster risk reduc-
tion and site improvement activities benefited in total 
67,000 people affected by the Rohingya displacement 
crisis in areas vulnerable to natural hazards and disas-
ters. In Cambodia, FCA organized a training of trainers 
(ToT) training for young people on disaster risk reduction 
and climate change adaptation. The trained youth or-
ganised awareness raising sessions targeting commu-
nities and schools. In addition, communities received 
capacity building in skills and techniques in agriculture 
with which to increase areas of land managed by climate 
resilience practices.

30
31
Partnerships and 
international collaboration
 
The principles of FCA partnerships are the complementarity of roles 
and capacities, common goals, mutual respect of values, as well as 
transparency, accountability and learning from each other.
In 2018, FCA continued to establish and develop partner-
ships that promote and add value to our work at the local, 
national and international levels, and took part in various 
coordination foras and networks at global level, in our coun-
tries of operation and in Finland.
FCA invested into its on-going working relationships 
and partnerships with a number UN Agencies, UN bodies 
and other international actors both at global and national 
levels. Furthermore, FCA’s country level presence enables 
close coordination and collaboration with local CSO part-
ners, national and local government authorities, UN or-
ganisations and different platforms. Among many oth-
ers, FCA also worked in close cooperation and coordination 
with the national and local governments eg. in Eritrea and 
Cambodia.
FCA remained committed to continued close coopera-
tion with its Global Ecumenical partners. In 2018, FCA 
clarified its own faith-based identity and established a 
theological foundation for its work. As a faith-based or-
ganization, FCA recognizes the role religion can play in 
development, especially in advancing the Agenda 2030 
and its Sustainable Development Goals. 
In Finland, our partnership with MFA is of significant 
strategic value. In addition, FCA participates in various 
networks and collaborates with ministries, different insti-
tutions, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and its 
congregations, other religious communities, different civil 
society actors, academia and the private sector. 
FCA’s country level presence enables 
close coordination and collaboration 
at national level.

Lutheran World 
Federation (LWF)
cooperation
The WLF is an impor-
tant humanitarian as-
sistance and advocacy 
partner of the FCA. 
●
World Council 
of Churches 
cooperation
FCA is one of the  
World Council of 
Churches organisa-
tions for cooperation. 
Together we support 
peace, interfaith 
dialogue, and efforts 
promoting the imple-
mentation of human 
rights.  
●
ACT Alliance EU
membership
●
VOICE
membership
A network for 
cooperation between 
the humanitarian 
organisations of the EU 
countries. 
●
International Partnership 
on Religion and 
Sustainable Development
membership
An international network 
promoting the relationship 
between religion and sus-
tainable development. 
●
●
Task Force on Religion 
and Sustainable 
Development
membership
Formed in 2010 to 
gather information 
about the work of faith-
based organisations.
Faith-based 
Advisory Council
membership
A council established by 
the Task Force on Re-
ligion and Sustainable 
Development and more 
than 50 faith-based 
NGOs in 2018. 
●
●
Education 
Cannot Wait
cooperation 
 An organisation 
funding education in 
disasters.
●
GPE
cooperation
Global Partner-
ship for Education
●
International 
Organization for 
Migration IOM
cooperation
●
State departments 
of development 
cooperation
cooperation
For example, the British 
FCO, the Swiss SEM, 
and the US Department 
of State. 
●
UN
EU
●
The Evangelical 
Lutheran Church of 
Finland dioceses 
and parishes 
   close cooperation   
●
Finnish Ecumenical 
Council
membership
●
Fingo 
    membership 
 An umbrella organisation 
of Finnish organisations for 
development cooperation.
●
WISE
membership
Wider Security Network.
●
●
FinnWatch
 membership
●
Finnish Somalia 
Network
membership
●
Finnish Fair Trade 
 Association
membership
●
National Cooperation 
Network for the 
Prevention of Violent 
Radicalisation 
and Extremism 
membership
●
 FCA Investments
    ownership      
 An investment com-
pany established by 
Finn Church Aid.
●
Friday Group
membership
A group comprising NGO 
representatives, MPs, and 
officials of the various min-
istries, which advocates for 
strengthening the substance 
of social, health, and human 
development in Finnish and 
European development 
policy.
●
TRUST Steering 
Group of the 
Ministry of Justice
membership
●
Red Nose Day 
Foundation 
(Nenäpäivä säätiö)
partnership
●
Business Cooperation
cooperation
●
IFAD
cooperation
International Fund for 
Agricultural Development.
●
Local partners and 
ministries of countries 
with FCA operations
cooperation
●
IFC
cooperation
International Finance 
Corporation
●
World Bank
cooperation   
●
Regional  
Development  
Banks 
cooperation
●
1325 Network Finland
membership
A network promoting 
the implementation 
of the UN Security 
Council Resolution 1325 
”Women, Peace and 
Security” in Finland.
●
Omnia Education 
Partnerships 
Ltd (OEP) 
ownership
An education export 
company established 
by Finn Church Aid, the 
Savo Joint Municipal 
Authority for Education, 
Omnia, and the  
Finnish Institute for  
Enterprise  
Management.
KIOS Foundation
membership
A human rights  
foundation of NGOs. 
●
●
Finnish Refugee 
Advice Center
membership
●
Maailma.net
membership
Ministry for Foreign 
Affairs of Finland 
 partnership organisation
●
Common Responsibility 
Campaign
close cooperation
●
Changemaker
FCA network
Changemaker is an advo-
cacy network for youth.
●
EAPPI (Ecumenical 
Accompaniment 
Programme in 
Palestine and Israel)
FCA network
An international, ecumenical 
programme that recruits 
and despatches observers 
to monitor the interaction 
between the Palestinian 
inhabitants and the Israeli 
military.
●
Women’s Bank 
FCA network
Women’s Bank is a volunteer 
Network which raises 
funds to support women’s 
sustainable entrepreneurship 
and livelihood in developing 
countries.
●
Teachers without 
Borders
FCA network
Teachers without 
Borders aims to support 
the pedagogical 
know-how and quality 
education of teachers in 
the world’s most fragile 
contexts. 
●
●
INEE
steering group membership
Inter-Agency Network for 
Education in Emergencies.
ACT Europe 
Regional Forum
membership
●
ACT Alliance
membership
FCA is a founding member 
and one of the key actors. 
ACT is an alliance of 
ecclesiastical development 
cooperation, humanitarian 
assistance, and advocacy 
actors and one of the 
biggest aid organisations in 
the world.  
●
Network for Religious 
and Traditional 
Peacemakers  
Secretariat  
 FCA hosts the 
 Secretariat of the Network.
●
 UNICEF
 cooperation 
 The UN Children’s 
 Fund.
●
●
UN Women
cooperation
 The UN Entity for 
Gender Equality.
UNDPA/MSU
cooperation
The peace mediation support 
unit of the UN Department of 
Political Affairs.
●
●
OCHA
cooperation
The UN Office for 
the Coordination of 
Humanitarian Affairs.
●
UNOPS
cooperation
UN Office for Project 
Services
●
WFP  
cooperation
The UN World Food 
Programme.
●
 UNDP 
cooperation
The UN Development 
Programme.
ECHO
cooperation
The Directorate-
General for European 
Civil Protection and 
Humanitarian Aid 
Operations.
●
EuropeAid
cooperation
International Coopera-
tion and Development 
Organization.
●
EU Trust Funds
cooperation
International Coopera-
tion and Development 
Fund.
●
CONCORD
cooperation
The European confed-
eration of Relief and 
Development NGOs.
●
Charter4Change
membership
Localisation of  
Humanitarian Aid.
●
●
UNHCR
cooperation
The UN Refugee Agency.
●
IOM
cooperation  
  The UN organization 
for migration. 
●
UN Global 
Education Cluster
membership
UNESCO
cooperation
The UN Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural 
Organization.
●
●
UNESCO Teacher 
Task Force
task force membership
●
The working 
group of OSCE 
membership   
●
OSCE
 The Organization for 
Security and Cooper-
ation in Europe.
EU Radicalisation 
Awareness Network 
working group membership
●
●
ECOSOC
observer status
The UN Economic and 
Social Council.
FINN CHURCH AID 
COOPERATION PARTNERS
Finn Church Aid engages in cooperation with international 
organisations and networks, local civil society actors, national 
governments in our programme countries and Finnish 
partners on the local, national, and international levels.  
Some of FCA’s partners and donors are shown here.
● Membership ● Cooperation ● Ownership ● Other type of relation
Finnish partners 
and networks
International partners 
and networks 
32
33
Finn Church Aid cooperation partners
Finn Church Aid engages in cooperation with 
international organisations and networks, local 
civil society actors, national governments in our 
programme countries and Finnish partners on the 
local, national, and international levels. Some of 
FCA’s partners and donors are shown here.
● Membership  ● Cooperation 
● Ownership     ● Other type of relation

34
35
part 2 ANNUAL PROGRAMME 
REPORTS
organisation
FCA’s regional office in the Middle East and the Country Offices 
have the main responsibility for programme implementation. 
The main Head Office responsibilities include overall strategic 
leadership, outlining general frameworks and support and 
coordination functions. 
The Secretariat of the Network for Religious and Traditional 
Peacemakers remains under the administrative affiliation 
of FCA, but has its own identity. The Network is part of 
FCA’s international programmes (IPRO).
FCA also has a registered Office in the United States of 
America (FCAA), with its place of business in Washington DC.
All operations in Greece ended in July 2018 and FCA fi-
nalised the exiting process. In Liberia, all partner projects 
ended in 2017 but FCA continues its cooperation with one 
local partner, SHED. In 2018, FCA’s cooperation with SHED 
mainly focused on the implementation and monitoring of 
an EIDHR funded project. 
FCA has worked in Bangladesh since April 2018 in coop-
eration with its sister organization Dan Church Aid (DCA). 
FCA does not have a registered country office in the coun-
try, but we have seconded education staff and provided 
funding to the joint FCA-DCA humanitarian programme in 
the Cox’s Bazar region.  
In the Middle East, FCA works in Jordan, IOPT and Syria. 
The regional office is located in Amman and it provides 
programme management and support services to all three 
country programmes. Furthermore, a small country office 
is based in East Jerusalem with focus on supporting FCA’s 
engagements in the IOPT education sector.  
In 2018, FCA worked through the below regional and 
country offices:
 Middle East Regional Office in Amman, Jordan MERO 	  
   (covering Jordan, IOPT, Syria)
 Cambodia Country Office (CAMCO) 
 Central African Republic Country Office (CARCO) 
 Eritrea (ECO)
 Greece 
 Kenya Country Office (KECO) 
 Myanmar Country Office (MYACO) 
 Nepal Country Office (NEPCO)
 Somalia Country Office (SOCO) 
 South Sudan Country Office (SSUCO) 
 Uganda Country Office (UGACO) 
FCA’s country programmes aim to use 
effectively our expertise, skills and  
added value. We focus on consolidating 
operations and ensuring high-quality 
implementation of our programmes.

36
37
COUNTRY PROGRAMME 
REPORTS BY REGION
In 2018, FCA supported operations in humanitarian and more 
stable contexts in 16 countries. We worked in close partnership 
with local and international partners and stakeholders addressing 
immediate needs and building a basis for long-term sustainable 
development.
The country specific annual summaries include examples 
of Country Programme (CP) results in 2018 and the direct 
beneficiary numbers. In some CPs, partner implemented 
projects receive funding also from other donors besides 
FCA and FCA’s back donors2. Here the data aggregated at 
Country Programme level includes not only FCA’s and its 
back donors’ financial contribution, but also other donors’ 
contributions. 
The country specific financial tables include the main 
projects implemented as part of the respective country pro-
gramme in 2018 and may exclude some smaller projects or 
carry-overs from 2017.
EUROPE
MIDDLE EAST
Israel and the Occupied  
Palestinian Territories (IOPT), 
Jordan, Syria
africa
Central African Republic, 
Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, 
South-Sudan, Uganda 
Greece
ASIA
Bangladesh, Cambodia, 
Myanmar, Nepal
greece
europe
Overview of Greece country 
programme in 2018 
Following the decreasing number of new 
arrivals and 60,000 refugees residing in 
Greece in 2018, the refugee response 
shifted towards serving the needs of a 
more stable refugee population and 
supporting their integration into the host 
society. FCA enhanced the positive in-
tegration of refugees through a holistic 
education and livelihoods programme. 
The focus was on the provision of profes-
sional and vocational skills for the refu-
gee and host community youth to build 
and support their economic self-reliance. 
FCA conceptualized two new initia-
tives, Code+Create through which the 
targeted youth learned valuable ICT 
skills, and Project Yoga that concen-
trated on psychosocial wellbeing. The 
new innovative approaches aimed at 
effectively reaching the most vulnerable 
groups in an urban context, responding 
to the needs arising from this new envi-
ronment and contributing to the positive 
integration of the refugees.
FCA exited from Greece in July 2018.
2 FCA’s primary funding source can be seen in the project listings under 
each Country Programme.
Main Objective 2   
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal 
and uninterrupted access to inclusive 
quality education/learning
201 youth (70% M, 30% F,) participated in ICT training (30% Greek,  
70% refugees).
Over 30 students participated in the introduction to computers classes.
Over 300 persons (30% M, 70% F) participated in open yoga classes. 
12 beneficiaries completed a yoga instructor training, enabling them to seek 
work as yoga instructors.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
201
youth participated in  
ICT training
>300
persons participated 
in open yoga classes.

39
38
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
Greece CP supported the right to im-
proved and inclusive governance and 
services (MO2) and in particular pro-
moted equal access to education. 
Code + Create course provided 201 
refugee and Greek youth with new ICT 
skills and improved their employment 
opportunities. In addition, basic com-
puter trainings were provided to vul-
nerable youth and they were able to 
practice ICT skills during open hours. 
The participants learned also how to 
write their CVs, which is a vital skill in 
the job market. 94.1% of the partici-
pants found the course either good or 
excellent, and 88.2% stated that the 
course was useful and that they were 
confident about using their new skills. 
The project also supported positive 
interaction between the refugees (70% 
of the participants) and the host pop-
ulation (30%), through various social 
activities. As a result, the participants 
felt more positive about collaborating 
with others. The students were moti-
vated to attend the trainings because 
of an appreciative and respectful en-
vironment. Overall, the project offered 
a safe and welcoming space for differ-
ent groups to meet and work together.
As a result of their participation in 
the shared activities, the refugees and 
host community members got to know 
each other better, which contributed to 
the successful integration of the refu-
gees. Yoga classes and yoga instructor 
training were given both to refugees 
and host community members, which 
improved their physical and psychoso-
cial wellbeing as well as social cohesion. 
The yoga classes reached over 300 
participants from 50 different nation-
alities. The classes and interaction be-
tween the participants were perceived 
positively, and especially women (70% 
of the participants) felt empowered by 
their participation in the yoga classes.
Evaluations and Studies
FCA exited from Greece in July 2018. 
FCA conducted a final evaluation of 
the operation in Greece, including doc-
umenting the best practices and les-
sons learnt.
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
FCA implemented projects with part-
ners Elix, Apostoli and GFOSS (Open 
Technologies Alliance).
ICT skills trainings were conducted in 
media labs/social spaces in the same 
building with ELIX’s learning center, 
which is well known in the refugee com-
munity. The yoga class participants 
benefitted from ELIX’s kindergarten 
services during the yoga classes.
Challenges and lessons 
learnt
One of the key challenges in the train-
ing courses was the varying entry 
level of students. Some of the Code 
+ Create students had good ICT skills 
while others did not yet have the basic 
knowledge. As a solution, the volun-
teers started providing basic comput-
er training. The language barrier was 
also a challenge to some students.
Due to political tensions in Greece, 
there were a number of protests and 
strikes in Athens, which affected peo-
ple’s ability to attend the training 
courses.
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11872
Psycho-social support through yoga and  
vocational skills training for refugees in Greece
Elix
FCA
94,000
93,701
11863
ICT digital & tech skills training for refugee and 
Greek youth
GFOSS (Open  
Technologies  
Alliance)
FCA, Christian Aid, 
International Orthodox 
Christian Charities 
(IOCC), Filantropia
208,000
208,130
11877
Supporting refugee children’s and youth’s  
resilience through the provision of non-formal  
education and psychosocial support
Apostoli 
Church of Sweden
10,000 
8,295
11660
European refugee crisis (office support)
FCA
FCA
50,000 
-1,735
Total (€)	
362,00	
      308,390
Project list and financial summary 
Bangladesh
Asia
Overview of the operation  
in 2018
General context in 2018
Since August 2017, over 700,000 Roh-
ingya refugees have fled violence and 
persecution in Myanmar. Together with 
the earlier arrivals and existing Roh-
ingya population of about 200,000, 
the total number of Rohingya refugees 
sheltering in Cox’s Bazar (CXB) Bang-
ladesh was almost 900,000 persons 
in late 2018.
Rohingya women make up more 
than half of the refugee population 
and they continue to face daily risks 
and hardship within the settlements 
they now live in. Various reports show 
significant concerns for ongoing gen-
der-based violence (GBV) in the camps. 
Protection risks are further compound-
ed by the lack of appropriate shelters 
and education possibilities, overcrowd-
ing in small spaces, lack of female-only 
latrines and bathing spaces. Children’s 
and adolescents’ well-being and men-
tal and physical development is af-
fected by the incidents that led to their 
flight. Quality protection interventions, 
up-scaled outreach and referrals are 
needed to ensure that protection re-
sponses reach those most in need. Fur-
thermore, Cox Bazaar is an economi-
cally disadvantaged district and the 
influx of refugees has exacerbated ex-
isting vulnerabilities and put enormous 
pressure on already scarce resources. 
Tensions between the host community 
and Rohingya need to be addressed 
as both communities need assistance.
Bangladesh focus areas  
and objectives 
FCA implemented humanitarian 
work in co-operation with ACT Alli-
ance members­ and together with Dan 
Church Aid (DCA), funded by MFA and 
private funding. To reach the most 
vulnerable people and to ensure their 
protection, wellbeing and dignity a 
multi-sectoral approach was applied. 
Food security and livelihood activities 
included distribution of food and CFW 
activities.  WASH activities included the 
provision of latrines and water points 
for safe drinking water, hygiene pro-
motion and provision of hygiene kits. 
Shelter materials were also provided. 
To ensure that the site infrastructures 
are better able to withstand the risks 
related to monsoon and cyclone sea-
sons pathways, footsteps and stairs 
were strengthened, and water canals 
and sewage systems were built. Com-
munity was provided with awareness 
raising of hazards and risks and Dis-
aster Management Committees were 
formed and trained in contingency 
planning and Early Warning Systems. 
FCA and DCA have engaged in serv-
ing the most vulnerable women and 
girls in the settlements in Cox’s Bazar 
through a holistic approach. FCA 
and DCA have developed a unique 
response interlinking Protection and 
GBV with Education in Emergencies 
with elements of disaster risk reduction 
(DRR) activities to further strengthen 
the protection of the most vulnerable. 
In the Women and Girls Safe Spaces 
(WGSS) run by DCA and FCA, adoles-
cent girls and young women can ac-
cess a variety of services such as liter-
acy and numeracy sessions, life skills 
sessions, skills training, psycho-social 
support sessions and individual case 
management.
To ensure the safety of the women 
and girls who access the safe spaces, 
DCA is also constructing proper path-
ways, installing solar streetlights and 
identifying risk areas for DRR work 
through participatory risk mapping 
exercises. 
Given the cultural practices, safety 
concerns as well as space limitations, 
DCA and FCA have established alter-
native ways to reach the most vulner-
able women and girls who cannot ac-
cess services outside their immediate 
neighbourhood. Through an outreach 
approach, the teams find women and 
girls in their homes and offer services 
there. The education team recently 
started home-based learning with

41
40
adolescent girls who would not other-
wise access any services. It also pro-
vided the team with an opportunity 
to work in smaller groups in discrete 
settings to enhance learning. Educa-
tion and protection services remain 
greatly underserved in general. Spe-
cifically, EiE for adolescent and youth 
in the two camps is not offered by any 
other organisation. Pilots were started 
with ECD and parenting classes as the 
need for the inclusion of these topics 
was raised during community discus-
sions.
Humanitarian advocacy is an inte-
gral part of the implemented projects 
at all levels. National level advocacy 
took place through the INGO forum, 
INGO emergency sub-committee and 
UN Clusters where issues were raised 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
11926
ACT Appeal BGD172 Emergency Assistance to the Rohingya 
Community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
DCA, CA, 
FCA 
FCA
10,000 
11949
Protection and Education for Adolescent Rohingya Girls and 
Young Women in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
DCA, FCA
MFA HA
400,000
Total (€)	
500,000
Partner and project list  
and lessons learned fed into a wider 
humanitarian response plan. ACT 
Bangladesh Forum held duty-bearers 
accountable to ensure that the needs 
of the refugee people and vulnerable 
host communities were addressed. At 
the global level, ACT Alliance global ad-
vocacy platforms and communication 
channels were used. At the local level, 
CA participated in the ISCG advocacy 
sub-working group and shared advo-
cacy updates with the ACT agencies.
DCA and FCA are exploring fur-
ther funding opportunities (such as 
UNICEF) to strengthen their partner-
ship in the Rohingya response and 
are already widely recognised for their 
holistic approach in reaching adoles-
cent girls and young women in the 
Rohingya refugee camps. 
cambodia
Overview of Cambodia 
country programme 
In 2018, the Cambodia country pro-
gramme (CP) was implemented in 
Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampong 
Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Pursat, 
Takeo and Siem Reap provinces. Ad-
ditionally nine General and Technical 
High Schools (GTHS) were included in-
to the Career Guidance and Counsel-
ling (CGC) project in Kandal, Banteay 
Meanchey, Svay Rieng, Kampot and 
Kampong Thom provinces.
Cambodia Country Office (CAM-
CO) implemented eight projects: four 
in livelihoods, two in education, one 
peace project and one DRR and re-
silience project through EUAV with a 
strong focus on women, youth and 
children. The CP worked in close co-
operation with its local partners LWD, 
CWCC, PKO and ICCO and the Cam-
bodian government, notably the Min-
istry of Education, Youth and Sport 
(MoEYS). CAMCO successfully hosted 
nine volunteers (one EUAV, one Wom-
en’s Bank skills donor and five Teach-
ers without Borders volunteers), whose 
contribution to the CP and its related 
objectives was important. 
Cambodia held legislative elections on 
29 July 2018. The external environment 
slowed down operations, as working 
with government came with delays and 
changes that needed to be adjusted to. 
vulnerable people gained 
access to improved 
quality teaching and 
learning.
training sessions were organ-
ized on climate change adap-
tive agricultural techniques, 
benefitting 365 famers.
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vul-
nerable situations become economical-
ly self-reliant and contribute positively 
to social cohesion
Two LL2E mechanisms were used through Career Guidance and Counselling (CGC)  
and Career fair.
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations 
engage in and benefit from inclusive 
and sustainable economic growth
187 new self-employed 183 farm-based (M12, F171) and 4 non-farm based enterprises 
(F4) were created.
60% of the supported business enterprises (55) improved their performance.
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote 
a positive change and are transparent, 
responsive and participatory
Five advocacy initiatives took place.
Capacity of 193 stakeholders (131M, 62F) was built through trainings, workshops, study 
visits, mentoring and coaching.
Awareness raising and campaigns (on education; rights of children, youth and women; 
parents’ evenings; career fairs etc.) were done through 49 events, and reached 2,800 
people (1,040M, 1,760F).
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal 
and uninterrupted access to inclusive 
quality education/learning
10,184 vulnerable people (4,679M, 5,505F) gained access to improved quality teaching 
and learning.
22 Pre Service Training (PRESET) and In Service Training (INSET) courses were organ-
ized, reaching 256 teachers (113M, 143F).
SO 2.3 Disaster affected people have  
access to essential life-saving assistance
300 liters of gasoline were provided for pumping water during the drought, saving  
61 hectares of paddy (44% of 138 ha).
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their 
members play an active and leading 
role in the societal development, con-
tributing to enhanced social cohesion
46 CBOs were supported (17 WACs, 25 Saving groups, 1 Youth Club, 3 saving federations). 
18 CBOs (39%) contributed and provided feedback to the government through  
workshops and meetings.
All 4 targeted schools have functioning School Supporting Committees (SCCs),  
consisting of parents/guardians, local authorities and school representatives.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and 
networks are strengthened and pro-
mote participation, open dialogue and 
positive social change.
25 members (16F) of Changemaker network were supported to participate in the plan-
ning and implementation of their activities. 
17 WAC representatives attended a consultation workshop and raised their shared concerns.   
SO3.3 Disaster prone communities 
have enhanced capacity to save lives, 
alleviate human suffering [and bounce 
back] during and after disasters
ToT training on DRR/CCA concept was conducted with 21 participants (16 youth and  
5 students). 
21 trained youth organised 21 awareness raising sessions on DRR and CCA concepts 
and mitigation for 637 community members. 
196 school children benefitted from awareness raising focusing on CCA risks and  
mitigation measures.
21 training sessions were organized on climate change adaptive agricultural techniques, 
benefitting 365 famers (288 F).
5 safe school plans were developed. 
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
25,662
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the  
Cambodia Programme 
in 2018.
10,184
21

43
42
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
To support the achievement of the right 
to inclusive and sustainable economic 
growth (MO 1), Cambodia CP continued 
to promote women and youth’s eco-
nomic self-reliance. Overall, women led 
93% of the 76 existing groups (17 WACs, 
25 savings groups, 13 micro-business 
groups and 21 producer groups). Out of 
the 55 supported business enterprises, 
60% improved their performance in 
terms of profitability, increased mem-
bership, capital and investment. The 
supported savings groups and micro-
businesses increased their income by 
6% compared to 2017, and the value 
of the WACs’ shares increased by 20% 
compared to 2017. 
Under objective MO2 the right to im-
proved and inclusive governance and 
service, CAMCO’s collaboration at na-
tional level with Vocational Orientation 
Department (VOD) from the Ministry of 
Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) on 
Career Guidance and Counselling (CGC) 
enhanced the quality of the services 
provided and led to the expansion of 
the services within Battambang prov-
ince and elsewhere. The CGC services 
were expanded to nine General and 
Technical High Schools (GTHS) in five 
provinces beyond Battambang and 
four of the schools already incorpo-
rated CGC into their curriculum starting 
from November 2018.  Altogether 256 
teachers, teacher trainers and career 
counsellors participated in the trainings 
and 81.25% of them reported a positive 
change in their skills and confidence.
FCA also successfully advocated 
for the establishment of the Steering 
Committee for CGC implementation 
by the MoEYS. FCA was included as a 
member besides the senior officials of 
the Ministry. Cambodia CP continued 
to increase the capacities of the duty 
bearers on accountability, CGC, con-
flict resolution and support to the agri-
cultural cooperatives. This contributed 
to creating a more positive and ena-
bling environment for service provision 
in the education and livelihood sectors.
The career fair in Battambang at-
tracted about 4,005 participants, in-
cluding job seekers and students at 
secondary school and university levels. 
The students were exposed to 55 social 
enterprises, private companies and edu-
cation institutes and attended workshop 
sessions that helped them to identify 
their strengths and the available educa-
tion and career opportunities. 97% of the 
students consulted considered the fair 
as very important for their future.
The support provided to at least 46 
CBOs contributed to people fulfilling 
their legitimate and active role for posi-
tive change in societies (MO3). 39% of 
the supported CBOs increased their role 
in development processes and provided 
feedback to the government through 
workshops and governmental meetings 
at all levels.
The youth were also encouraged to 
play an active and leading role in so-
cietal development. Changemaker net-
work members were supported to imple-
ment their own activities through small 
grants and building their skills in lead-
ership and volunteerism. As a result of 
the discussions between 63 youths and 
7 local authorities, the challenges high-
lighted by the youth were addressed 
and the local authorities committed 
themselves to taking the youth better 
into account. The youth are now better 
accepted as relevant development ac-
tors and their meaningful participation 
has been strengthened. 
Furthermore, 15 Women’s Agricultural 
Cooperatives (WAC) members (7F, 8M) 
participated in the regional vegetable fo-
rum in Cambodia, which allowed them to 
share views and information with other 
NGOs, experts and Ministry of Agricul-
ture, Forestry and Fisheries. The com-
munity voice contributed to strengthen 
the vegetable production sector. Savings 
groups and micro-scale business groups 
contributed to grassroots community 
development through expanding their 
services and sharing knowledge with the 
other community members.
Cambodia CP also incorporated cli-
mate change adaptation in livelihood 
and education projects to promote the 
targeted communities’ resilience to the 
effects of the climate change. Climate 
Change Adaptive Agriculture (CCAA) 
- project provides both long-term and 
short-term support in the drought prone 
area in Pursat province. In 2018, four 
community ponds were established, 135 
water tanks provided clean water to the 
vulnerable groups and 91 solar panels 
were provided to poor households, thus 
addressing the acute water shortage 
at the community level and promoting 
clean energy. In addition, with the sup-
port of the EUAV programme, localized 
Green Office guidelines and a paper on 
resilience and livelihoods were devel-
oped and presented to almost 100 local 
stakeholders.
Evaluations and Studies
One baseline survey, one market as-
sessment, thematic assessment for R2L 
and two project evaluations were con-
ducted in Cambodia. 
Changemaker Cambodia Network 
project evaluation (2015-2017) noted 
that the project was highly relevant, 
performing effectively and improving 
consistently over time. FCA has done 
a remarkable job in empowering and 
nurturing the independent nature of 
the network as a youth-led initiative. 
However, high turnover of individuals, 
structural issues and the lack of plan-
ning negatively affected the manage-
ment, efficiency, potential impact and 
sustainability of the project. The evalu-
ation concluded that the CM Network 
should remain largely autonomous 
but at the same time, FCA should 
proactively provide the Network with 
structural, leadership and implemen-
tation support to enhance impact and 
promote sustainability.
The Cooperation for Women’s Eco-
nomic Development (CWED I) project 
(2015-2017) evaluation report provided 
useful data and statistics for the follow-
up project phase but was less helpful 
in terms of practical recommendations, 
despite an active dialogue between FCA, 
the evaluators and the local partner. 
Partnerships and  
Capacity Building
CAMCO provided capacity building on 
various topics to both FCA staff and 
partners. CAMCO also hosted a learn-
ing visit for MYACO education staff to 
learn about the CGC project as MYA-
CO is also working on CGC.
Two entrepreneurship training cours-
es were conducted for 20 participants 
from LWD, ICCO, CWCC, MAFF, PDAFF 
and ACT Alliance. Following the train-
ing, the partners developed an action 
plan to support the business groups. 
Together with FCA, Women’s Bank 
skills donation programme expert and 
the partner representatives conducted 
a market study focusing on vegeta-
bles and chicken. The joint assess-
ment exercise was also an excellent 
learning opportunity for the project 
team and government officials. 
The education partners, including 
PKO and ministry officials, participat-
ed in trainings on Core Humanitarian 
Standard (CHS) and Complaint Re-
sponse Mechanism (CRM).The men-
toring and coaching of PKO staff has 
increased their capacity to support 
the teachers in their target schools to 
improve the quality of teaching and 
teachers’ professional competence. 
MoEYS officials participated in a re-
fresher training on CGC for the existing 
career counsellors, study visits, career 
fairs, technical meetings and benefit-
ted from mentoring and coaching. 
Challenges and lessons learnt
Due to the parliamentary elections 
in July 2018, project implementation 
showed down between June and 
September but otherwise work pro-
gressed almost as planned. 
Additional efforts were invested in 
a continued good relationship be-
tween FCA and the Changemaker 
Cambodia Network (CCN). In order to 
address some of the concerns, it was 
decided that a MoU will be developed 
in 2019 outlining the Principles of 
Collaboration and clarifying the roles 
and responsibilities of each party. 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding 
Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11435
Land and Livelihood Advocacy Project (LLAP)
LWD
MFA, Private
42,000
41,680
11552
Cooperation for Women’s Economic Development (CWED)
LWD
WB, Corporate, 
MFA
32,500
25,983
11713
Changemaker Cambodia
FCA
MFA, Private
52,500
42,271
11753
Cambodia office PMER support for the MFA frame funded  
programme
FCA
MFA, Private
391,500
351,403
11771
Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship (PWE)
CWCC
WB, Private, MFA
100,000
99,946
11873
Climate Change Adaptive Agriculture (CCAA)
LWD
Private, MFA
75,000
63,624
11874
Cooperation for Women’s Economic Development (CWED) 
- phase 2
LWD, ICCO, 
FCA
WB, MFA
258,000
183,184
11875
Enhancing career guidance and counselling at secondary 
school level (CGC)
FCA
MFA, Private
130,500
127,313
11876
Dream school project - phase 2
PKO, FCA
Private, MFA,  
Parishes
70,000
67,599
11892
FCA other projects PMER support
FCA
Private, Parishes
14,500
4,744
11985
ACT Agricultural Market Coordination
FCA and ACT 
members
ACT members, 
Private
11,800
9,755
Total (€)    1,178,300        1,017,501
Project list and financial summary

44
45
myanmar
Overview of the Myanmar 
country programme
In 2018, the Myanmar country pro-
gramme (CP) was implemented in 
Ayerwaddy Region, Kayin, Rakhine, 
Yangon Region, Mandalay Region, 
Bago Region, and Southern and 
Northern Shan. FCA worked in close 
cooperation with its local and interna-
tional partners Metta, RMO, KLF, STH, 
CERA, LWF and ICCO.
MYACO implemented 12 projects 
with a strong focus on women and 
children (55% of the right holders were 
women and 12% children). MYACO fo-
cused on three areas in development 
projects: youth and women empow-
erment, disaster-risk reduction and 
“Linking Learning to Earning”. In the 
humanitarian context, the focus was 
on Education in Emergencies (EiE) 
and food security. 
2,075
15
125
internally displaced children 
and out-of-school adoles-
cents were provided with 
educational assistance.
women’s groups implementing 
IGAs were able to provide financial 
contributions to Village Development 
Committees to implement village 
development activities.
individual women were 
provided with livelihood inputs 
to generate income.
20,234
direct beneficiaries reached by the 
Myanmar Programme in 2018.
11,204 
9,030
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vul-
nerable situations become economi-
cally self-reliant and contribute posi-
tively to social cohesion
41 youth (21 M, 20 F) were trained in vocational education. 
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations 
engage in and benefit from inclusive 
and sustainable economic growth
5 women groups were formed and started small businesses. 
70 new jobs were created and 221 jobs supported. 
125 individual women were provided with livelihood inputs to generate income
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote 
a positive change and are transparent, 
responsive and participatory
2,215 rights holders (474 M, 1,741 F) were reached through capacity building and 
awareness raisings.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal 
and uninterrupted access to inclusive 
quality education/learning
2,075 (929 M, 1146 F) internally displaced children and out-of-school adolescents 
were provided with educational assistance. 
SO 2.3 Disaster affected people have 
access to essential life-saving assis-
tance
14,079 IDPs (7,071 F) participated in a CFW activities and village development 
activities.
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their 
members play an active and leading 
role in the societal development, con-
tributing to enhanced social cohesion
Ayar Pyo May Women Network was supported to register as a CSO at township 
level, and they obtained a grant from a donor LIFT. 
15 Women’s groups implementing IGAs were able to provide financial contribu-
tions to Village Development Committees to implement village development 
activities.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and 
networks are strengthened and pro-
mote participation, open dialogue and 
positive social change.
FCA provided technical assistance to 5 CSOs in the form of trainings and mentoring. 
SO 3.3 Disaster prone communities 
have enhanced capacity to save lives, 
alleviate human suffering [and bounce 
back] during and after disasters
12 DRR trainings were conducted and 12 disaster management plans were devel-
oped in communities and schools. 
103 community-based disaster-risk management committees (CBDRM) were 
formed and 93 Disaster-Preparedness Plan were developed. 
1,829 people (825 F) were provided with food and non-food items during flooding. 
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018

47
46
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
To promote the right to inclusive 
and sustainable economic growth 
(MO1), following the establishment 
of women’s groups in Ann town-
ships, the members participated in 
trainings on bookkeeping, business 
start-ups, cashew plantation and 
entrepreneurship. They also benefit-
ted from awareness raising on gender 
equality and leadership. The women 
groups were also provided with grants 
to create collective income. Some of 
the funds from the women groups 
went to village development com-
mittees for the implementation of 
village development plans, such as 
road constructions and pond renova-
tion, which in turn increased women’s 
participation in village development 
activities. 
One of the major programmatic 
developments was the geographic 
expansion of women’s economic em-
powerment projects in Central Rakhine 
with partnership and funding from UN 
Women. MYACO established a consor-
tium with ICCO, LWF and Community 
Empowerment and Resilience Associ-
ation (CERA) to implement ‘Inclusive 
Development and Empowerment of 
Women in Rakhine State’ project. The 
project provided traditional weaving 
and handicraft training to 300 wom-
en from the host communities and 
IDP camps. The targeted women were 
trained on Business Start-up skills 
(Myanmar Artisan Toolkit), and will 
be provided with financial grants and 
equipment after the skills trainings to 
start their microbusinesses. 
MYACO also adopted a new ap-
proach to improve the livelihood situ-
ation of the conflict affected people in 
humanitarian contexts. Two new pro-
ject ideas were developed in late 2018 
with project implementation starting 
in 2019: one is a cash-based project 
in Northern Shan State and Kachin 
State, the other is a waste manage-
ment and income generation project 
in Sittwe, Rakhine. 
Under MO2 the right to improved 
and inclusive governance and servic-
es, MYACO’s education programme 
focused on providing educational as-
sistance in an emergency setting and 
launched a Career Guidance Counsel-
ling (CGC) project. 
Educational support included night 
study guides and ECCD teachers 
working with IDP children, student kits 
for IDP children, and non-formal edu-
cation and vocational education for 
out-of-school adolescents. The par-
ents greatly appreciated the educa-
tion services provided to their children. 
MYACO also initiated a new approach 
in EiE with its partner Metta with em-
phasis on increased community resil-
ience and self-reliance.
MYACO’s education team also vis-
ited FCA’s Cambodia country office 
(CAMCO) to learn about CGC project 
implementation. A TwB specialist vol-
unteered at MYACO for 6 months to 
design the CGC project. 
MYACO developed and implement-
ed a skills training project entitled 
“Linking Learning to Earning for Out-
of-School adolescents in Taunggyi”. 
The project creates an enabling learn-
ing environment and learning oppor-
tunities for adolescents and youth 
who have dropped out from formal 
school system. 
In late 2018, Inter-faith Curriculum 
(IC) project started and four inter-
faith dialogue workshops were or-
ganised in Mandalay, Bogo, Kayin, 
and Yangon. Altogether, 66 Religious 
leaders from different faiths partici-
pated in the workshops. The work-
shops were a means not only to in-
crease inter-faith awareness among 
the participants but also to contrib-
ute to the production of an inter-faith 
curriculum in 2019. 
MYACO also continued its collabo-
ration with other ACT alliance mem-
bers in Universal Periodic Review 
(UPR) project that promotes govern-
ment commitment to the accepted 
UPR recommendations. One of the 
key issues identified was land rights. 
The advocacy project worked at the 
local, union and global levels.  
Myanmar CP also supported peo-
ple to fulfil their legitimate and active 
role for positive change in societies 
(MO3). Most of the capacity-build-
ing and awareness-raising activities 
across the CP portfolio focused on the 
development of women groups and 
empowering women and youth. The 
number of female participants was 
five times greater in awareness-rais-
ing trainings and two times greater in 
capacity-building trainings compared 
with the number of men.
The Rights-Based Empowerment 
Project (RBEP) supported the forma-
tion of 103 Community-Based Disas-
ter-Risk Management sub-commit-
tees in Chin, Rakhine and Kayin states 
and Ayerwaddy region. Environmen-
tal conservation and climate change 
adaption activities also included tree 
planting in collaboration with Forestry 
Department. The project was suc-
cessful in enhancing the community 
members’ awareness of environmen-
tal conservation and supported the 
development of disaster-risk reduc-
tion plans. 
Evaluations and Studies
A total of four assessments, studies 
and a project evaluation, were conduct-
ed in Myanmar. The Rights-Based Em-
powerment Project- RBEP (2013-2017) 
evaluation report concluded that the 
RBEP intervention model is a good one, 
and has proven successful in the Delta. 
However, the graduation/exit strategy 
could be more rigorous. The strategy 
of linking savings through women’s 
groups and providing technical train-
ing and advice on small-scale business 
enterprises was shown to be effective. 
The evaluation included useful recom-
mendations that can used in MYACO’s 
existing and future projects, e.g. main-
streaming of RBA in the camp context. 
In collaboration with Bread for the 
World, MYACO also conducted a re-
search study entitled Living Faith in 
Myanmar: Kachin and Kayin Experi-
ences. The research highlighted that 
despite the efforts by local, union 
and international communities to 
address the issues of inter-faith ten-
sions and to tackle the root causes of 
tensions among different faiths, hate 
speech and religious tensions remain 
relatively high in Myanmar. The study 
recommended improved coordina-
tion within the existing projects and 
organisations working on inter-faith 
and intra-faith to avoid duplication 
of efforts and to enhance impact. The 
activities should focus to the com-
munity level. ‘Inter-faith Curriculum’ 
project was then designed taking into 
account the given recommendations. 
MYACO also organized an inter-faith/
intra-faith workshop with the other 
CSOs working in inter-faith field, to 
share more widely the findings of the 
research study.
Partnerships and  
Capacity Building
MYACO enlarged its partnerships and 
selected two new partners: local or-
ganization CERA in Rakhine and ACT 
member organization ICCO. CERA was 
selected based on their experience in 
Rakhine, while cooperation with ICCO 
brings added value on market devel-
opment and value chains as part of 
the UN Women funded consortium 
project.
MYACO also developed its Partner 
Capacity-Building Strategic Plan and 
organised a launch workshop with 
FCA’s partner staff. 
MYACO programme and operation-
al staff collaborated closely to ensure 
that capacity building and mentoring 
are part of FCA’s daily work with its 
partners. Examples included partner 
workshops, exchange of and support 
with materials, harmonization of pro-
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11561
Advancing Sustainable Peace in Myanmar
STH
Private, Parishes
1,220
1,283
11563
Myanmar CO MFA PMER support / office budget
FCA
MFA, Private
287,700
260,211
11624
Myanmar Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
LWF
Private, Parishes
10,000
10,000
11681
Rights Based Empowerment Project (RBEP)
LWF
Private, MFA 
105,000
105,000
11755
Women’s Livelihood Empowerment Project (WLEP)
LWF
WB, Private, MFA 
125,000
131,438
11766
IDP's resilience through quality education
METTA, FCA
MFA HA, Private
308,000
263,783
11768
Programme Development in Myanmar
FCA
Private, Parishes
25,000
21,512
11869
Response to Crisis in Rakhine, Myanmar 2017
LWF, FCA
MFA HA, Parishes
42,480
42,479
11880
Myanmar CO - FCA Other PMER support costs
FCA
Private, Parishes
129,300
118,403
11895
Camp improvements through CFW in Sittwe and Pauktaw
LWF
Disaster funds
44,848
7,307
11896
Women Socio-Economic Reconstruction in Kayin State 
(WSER)
KLF
WB, MFA 
81,700
73,429
11897
Linking learning to earning for out-of school adolescents 
in Taunggyi
RMO, FCA
Private, Parishes
24,000
18,949
11898
Building Sustainable Peace Through Youth Participation
STH, FCA
MFA, Private
80,000
36,201
11901
Career Counselling Guidance
FCA
Private, Parishes
40,000
32,898
11902
Interfaith Research Project
CDNH, MCC, 
FCA
Private, Parishes
34,270
32,000
11916
Education, livelihoods and protection project in Kachin and 
Northern Shan
METTA
Private
165,000
81,552
11920
Myanmar Mobile Education Project
MYME
Private, Parishes
22,230
17,362
11967
Rakhine Empowerment and Development (READ)
FCA, LWF, 
ICCO, CERA
UNWOMEN
288,730
133,720
Total (€)	
  1,814,478          1,387,528
Project list and financial summary 
cedures, joint assessments and learn-
ing exchanges. Furthermore, FCA and 
its partners set up project data collec-
tion databases and organised joint 
advocacy and coordination meetings. 
The capacity building activities and 
initiatives all contributed to building 
the management capacity of partner 
staff, and improved the effectiveness 
and quality of programming as well as 
accountability.
Challenges and lessons 
learnt
The uncertainty of the MoU process in 
Myanmar limits MYACO’s possibilities 
to operate in the country. MYACO was 
not successful in obtaining the MoU 
in 2018, which continues to affect the 
planning and implementation of the 
CP. In 2019, MYACO will continue to 
work both on the MOU and establish-
ing a local NGO in Myanmar.

48
49
nepal
Overview of Nepal country 
programme  
In 2018, Nepal Country Programme 
(CP) was implemented in 14 districts in 
four provinces (provinces 2, 3, 6 and 7). 
FCA worked in close cooperation with 
its local partners SOLVE, FWEAN, Sa-
hakarya, NNDSWO, IDeS, FKWDF and 
UCEP.
The new constitution of Nepal, which 
came into effect in 2015, includes a new 
federalist structure. This devolution of 
authority to the local levels has required 
a more collaborative approach by FCA 
with the local level governments such 
as Municipality, Rural Municipality and 
Ward offices. 
The economic empowerment of rural 
women continued through the coop-
eratives and entrepreneurship devel-
opment, effectively linking learning 
to earning (LL2E). Two new livelihood 
projects were started in Sindhuli, Kailali 
12
1,786
28,183
16,694
new women led cooperatives 
were established. 
persons benefited from 
short-term and long-term 
vocational trainings.
44,877
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the Nepal 
Programme in 2018.
and Dadheldhura districts. In educa-
tion, the focus was on TVET and the 
development of a Career Guidance and 
Counselling (CGC) manual. 
Capacity building of CBOs and tar-
geted youth strengthened their capac-
ity to combat caste-based discrimina-
tion, which is another key programme 
priority in Nepal. In addition, a number 
of campaigns were conducted to pro-
mote the effective implementation of 
the non-discriminatory legal frame-
work, while media actors were mo-
bilized to highlight issues related to 
caste-based discrimination. 
Advocacy efforts mainly focused on 
ensuring the rights of ex-bonded la-
bours and promoting the participation 
of Dalits in development processes. 
Re-establishment of WASH facilities 
in flood-affected schools was another 
major intervention during the reporting 
period. 
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vul-
nerable situations become economi-
cally self-reliant and contribute posi-
tively to social cohesion
255 TVET graduates (148 M, 10 F) benefited from LL2E mechanisms, a combi-
nation of CGC, business skill training and job seeking services.
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations 
engage in and benefit from inclusive 
and sustainable economic growth
270 people were supported access to job opportunities and 24 people with ex-
isting jobs took part in level-2 TVET (54% women).
12 new women led cooperatives were established. 
69 medium, small and micro enterprises were established.
75% of 347 enterprises supported reported an improvement in their performance.
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote 
a positive change and are transparent, 
responsive and participatory
55 advocacy events focused eg. on fight against GBV, enhanced access to agri-
cultural support, rehabilitating ex-bonded laborers, and eliminating caste based 
discrimination (CBD) against the Dalits. 
Active advocacy led to 1700 ex-bonded laborers (Freed-Kamaiyas) receiving NPR 
150,000 (€ 1,200) each to reconstruct their houses, 52 also received land certifi-
cates, and 440 received identity cards.
87 awareness raising and capacity building initiatives on human rights and pre-
vention of GBV reached 3,023 participants.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal 
and uninterrupted access to inclusive 
quality education/learning
27,101 students (12,206 M, 14,895 F) were supported through scholarships and sta-
tionary support, and WASH facilities.
1,392 (768 M, 624 F) teachers, School Management Committee (SMC) and Parent 
Teacher Association (PTA) members were trained on WASH and DRR.
1,786 people (83% women) benefited from short-term and long-term vocational 
trainings.
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their 
members play an active and leading 
role in the societal development, con-
tributing to enhanced social cohesion
410 REFLECT sessions were conducted by local women’s groups on social and 
economic issues and to lobby the local authorities for IGA opportunities for 
women.
5 Human Rights Advocacy Alliances (HRAA) were formed.
60 CBOs benefited from awareness raising and capacity building, focusing on 
improved participation in local development processes.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and 
networks are strengthened and pro-
mote participation, open dialogue and 
positive social change.
8 civil society partnerships and networks were supported and 7 advocacy alli-
ances were formed.
484 network members were supported with capacity building to facilitate and 
strengthen open dialogue with the government and other relevant stakeholders.
3.3 Disaster prone communities have 
enhanced capacity to save lives, al-
leviate human suffering [and bounce 
back] during and after disasters.
4 schools developed their DRR and preparedness plans.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018

50
51
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
In 2018, the CP’s focus remained on 
women and youth’s economic em-
powerment, contributing to the right 
to inclusive and sustainable economic 
growth (MO1). Enterprise development 
and creation of new jobs have contrib-
uted to improved livelihoods for the 
most vulnerable and the ex-bonded 
people’s communities. 
By the end of 2018, the number of 
members in FCA established and sup-
ported cooperatives reached 8,998 
with 95% female members. The CP 
was able to achieve remarkable pro-
gress in terms of increasing affiliation 
of cooperative members and promot-
ing regular monthly savings in four 
project districts (Lalitpur, Sindhuli, 
Kailali and Dadheldhura).
The gender based violence (GBV) re-
duction sub-committees formed under 
the cooperatives have played a crucial 
role in improving women’s social status. 
Women now hold key position in man-
agement committees and also provide 
services to other women. 18 members 
of cooperatives in Lalitpur were elected 
as women members at the ward level 
in local government (based on women 
quota and Dalit quota). Some of the 
cooperatives in Lalitpur have total sav-
ings above € 80,000 and have been 
successful in tapping into additional 
government resources. 
In addition to an international trade 
fair, three district level trade fairs were 
organised for the first time to link 
women entrepreneurs with markets. 
The trade fairs have been extremely 
helpful for new women entrepreneurs 
in show casing their products, link-
ing with consumers and markets, and 
learning about packaging, labelling 
and quality control. 
The CP contributed to the achieve-
ment of the right to improved and in-
clusive governance and services (MO2) 
through support to the education sec-
tor at different levels. Career Guidance 
and Counselling (CGC) was formally 
introduced in the TVET project in 2018. 
A CGC workshop was organized and 
the CGC manual was prepared and 
published with support from a TwB 
volunteer. It is now being used as 
the key guiding document for career 
counselling for the vocational training 
graduates.
FCA and its partner NNDSWO re-
paired and maintained toilets and 
hand-washing facilities in 83 flood af-
fected schools in Chitwan, Parsa and 
Dhanusa districts.  The local authori-
ties, school management committees 
(SMC), parent-teacher associations 
(PTA), teachers and students noted 
that there has been an increase in 
school enrolment and regularity of at-
tendance following the project.
The EUAID volunteer project was 
successful in rolling out the compre-
hensive training package on school-
based DRR in Lalitpur district and run-
ning the DRR workshops along with a 
lessons learnt workshop, in collabora-
tion with the District Education Office. 
The new government structure has 
also required capacity enhancement 
of the local representatives, and FCA 
and its partners have conducted sev-
eral capacity building initiatives fo-
cusing on the legal provisions and lo-
cal operational acts and policies. The 
trainings of the Judicial Committees 
have strengthened their capacity to 
take forward GBV related issues more 
effectively and efficiently.
A number of initiatives also sup-
ported people to fulfil their legitimate 
and active role for positive change 
in societies (MO3). The community 
level Human Rights Advocacy Alli-
ances have been crucial in advocating 
against caste-based discrimination 
at the local levels. The district level 
alliances consist of 700 community 
and REFLECT group representatives 
from five districts who meet and 
discuss the rights and issues of the 
Dalits. Knowledge enhancement and 
leadership trainings were provided 
to these alliances to help strengthen 
their advocacy initiatives.
Case documentation, evidence-
based advocacy and public hearings 
have been part of advocacy efforts 
against caste-based discrimina-
tion. They have been instrumental 
in taking forward the local issues to 
the government stakeholders. Some 
commitments have been made but 
the results remain yet to be seen. 
The local level advocacy messages 
were synthesised and then discussed 
during two national level policy dia-
logues focusing on Dalit rights. 
Evaluations and Studies
In 2018, five assessments and studies 
were conducted in Nepal. The evalu-
ation report of Nepal Earthquake Re-
covery, Reconstruction and Resilience 
(3R) project implemented by Alliance 
Nepal Forum 2016-2017, noted that the 
project was implemented in relevant 
areas and targeted the most vulner-
able groups of people. The trainings, 
i.e. on PSS, DRR and education, had 
increased the beneficiaries’ aware-
ness of their rights. Furthermore, the 
most marginalized groups of people 
engaged in the activities collectively. 
Awareness raising, advocacy and ma-
terial support were all an integrated 
part of the project and increased the 
project’s effectiveness and the ben-
eficiaries’ appreciation of the project. 
The evaluation recommended that 
PSS schemes should be incorporated 
into the School Improvement Plans in 
coordination with the local bodies and 
that disaster related materials should 
include images.
The Social Welfare Council conducted 
a final evaluation on FCA’s Enhanced 
Livelihood through Vocational Training 
Programme (2016–18). The evaluation 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
10837
Nepal field presence / PMER support 
FCA 
MFA
221,387
274,211
11751
Socio–economic empowerment of dis-
advantaged women and girls in Lalitpur 
district of Nepal (SEED)
FWEANSOLVE
MFA, WB, Private corporate 
donations
150,000
148,302
11752
Strengthening community resilience 
through sustainable livelihood
SAHAK, ARYA
Private donations
70,000
68,314
11865
Women Employment through Sustainable 
Access to Finance and business Skills
SAHAK, ARYA, FWEAN
MFA, WB
159,988
154,219
11866
Supporting Collective Voice and Action 
against Caste Based
NNDS,WO
EU Development, Private 
donations
41,400
73,835
11882
Advocating for consolidation of Equality 
and Non-discrimination for Sustainable 
Peace (ENDS) Action in Nepal
NNDS,WO
MFA, Private donations
45,000
42,143
11883
Upscaling of skills training and technical 
education for employment programme 
(STEP) in Nepal
UCEP
MFA, Private donations
100,000
90,955
11885
Nepal Programme Development through 
Country Context analysis and R2L 
thematic assessment
FCA 
Private donations
30,000
6,709
11887
Economic and Social Empowerment of 
freed Haliyas and other marginalized 
groups
FKWDF, IDS
MFA, Private donations
100,000
99,673
11940
Education in Emergency: Provision of the 
Supports for Flood Affected Children in 
Three Districts of Nepal
FCA
UNICEF, Private donations
254,606
121,729
Total (€)     1,172,381          1,080,089
Project list and financial summary 
report concluded that the community 
approach was very effective, taking 
advantage of schools and vocational 
schools and including the local govern-
ments as the most appropriate actors in 
the implementation of the programme 
at the grassroots level. The report rec-
ommended that FCA establish closer 
linkages with local level cooperatives 
and micro finance institutions to insti-
tutionalize the savings activities by the 
rights holders. To promote sustainabil-
ity, local level NGOs should be prioritized 
when establishing new partnership.
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
NEPCO selected two new partner or-
ganizations in Far West, Integrated 
Development Society (IDeS) and Freed 
Kamaiya Women Development Forum 
(FKWDF) specialised in ex-bonded la-
bour issues.  
NEPCO continued to build the capac-
ity of its partners. Altogether 36 par-
ticipants from partner organizations en-
hanced their knowledge of RBA and gen-
der equality through two training events. 
Futhermore, two partner staffs (from 
NNDSWO and Media Advocacy Group) 
participated in “Women Human Rights 
Advocacy Training” organized by FCA 
and LWF in Geneva. Similarly, two female 
partner representatives (from Media Ad-
vocacy Group and Integrated Develop-
ment Society) were sent as delegates to 
the 71st CEDAW session in Geneva.  
A regional Career Guidance and Coun-
selling (CGC) training was organized by 
NEPCO in Kathmandu in August. The 
training participants were FCA CO staff 
from Nepal, Myanmar and Cambodia. A 
three-day partner meeting was conduct-
ed with all the implementing partners in 
December. The meeting aimed to pro-
mote mutual sharing and learning, and 
was much appreciated by FCA’s partners. 
Challenges and lessons learnt
The leadership in NEPCO changed in 
2018 and this coupled with some staff 
turnover caused some challenges in 
terms of additional workload during the 
transitional period.
The newly elected local authorities 
along with the new federal structure 
meant changes in ways of collaboration. 
FCA will continue to build good relations 
with the relevant government counter-
parts at all levels.

52
53
CENTRAL AFRICAN 
REPUBLIC
africa
Overview of the CAR country 
programme 
In 2018, the CAR country programme 
(CP) was implemented in the prefec-
tures of Ombella M’poko, Mambere-
Kadei, Sangha Mbaere and Ouham-
Pende, and included specific missions 
in Ndéle (Bamingui Bangoran), Obo 
(Haut-Mbomou), Birao (Vakaga), Boda 
(Lobaye) and Bouar (Nana-Mambere).
The CAR CP continued to focus on 
consolidating and expanding quality 
education interventions and contin-
ued to develop and build on on-going 
work in livelihoods and peace. FCA is 
one of the key actors in the education 
sector in CAR.
The CP remained committed to 
greater gender equality and actively 
promoted the participation of girls 
41,452 
17
learners in 86 schools benefitted from 
access to quality education through 
teacher trainings and distribution of 
teachers and learners’ kits.
CBO/forums were created 
and promote conflict preven-
tion, resolution and social 
cohesion.
52,598
direct beneficiaries reached 
by the Central African Republic 
Programme in 2018.
24,038
28,560
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vul-
nerable situations become economi-
cally self-reliant and contribute posi-
tively to social cohesion
168 members (40 F, 128 M) of 22 Parent & Teacher Associations (PTAs) were 
trained on micro-business management.
22 PTAs received a start-up kit for income generating activities. 
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations 
engage in and benefit from inclusive 
and sustainable economic growth
18 women were trained to facilitate and promote adult women literacy.
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote 
a positive change and are transparent, 
responsive and participatory
400 teachers (102 F, 298 M) signed the education code of conduct that was 
developed and approved by the educational authorities.
70 awareness campaigns were conducted on the importance of girls’ educa-
tion.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal 
and uninterrupted access to inclusive 
quality education/learning
477 qualified teachers and volunteer parent-teachers (96 F, 381 M) were trained 
on pedagogy, lesson planning and classroom management. 
41,452 learners (19,322 F, 22,130 M) in 86 schools benefitted from access to 
quality education through teacher trainings and distribution of teachers’ and 
learners’ kits.
95 regional education authorities (3 F, 92 M) were trained on result-based 
management.
SO 2.3 Disaster affected people have 
access to essential life-saving assis-
tance
12 boreholes were drilled and 80 latrines built.
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their 
members play an active and leading 
role in the societal development, con-
tributing to enhanced social cohesion
39 members of women’s groups and female leaders were trained on conflict 
prevention, resolution and social cohesion.
80 water management committees were created. 
86 PTAs were trained on their roles and responsibilities.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and 
networks are strengthened and pro-
mote participation, open dialogue and 
positive social change.
17 CBO/forums were created for conflict prevention, resolution and social cohe-
sion.
SO 3.3 Disaster prone communities 
have enhanced capacity to save lives, 
alleviate human suffering [and bounce 
back] during and after disasters.
252 people (116 F, 146 M) were trained on conflict resolution.
13 awareness campaigns were organized to promote social cohesion.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
and women. Sensitisation cam-
paigns were conducted to increase 
girls’ access to education, to reduce 
early marriages and to prevent child 
labour in gold and diamond mines 
in Sangha Mbaere, Mambere Kadei, 
Ombella M’poko and Ouham Pende 
prefectures.

54
55
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
CAR CP successfully contributed to 
the right to inclusive and sustainable 
economic growth for poverty eradica-
tion (MO 1), through micro-business 
management training for 168 mem-
bers of 22 Parent-Teacher Associa-
tions. The PTAs received a start-up kit 
for income generating activities (IGAs). 
Following their participation in the 
trainings, the communities now have 
a better understanding of business 
management and improved skills to 
mitigate the risks related to running 
micro-businesses. The IGA kits have 
helped to reconstruct the productive 
assets and coping mechanisms of 
the targeted PTAs. Furthermore, 18 
women were trained and employed 
as literacy facilitators. They taught 
literacy and numeracy skills to 450 
women in Bozoum, which contributed 
to their improved capacity to run prof-
itable IGAs. 
CAR CP has a strong focus on en-
hancing quality education and con-
tributing to the right to improved and 
inclusive governance and services 
(MO2). Transparent, responsive and 
participatory policies and processes 
were strengthened through train-
ing education authorities on results-
based management.
FCA provided access to inclusive 
quality education for 41,452 learners 
(19,322 girls, 22,130 boys) in 86 primary 
schools through teacher and volunteer-
teacher training on pedagogy, lesson 
planning and classroom management. 
In addition, classrooms were built and 
rehabilitated and learning and teach-
ing materials were distributed. CAR 
CP advocated for the importance of 
education especially for girls through 
70 awareness raising campaigns that 
reached 9,279 community members. 
The CP supported people to ful-
fil their legitimate and active role for 
positive change in societies (MO 3) 
by strengthening civil society part-
nerships and promoting participa-
tion and open dialogue. Trainings 
and awareness campaigns in conflict 
management and social cohesion 
have contributed to enhanced conflict 
resolution and improved inter-ethnic 
and inter-religious understanding. 
The training and coaching of youth on 
rumours and hate speech manage-
ment increased their awareness of the 
sources of conflict in the communities. 
Reduced sensitivity to react to fake 
and mal-intentioned news is expected 
to contribute to building more sustain-
able peace in the local communities.
PTAs were trained on their roles and 
responsibilities, and promoted open 
communication between the parents 
and the school management. PTA 
members shared their respective expe-
riences in raising funds for additional 
educational materials, maintaining 
and developing school facilities and 
providing incentives to volunteer-
teachers. In order to enhance children’s 
participation in daily school life, 70 
student governances were established 
and trained.
Evaluations and Studies
A context analysis and peace the-
matic assessment were conducted in 
2018. One of the key recommenda-
tions of the context analysis was that 
the CP should focus on interventions 
that strengthen the links between the 
communities and the regional and na-
tional institutions. More also needs to 
be done to develop the nexus between 
the humanitarian interventions and 
development work as well as a more 
integrated programme approach, link-
ing the different thematic areas.
The peace thematic assessment 
concluded that programming should 
focus on building the local and na-
tional actors’ capacity in conflict pre-
vention and resolution by training 
them in conflict analysis, mediation 
and dialogue. The assessment also 
recommended that youth should be 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11516
R2P program development project in CAR
FCA
MFA
94,858
77,517
11533
FCA CAR Programme support & Office
FCA
MFA
283,900
253,163
11799
Reinforcement of educational facilities and  
structures in Gamboula and Amada
FCA 
MFA HA
430,242
430,242
11840
CAR Joint Response 3, 2017
FCA
ICCO
25,070
25,070
11849
Restoration of Basic Social services in the Educa-
tion Sector
FCA
UNICEF-EU
355,100
365,769
11893
Reinforcement of educational facilities and struc-
tures in Gamboula and Amada
FCA
MFA HA
262,348
262,348
11903
CAR CO – FCA other projects PMER support
FCA
MFA 
607,400
388,416
11933
Women’s Bank project supporting women’s 
groups in the war affected area of Bozoum
FCA
FCA, WB, MFA 
100,000
74,560
11955
Project improving the quality of education 
through school feeding in central African republic
FCA
WFP
65,984
21,639
11981
CAR Joint Response 4
FCA
ICCO
257,384
252,585
11982
Youth Peace Builders
FCA
MFA 
68,330
47,284
Total (€)    2,550,616	     2,198,593
Project list and financial summary 
included in peace and decision-mak-
ing processes to enhance their active 
citizenship. 
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
CARCO did not have full-time imple-
menting partners in 2018, but worked 
in cooperation with the local NGOs, 
Network of Mediators, the Ministry of 
Agriculture, the Ministry of Education 
and the Department of Civil Protection 
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Se-
curity and Safety.
CARCO contributed to building the 
local capacity in school management 
and promotion of quality education 
through teacher and parent-teacher 
trainings, training of sectoral chiefs, 
academic inspectors, schools district 
chiefs and regional pedagogy centres. 
The capacity of the religious and com-
munity leaders as well as local authori-
ties has been strengthened through 
FCA’ peace work in CAR.
FCA has monthly meetings with 
ACT CAR Forum and is an active 
member in the clusters and sub-clus-
ters (education, FSL, WASH) and work-
ing groups (social cohesion). CARCO 
also participates in joint evaluations 
and planning, country/cluster strat-
egy development and coordination 
meetings as well as advocacy actions. 
Challenges and  
lessons learnt
Inadequate human resources, inse-
curity and the related difficulties in 
accessing some project areas un-
dermined the full realisation of the 
planned project activities. Additional 
challenges included delays due to 
outside service providers and shortag-
es of construction materials in some 
project areas.
Project coordination committees, 
PTAs and women groups’ meetings 
were useful platforms to share ideas 
and collect feedback from the commu-
nities. The training sessions for parent-
teachers and education authorities 
created a useful space for discussions 
on FCA’s interventions and the over-
all humanitarian context. The project 
launching ceremonies and the nation-
al cluster meetings also allowed FCA 
to share its expertise and to learn from 
the experiences of the other actors.

56
57
eritrea
Overview of the Eritrea 
country programme
FCA has been present in Eritrea 
since 2015 and is the only INGO in 
the country with permanent staff. In 
2018, FCA’s work focused on quality 
education and in particular, on teach-
ers professional development at the 
Asmara Community College of Edu-
cation (ACCE) based in Asmara and 
Eritrea Institute of Technology (CoE/
EIT) based in Mai Neffi. FCA Eritrea 
also supported TVET training at As-
mara School for the Deaf. 
Eritrea started implementing its ed-
ucation reform in mid- 2018. In Sep-
tember, the College of Education (CoE) 
at the Eritrean Institute of Technology 
(EIT) and ACCE merged into one, new 
Asmara College of Education (ACE). 
Due to the changes, FCA’s work with 
EIT could not proceed at full speed but 
activities at the ACCE continued to 
244
FCA supported the develop-
ment of an inclusive TVET 
programme at the School for 
the Deaf and the develop-
ment of a TVET sector plan.
teachers, employees from 
MoE and non-teaching staff 
participated in workshops, 
trainings, seminars and dis-
cussions organized by FCA.
some extent according to the plan. The 
activities focused on learner-centred 
pedagogy, research and education in-
novations. In addition, FCA strength-
ened research and evidence based 
teaching and supported policy dia-
logue. Technical, academic and finan-
cial assistance was provided to several 
research projects, which supported the 
development of teacher training in the 
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
FCA Eritrea continued to promote to the 
right to improved and inclusive govern-
ance and services (MO2) through teach-
er trainings, contributing to improved 
teaching capacity. Teacher education 
administration and leadership was one 
of the programme priority areas during 
2018. It seems this was the first time in 
the Eritrean history when major invest-
ments were made in this field.
At ACCE, workshops were mainly 
participated by teacher trainers and 
they focused on leadership, manage-
ment and administration in higher 
education, research, curriculum imple-
mentation and inclusive education. At 
EIT, the activities included qualitative 
and action research, education lead-
ership and management, gender and 
school development planning. Due to 
major changes in the education sec-
tor, collaboration with EIT encoun-
tered challenges but FCA was still able 
to support teacher educators in their 
research and altogether five research 
papers were published in international 
scientific publications. In July 2018, 
staff from the Ministry of Education 
(MoE) and Early Childhood Care and 
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes 
promote a positive change and 
are transparent, responsive and 
participatory
2 discussion events, 1 Conclusive Research and Development meeting and 118 consulta-
tions and meetings were held with decision makers. 
FCA participated in at least 13 international high-level meetings and consultations eg. UN 
(New York & Geneva), EU (COAFR), Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden.
74 beneficiaries participated in capacity building and awareness raising events. 
FCA supported the development of an inclusive TVET programme at the School for the 
Deaf and the development of a TVET sector plan.
SO 2.2 Children and youth 
have equal and uninterrupted 
access to inclusive quality edu-
cation/learning
244 (191 M, 5 F) teachers, employees from MoE and non-teaching staff participated in 
workshops, trainings, seminars and discussions organized by FCA. 
35 deaf or hearing-impaired youth (15 M, 20 F) participated in TVET training at Asmara 
School for the Deaf. 
84 deaf and hearing-impaired children (42 M, 42 F) received primary education at As-
mara School for the Deaf. 
FCA provided Asmara School for the Deaf with IT equipment and other materials.
12 teachers from the School for the Deaf participated in teacher training on special education.
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and 
their members play an active 
and leading role in the societal 
development, contributing to 
enhanced social cohesion
Gender toolkit for secondary schools was drafted with FCA’s support.
SO 3.2 Civil society part-
nerships and networks are 
strengthened and promote 
participation, open dialogue 
and positive social change.
FCA supported 3 networks or partnerships, including National Higher Education and 
Research Institute (NHERI), National Union for Eritrean Women (NUEW) and National 
Union for Eritrean Youth and Students.
28 network members (NHERI, teacher trainers) participated in a workshop on human 
rights view to quality education.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
1,763
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the Eritrea 
Programme in 2018.
650
1113
country. Advocacy was an integrated 
part of all programme work.
The peace agreement between 
Eritrea and Ethiopia changed the re-
gional political context dramatically. It 
is still uncertain how it will affect FCA 
Eritrea’s work and the Eritrean society 
in the long term. At the end of 2018, 
the operating environment in Eritrea 
became more challenging.
Education (ECCE), an organization 
that focuses on pre-school learning, 
participated in a two-week summer 
training activity on special education 
and early childhood education.
Moreover, Eritrea CP supported 
children and youth in vulnerable situ-
ations to gain access to education. At 
the Asmara School for the Deaf over 
30 young people are participating in 
professional training so that they will 
be able to access employment or run 
their own businesses. The youth will 
graduate in 2019. Ten out of 12 teach-
ing staff members from School for the 
Deaf reported that FCA’s support and

58
59
the implemented activities had been 
relevant for the school. More support 
on professional development was re-
quested.
Eritrea CP continued to integrate 
advocacy as an essential part of the 
programme and invested in relevant 
human resources, sustained internal 
dialogue and put systematic effort in-
to blurring the artificial lines between 
programme and advocacy work. Ad-
vocacy activities included e.g. engag-
ing actively with the UN agencies and 
international representations in and 
outside the country. FCA also initi-
ated a rare discussion event on Eritrea 
in New York organized by the Finnish 
Permanent Representation to the UN, 
with high-level speakers from the UN, 
Eritrean representation and Finland. 
FCA’s and its partners’ work and re-
sults in Eritrea received great attention 
during the event. 
Eritrea CP also supported people to 
fulfil their legitimate and active role for 
positive change in societies (MO3) and 
facilitated the drafting of the gender 
toolkit for secondary schools. The CP 
supported several stakeholders’ con-
tribution as part of the process, includ-
ing National Union of Eritrean Women 
(NUEW), Ministry of Education (MoE), 
National Higher Education and Re-
search Institute (NHERI) and College 
of Education (EIT).
In addition, Eritrea CP supported 
several networks or partnerships in 
the country. These included National 
Higher Education and Research In-
stitute (NHERI), National Union for 
Eritrean Women (NUEW) and National 
Union for Eritrean Youth and Students 
(NUEYS). FCA’s support to NHERI 
contributed to teacher education 
capacity building. NHERI employ-
ees participated in several trainings 
and workshops. FCA also supported 
NUEW by inviting them to be part of 
the EU-funded gender project’s steer-
ing committee. 
Altogether 28 network members 
were trained on dialogue building and 
civil society. Participants included 
ACCE’s teacher trainers and NHERI 
employees. 
FCA’s work in Eritrea received fund-
ing from four external sources, with 
four new successful project applica-
tions.
Evaluations and Studies
A master’s research study mapped the 
relevant toolkits to be used in gender 
sensitive education in Eritrea as part 
of the EU funded gender project. 
FCA’s Regional Education Special-
ist made an internal review of a Swiss 
funded project To Leave or to Stay? 
(REQEA). The project focused on 
teacher education capacity building 
through support to teacher education 
administration and leadership. Dur-
ing the project, major revisions had 
to be done to the original project plan 
when an important activity the sum-
mer programme for the teachers, was 
cancelled. The review noted that FCA 
successfully diverted the materials 
(games, toys, books) to accommo-
date the new plan of an early child-
hood special education training for 
Eritrean kindergarten and pre-school 
teachers.
The review stated that the training 
schedule created by the project was a 
holistic plan with learner-centred ap-
proach, individualization, identification 
and support for children with disabili-
ties and other special needs. The train-
ing also included topics, such as play 
based learning, intellectual challenges, 
Project nr
Project name
Partner Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11589
Promoting Quality Education and Innovation in Eritrea
FCA
FCA
551,000 
393,594
11943
To Leave or to Stay? (REQEA)
FCA
The Swiss Confederation,  
acting through the State Sec-
retariat for Migration (SEM)
154,867
135,778
11944
Enhancing the Learning opportunities of Deaf Children and Youth 
in Eritrea
FCA
B’Cause/Boliden
71,500
71,842
11945
Promoting Gender Equality in Eritrea through Teacher Education
FCA
EU EIDHR
70,600
31,212
11794
Alternative Teacher Training Programme in ACCE, Eritrea
FCA
Foreign and Commonwealth 
Office (FCO) of United Kingdom
31,525
35,896
Total (€)    880,635        668,322
Project list and financial summary 
kenya
Overview of the Kenya 
country programme 
Most of the country remained relatively 
stable and safe but early 2018 saw an 
increase in violent conflict in Turkana, 
Baringo and the neighbouring coun-
ties. In the arid and semi-arid regions of 
Northern Kenya, conflicts are fueled by 
real or perceived lack of and competi-
tion over resources, especially land and 
water. There were persistent retaliatory 
attacks in the form of cattle rustling 
leading to deaths and displacement of 
more than 2,000 people. In the Kerio 
Valley, 50 schools were closed due to 
insecurity leaving 5,000 learners tem-
porarily without access to education. 
In Marsabit and Baringo, 10 schools 
were closed due to water shortage due 
to drought. The water shortage also 
exacerbated the interethnic conflict 
among the pastoralist communities 
along the Kerio Valley. In response to 
the crises, FCA Kenya established child 
friendly school facilities with piped wa-
5,400
children accessed 
education following 
the construction and 
reparation of primary 
schools.
ter, complementing the other on-going 
quality education initiatives.  
Interlinkages between KECO’s peace 
and livelihood work continued to con-
tribute to improved resilience of the 
communities in Baringo County. Wom-
en and male warriors were supported 
through business training and business 
start-up kits. FCA’s long-term engage-
ment in intra- tribe conflict resolution 
contributed to resolving the conflicts 
in the target areas, while an increased 
number of children gained access to 
quality education. Furthermore, KECO 
successfully applied for UNHCR part-
nership status and received additional 
funding from UNICEF, project imple-
mentation starting in 2019 in the Ka-
lobeye settlement. KECO’s visibility in 
EiE work in the refugee context grew, 
providing a good basis for new partner-
ships and funding opportunities. 
38,545
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the Kenya  
Programme in 2018.
19,623
18,922
behavioural challenges, classroom man-
agement, positive discipline and the use 
of learning aids, made from locally avail-
able resources.
The review recommended harmoniz-
ing the vocabulary and terminology 
used in documentation as well as a 
deeper focus on special education, given 
the existing needs in the country.
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
No new or terminated partnerships.
Challenges and lessons learnt
In 2018, a peace-agreement was 
signed between Ethiopia and Eritrea. 
Unfortunately, tangible changes in 
the operating environment were only 
few, highlighting the need for FCA’s 
advocacy work and close monitor-
ing of the situation. At the same time, 
Eritrea conducted a major education 
sector reform, which affected Eritrea 
CP plans and activities. In the autumn, 
FCA Eritrea’s main education partners 
no longer existed and the CP needed 
to find ways of work with the new col-
lege structures. Nevertheless, even in 
the very challenging environment FCA 
Eritrea was able to meet its main ob-
jectives for 2018. 
FCA Eritrea started to use Listen, 
Learn and Act (LLA) method to de-
velop its work and promote beneficiary 
participation in project planning and 
implementation. At ACCE, FCA is seen 
as a supportive and relevant partner 
for future continued cooperation. Due 
to changes in the education sector, col-
laboration with EIT encountered more 
challenges but FCA was still able to 
support the teacher educators in their 
research work.
41
Inclusive dialogue forums 
on non-violent conflict 
resolution were facilitated 
for 4,102 persons.

60
61
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
In 2018, KECO’s work contributed to 
the right to inclusive and sustainable 
economic growth (MO1) through a 
number of initiatives, including train-
ings on income generating activities 
(IGAs) for 10 livelihood groups who 
had already benefited from start-up 
kits in 2018. The trainings focused on 
basic bookkeeping and the concept 
of profit making. Short customised 
trainings were also organised for three 
women’s groups on basketry weaving 
in Turkana County. These groups are 
now involved in IGAs in their respective 
communities, with a positive impact 
on their household incomes and re-
duced cattle raids and other conflicts. 
In the education sector, several pro-
jects and their related results promot-
ed the right to improved and inclusive 
governance and services (MO2). KECO 
worked closely with the Ministry of 
Education and Teachers Service Com-
mission on the recruitment of teach-
ers. New teachers were required be-
cause of high enrolment rates. UNICEF 
paid the teachers’ salaries in KECO’s 
target schools. KECO also organized 
short teacher training courses that en-
hanced the teaching and pedagogical 
skills of 360 teachers. The provision of 
learning materials (textbooks, pencils 
and school bags for all the newly en-
rolled 26,875 pupils) and the teacher 
trainings have contributed to better 
examination outputs for the learners. 
In 2018, the learners in seven out of 
KECO’S 11 targeted schools improved 
their performance in the national ex-
aminations. 
Following additional project fund-
ing by UNICEF, KECO constructed 
two Early Childhood centres for 4,000 
children. Overall, 26,875 overage and 
out of school children gained access 
to education. In addition, quality edu-
cation was promoted through child 
friendly learning spaces and improved 
school infrastructure, including reno-
vated classrooms, handwashing facil-
ities and recreational facilities. Water 
tanks were installed at schools where 
no drinking water was available. Alto-
gether 15 schools and 19 school com-
munities were supported in Garissa 
and another seven schools in Turkana, 
all severely affected by the drought. 
In order to promote disaster-affect-
ed people’s access to lifesaving assis-
tance during the drought, KECO also 
provided food aid for school feeding 
and non-food items, such as text-
books and sanitary items in in col-
laboration with WFP.
In order to support people in full-
ing their legitimate and active role for 
positive change in societies (MO3), 19 
forums were organized to promote 
women’s involvement in peacebuild-
ing and decision-making processes. 
Following community consultations 
and participation, six women talking 
circles were formed. The women talk-
ing circles provide a platform for the 
women to express and share their con-
flict related experiences with the aim 
of promoting reconciliation among the 
Pokot and Marakwet women. Similar 
discussions were also held among 
Kolowa women. The talking circles are 
gradually gaining the attention of lo-
cal leaders and women have started 
to voice their concerns to the decisions 
makers.
Additionally, nine youth forums 
were organized and youth’s active 
participation was encouraged. Both 
male and female youth participation 
was facilitated in two events to pro-
mote their contribution to relevant 
decision-making processes. 
FCA’s back to school campaigns 
also continued and contributed to 
the school enrolment of out of school 
children. The campaigns provided in-
formation and promoted discussions 
that have increased the parents and 
communities’ motivation to hold duty 
bearers accountable for the provision 
of quality learning environments for 
their children.
KECO’s target areas are arid and 
semi-arid lands prone to drought. KE-
CO has successfully introduced activi-
ties in climate change adaptation, for 
instance honey harvesting, goat farm-
ing and basket weaving aiming to en-
hance the economic empowerment of 
the targeted community members. In 
Baringo County, five income-gener-
ating groups contributed to increased 
resilience of the members and their 
families though more inclusive and 
sustainable economic growth.
Evaluations and Studies
In 2018, two evaluations were con-
ducted in Kenya; Kenia Country Pro-
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vulnerable situ-
ations become economically self-reliant and 
contribute positively to social cohesion
402 families were enrolled in social protection networks for further 
support.
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations engage in 
and benefit from inclusive and sustainable eco-
nomic growth
100 women and 100 reformed warriors were trained on IGAs income 
generating activities. 
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal and unin-
terrupted access to inclusive quality education/
learning
360 primary school teachers participated in trainings on inclusive edu-
cation, pedagogy, child friendly spaces and child protection.
5,400 children accessed education following the construction and 
reparation of primary schools. 
26,875 pastoralist children regained access to school.
SO 2.3 Disaster affected people have access to 
essential life-saving assistance
8,110 community members and 565 school children gained access to 
safe drinking water, improved sanitation, and other WASH facilities.
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their members 
play an active and leading role in the societal 
development, contributing to enhanced social 
cohesion
600 youths were trained on child protection and children’s rights to 
education. 
School boards (99 F, 200 M) were trained on their roles and duties.
19 separate forums were organized to promote women’s involvement 
in peacebuilding and decision-making processes.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and networks 
are strengthened and promote participation, 
open dialogue and positive social change.
Capacity building was provided to 50 staff members of two local part-
ner organizations (MUHURI and KMYA).
41 Inclusive dialogue forums on non-violent conflict resolution were 
facilitated for 4,102 persons.
SO 3.3 Disaster prone communities have en-
hanced capacity to save lives, alleviate human 
suffering [and bounce back] during and after 
disasters.
Over 1,300 persons accessed water through construction of water 
tanks. 
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
gramme Evaluation and NOTKID 
Peace Project Evaluation (11278). 
Kenia country programme evalua-
tion concluded that the programme 
had positive impact in all three the-
matic areas. There was compelling 
evidence to show that FCA’s Right to 
Peace (R2P) interventions contributed 
to the peace in the counties that FCA 
worked in. The frequency and severity 
of the inter-community conflicts were 
reduced and communities’ percep-
tion of each other was improved. The 
capacity of peace building structures, 
such as peace committees and Civil 
Society Organizations (CSOs), was 
strengthened. 
The evaluation also noted that 
children’s and community members’ 
attitudes towards education have 
improved in the target areas. School 
dropout rates decreased throughout 
2014-2017 due to the establishment of 
child friendly and safe learning spaces 
and 27,648 children were enrolled back 
to primary school. A general consen-
sus among stakeholders was that the 
quality of education had improved in 
the schools supported by FCA. 
The evaluation recommendations 
included strengthening staff capacity 
on M&E, developing a country advo-
cacy plan and setting clear baselines 
and targets to better assess and 
quantify programme achievements. 
Furthermore, enhanced collaboration 
with the key local stakeholders would 
contribute to the sustainability of the 
local level structures.
NOTKID project evaluation (11278) 
concluded that the project had 
achieved its overall objective of im-
proving the wellbeing of the targeted 
pastoralist women, youth and men. 
The project had greatly contributed 
to the cessation of hostilities and the 
current relative peace in the region, 
particularly in Kerio Valley. The pro-
ject had successfully identified and 
engaged the relevant people in the 
various peace-building processes. The 
peace dividend initiatives had contrib-
uted to the cessation for hostilities and 
reduced the urge to engage in rustling 
to recover stolen livestock or to restock. 
The evaluation recommended that 
FCA scale up its engagement with 
County and National governments in 
areas such as mainstreaming peace 
in CIDPs (County Intergrated Devel-
opment Plans), the development and

63
62
somalia
Overview of the Somalia 
country programme 
In 2018, Somalia country programme 
(CP) was implemented in Jubaland, 
South West State, Hirshabelle and 
Galmudug Federal Member States.
Political tensions in Somalia and 
Somaliland heightened in the course 
of 2018 and were marked by an in-
creased number of explosions and at-
tacks in Mogadishu. This affected the 
overall climate and to some extent 
hampered FCA’s governance and 
reconciliation work. 
In April, following a two-year 
drought the onset of heavy rains 
caused the worst flooding for the last 
50 years. In response, Somalia coun-
try office (SOCO) had to adjust the 
on-going programme and activities 
to address the new demands of the 
drought affected communities.
SOCO continued to support the 
establishment of local government 
structures and systems through dis-
trict council formation and remains 
one of the biggest and best-recog-
nized players in Somalia’s peace- 
70%
789
73%
trained teachers reported an 
improvement in their teaching 
after their participation in  
trainings.
CSO members were sup-
ported to come together 
to identify common 
issues to be included in 
the National Develop-
ment Plan.
and state building. SOCO also 
started its first reconciliation project 
together with the Network of Tradi-
tional Peacemakers (NEWT), thus 
contributing to social, religious and 
political reconciliation and conflict 
management. SOCO supported both 
the government and the Civil Society 
Organisations (CSOs) to shape the 
reconciliation process, which is the 
first of its kind since the outbreak of 
the civil war in 1991. 
FCA SOCO continued developing 
partnerships with networks of stra-
tegic stakeholders, local civil society 
actors, private Somali-owned busi-
nesses, relevant authorities and in-
ternational actors. CSOs and mem-
bers of the private sector engaged 
effectively in joint forums as part of 
the Constitutional Review Processes 
and reconciliation processes and ef-
fectively promoted improved coop-
eration between the government and 
the civil society.
During 2018, SOCOs project port-
folio increased significantly, prompt-
ing an organizational growth from 20 
people to 35 people and the estab-
lishment of a new office in Baidoa. 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11278
Northern Kenya integrated development project (NOTKID)
FCA
MFA 
142,730
133,722
11726
Education assistance for pastoralist girls
FCA
Private (local)
5,895
2,892
11756
Promoting access to quality education in Northern Kenya for 
OOSC - Unicef
FCA
Unicef, private, DF
729,000
524,431
11782
MFA frame funded projects PMER support
FCA
MFA
234,220
253,355
11783
GG and other institutional donors projects PMER support
FCA
Private, parishes
208,060
200,986
11881
Emergency Education Response in Kalobeyei settlement
FCA
Unicef, DF
367,162
369,353
11970
Learning for Life: Early Childhood Development and Education 
for Displaced Children
FCA
Unicef, DF
291,440
281,344
11977
Rehabilitation of selected water structures and equipment at 
boreholes in Marsabit County
FCA
Unicef, DF
87,567
81,603
Total (€)    2,066,074       1,847,686
Project list and financial summary 
implementation of County Peace Poli-
cies/Strategies and addressing the 
structural causes of conflicts. 
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
MUHURI and KMYA participated in 
KECO organized trainings on data col-
lection methodologies for research pro-
jects. At least 50 staffs from the two 
organizations were trained
Challenges and lessons learnt
Inter-ethnic conflicts and tension 
among the communities in Marakwet, 
Baringo, West pokot and Turkana led to 
implementation delays in peace work. 
Insecurity also forced non-local teach-
ers to flee the region in fear of height-
ened attacks. Severe drought also de-
layed the planned activities.
Key lessons learnt included the 
importance of the effective imple-
mentation of Do No Harm principles 
in all programme work. Furthermore, 
KECO is working more closely with 
the formal and informal structures to 
enhance sustainability. Evidence also 
shows that women’s role is essential in 
building community cohesion. In 2018, 
as part of KECO’s peace work, women 
were successfully engaged in peace 
dialogues and directly or indirectly 
contributed to peace building. 
7,981
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the Somalia 
Programme in 2018.
4,609
3,372
Abc

64
65
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
To promote the right to inclusive and 
sustainable economic growth (MO1), 
Somalia CP provided entrepreneurship 
training and start up kits to youth and 
young adults who graduated from 
the vocational and basic skills train-
ing. Post surveys showed that 53% of 
the graduates are earning an income 
thanks to the new skills they had ac-
quired. Altogether 16 new jobs were 
created in Somaliland (7F, 9M), and 
95 people (44F, 51M) set up their own 
business following their participation 
in the vocational training. 
Somalia CP also strengthened 
civil society engagement in politi-
cal dialogue and state building pro-
cesses, thus contributing to the right 
to improved and inclusive govern-
ance and services (MO2). Altogether 
332 trained community advocates 
organised awareness raising and ca-
pacity building campaigns for govern-
ment officials, the private sector and 
CSOs, including women and youth 
organisations. The sessions aimed to 
ensure that participants are well in-
formed of the meaning and purpose 
of inclusive, equal and participatory 
elections in 2020/2021. Furthermore, 
the trainings increased their knowl-
edge of the National Development 
Plan, the constitutional review and 
the reconciliation process. The com-
munity advocates reported that the 
trainings had given them the neces-
sary skills and confidence to articulate 
the issues affecting their communities 
and to represent their fellow Somali 
citizens. Their willingness to partici-
pate in meetings hosted by both the 
regional and federal governments has 
increased, even without the support of 
the INGOs. 
Weekly radio talk shows provided 
an avenue to engage in a debate 
about the constitution. The role of 
the communities in the constitutional 
development process was discussed 
through mainstream media channels, 
including nine local radio stations in 
Baidoa, Hudur and Mogadishu. In 
addition, a local South West TV sta-
tion broadcasted live sessions on civic 
education with community advocates, 
academics and university students. 
The radio messages reached an esti-
mated 715,000 listeners.
Because of FCA’s continued support 
to national and local level reconcilia-
tion in five Federal Member States and 
Banadir region, there has been a sig-
nificant improvement in government 
ownership and leadership in ensur-
ing inclusive consultation processes 
as part of the National Reconciliation 
Framework (NRF) formulation. State 
and non-state actors participated in 
various consultation meetings and 
the inputs from the participants were 
incorporated into the final document. 
NRF was successfully endorsed by the 
Council of Ministers in March 2019.
One of the highlights in 2018 was 
the Forgiveness Campaign, which pro-
moted forgiveness and reconciliation. 
Events continued throughout the year 
and culminated in the Day of Forgive-
ness in June. The activities reached 
over 20,000 participants including 
senior government officials, women, 
youth, peace activists, elders, religious 
leaders, poets and artists. 
The right to inclusive quality educa-
tion was supported for 4,312 primary 
school learners through Education in 
Emergencies (EiE). 70% of the trained 
teachers showed a positive change 
in their pedagogical skills, classroom 
management, child safeguarding and 
protection, and professional record 
keeping. The teacher–student ratio 
has lowered to 1:40 in the targeted 
schools due the recruitment of addi-
tional teachers.  In order to promote 
sustainability and impact, the EiE 
programme also built the capac-
ity of the Ministry of Education SWS 
through various trainings, so that they 
can later fulfil their role and obliga-
tions as the primary duty bearer.
Somalia CP also supported people 
to fulfil their legitimate and active role 
for positive change in societies (MO3) 
and facilitated the Somali CSOs, Par-
liamentarians and the EU’s retreat on 
inclusive reconciliation and civic en-
gagement in Nairobi. The fact that the 
government prioritized this dialogue is 
a sign of good will to increase CSOs 
engagement in future peace building 
processes.
Evaluations and Studies
The project evaluation Support the 
Return and Reintegration of Somali 
Returnees from Yemen in Somaliland 
(11786) found that skills training and 
business grant support effectively 
contributed to improved food security 
particularly during the droughts. Fur-
thermore, the community engage-
ment approach was considered very 
effective.
Project evaluation Strengthening 
local governance structures and sys-
tems for more accountable and inclu-
sive Federal Member States in support 
of the Wadajir National Framework 
PHASE II (11700) concluded that dis-
trict councils succeeded in establish-
ing strong representation of minority 
clans and youth, but also noted that 
including female community mem-
bers has proven to be challenging. 
Projects that promote the inclusion 
of women, youth and marginalized 
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vulnerable situ-
ations become economically self-reliant and 
contribute positively to social cohesion
53% of graduates were earning an income within 6 months of graduation. 
220 basic skills and vocational training students (88 M, 132 F) participated 
in entrepreneurship training. 
209 graduates (85 M, 124 F) were provided with start-up kits. 
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations engage in 
and benefit from inclusive and sustainable eco-
nomic growth
Out of the 160 targeted households, 124 (77,5%) live above the national 
poverty line.
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote a posi-
tive change and are transparent, responsive and 
participatory
5 training sessions were organized for community advocates strengthening 
their role as key players in peace and state building.
14 consultation meetings were held in five Federal Member States and Banadir 
region with government authorities and CSOs related to NRF formulation.
Radio programmes focusing on the role of communities in the constitu-
tional development process reached an estimated 715,000 listeners and 
had 1,711 call-ins.
332 (182 M, 150 F) trained advocates conducted 22 awareness raising and 
capacity building campaigns about inclusive elections, National Develop-
ment Plan, constitutional review and the reconciliation process with 1,175 
(447 M, 728 F) participants. 
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal and unin-
terrupted access to inclusive quality education/
learning
4,312 primary school learners (35% girls and 65% boys) enjoyed equal and 
uninterrupted access to quality education.
70% of trained male teachers and 73% of trained female teachers reported 
an improvement in their teaching after their participation in  trainings. 
Rehabilitation of 23 classrooms and 12 latrines.
Trainings and awareness raising conducted for Community Education 
Committees (CEC) and Parent Teacher Associations (PTA). 
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their members 
play an active and leading role in the societal 
development, contributing to enhanced social 
cohesion
Gender training was organized for 300 participants (35% women) to pre-
pare a gender action plan in South West State and Jubaland. 
5 two-days training sessions organized to promote community contribu-
tion to the National Development Plan. 
110 members of the business community (53% women) discussed shared 
challenges such as taxation. 
64 participants including 32 Somali CSOs representatives, 26 Parliamentarians 
and 6 EU representatives attended a CSO/Parliament retreat in Nairobi.
4 new Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) were established.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and networks 
are strengthened and promote participation, 
open dialogue and positive social change.
789 CSO members (315 M, 474 F) were supported to come together to iden-
tify common issues to be included in the National Development Plan. 
SO 3.3 Disaster prone communities have enhanced 
capacity to save lives, alleviate human suffering 
[and bounce back] during and after disasters.
In 4 targeted schools, 59 participants (30 M, 29 F) were trained on DRR.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018

66
67
south sudan
Overview of the South Sudan 
country programme 
In 2018, South Sudan Country Pro-
gramme (CP) was implemented in 
Central Equatoria Sate (Juba, Yei River 
County), Jonglei Sate (Pibor County, 
Fangak County, Bor County) and 
Lakes State (Awerial county).
Programming priorities did not 
change and continued to focus on 
education, livelihood and peace. In 
education, work expanded to also in-
clude TVET in addition to Education 
in Emergencies (EiE). FCA’s contribu-
tion to curriculum development and 
harmonisation for different trades at 
national level was part of this work. 
516
Peace resolution was 
developed in Boma state. 
teachers were trained 
on pedagogy and lesson 
planning, assessments and 
occupational standards.
35,712
direct beneficiaries  
reached by the South Sudan 
Programme in 2018.
13,495
22,217
In livelihood, the cash programming 
component has grown and is reaching 
more beneficiaries. Peace work was ex-
panded to opposition held areas in Fan-
gak. At community and national levels, 
the focus was on working with and 
through religious and traditional lead-
ers, while also promoting youth’s inclu-
sion and participation. The integrated 
programme approach was developed 
further in 2018 mainly between educa-
tion, protection and livelihood sectors.
groups require a longer-term engage-
ment to overcome the social barri-
ers and to change the existing social 
norms. 
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
FCA SOCO continued to diversity its 
donor base. FCA SOCO relaunched 
its earlier collaboration with Somalia 
Stability Fund and entered into new 
partnership with USAID and ECHO.
SOCO enhanced coordination among 
various international, national and local 
actors working in the field of reconcilia-
tion. The Embassy of Finland in Nairobi 
played an integral role in promoting 
coordination with other international 
partners through the Group of Friends 
of Reconciliation and the sub-working 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
10781
SOCO Somali Country Office
FCA
MFA frame, Parishes, Private
714,900
691,091
11648
VIKES Somalia media support project
VIKES
CR
13,125
13,125
11699
Strengthening Civil Society Engagement in Politi-
cal Dialogue and State building processes – In-
terim South West Administration and Banaadir
FCA, IIDA, 
CRD
EUROPEAIDMFA EU private 
parishes
345,925
410,981
11700
Strengthening local governance structures and 
systems for more accountable and inclusive Federal 
Member States in support of the Wadajir National 
Framework
FCA, CRD, 
 IIDA, 
SOYDEN, 
EISA
EUROPEAID
500,000
274,094
11786
Support to return and reintegration to Somali re-
turned from Yemen and host communities
FCA,  
Candlelight
MFA HA 2017, private, parishes
175,000
264,940
11821
Rehabilitation pilot project for convicted AL 
Shabaab prisoners (11697 phase II)
FCA, CRD
UNOPS, private, parishes
51,800
256,292
11825
UCT for the drought affected population in target 
sites in Burao and Odweyne districts, Toghdeer 
region, Somaliland
FCA,  
Candlelight
ACT Alliance, private, parishes
50,000
43,826
11932
Enhancing socio-economic resilience of women & 
youth in Hargeisa, Somaliland
FCA,  
Candlelight
FCA DF, private
147,346
147,346
11934
EiE for drought affected children in Baidoa, SWS, 
Somalia
FCA
MFA HA 2018, FCA DF
126,228
126,228
11935
Rehabilitation Pilot Project for High risk prisoners 
in the Baidoa Prison Phase III
FCA, CRD
UNOPS, private, parishes
81,862
17,365
11948
Promoting Participation and Representation of 
Women in Political decision making
FCA, CRD
SSF GESI, private, parishes
120,000
90,298
11951
Strengthening local governance structures and 
systems for more accountable and inclusive 
Federal Member States in support of the Wadajir 
National Framework
FCA, CRD, 
EISA
ECHO, private, parishes
200,000
198,374
11972
SOM Inclusive EiE response for drought-affected 
IDP and host community children in Bay Region 
of Southwest State of Somalia
FCA
ECHO, private, parishes
500,000
336,781
Project list and financial summary 
Total (€)   3,026,186        2,870,741
group on federalism and reconciliation, 
which has encouraged also other inter-
national partners to support the Na-
tional Reconciliation Framework (NRF) 
development process. The Forgiveness 
Campaign was carried out with the 
Finnish media development founda-
tion VIKES.
SOCO continued its informal net-
working with the UN, including IOM 
and UNDP as well as ICRC for im-
proved information sharing, coordi-
nation and greater synergies.  SOCO 
also participated in the education 
cluster meetings and in the Soma-
lia government-led Education Sector 
Committee meetings (ESC). 
SOCO terminated its partnership 
with IIDA Women’s Development Or-
ganisation and Somali Youth Devel-
opment Network (SOYDEN). 
Challenges and lessons learnt
Following the significant increase in 
SOCO’s project portfolio, lengthy re-
cruitment processes and challenging 
negotiations with donors, some of 
the projects started later than antici-
pated. Furthermore, the deteriorating 
security situation and unrest during 
the presidential elections also affected 
SOCO’s work.
In September, the leaders of all five 
federal member states suspended 
cooperation with the Federal Govern-
ment threatening to halt the progress 
made in peace and state building. 
This slowed down programme imple-
mentation in all the sectors but mostly 
in governance and reconciliation.

68
69
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vulnerable situ-
ations become economically self-reliant and 
contribute positively to social cohesion
42 (23 M, 19 F) youth were trained on business development.
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations engage in 
and benefit from inclusive and sustainable eco-
nomic growth
26 trainees (14 M, 12 F) completed training on hospitality and catering.
10 (6 M, 4 F) out of 26 trainees gained employment after completion 
of apprenticeship.
25 private businesses were mapped for future apprenticeships.
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote a posi-
tive change and are transparent, responsive and 
participatory
Jie and Murle communities’ resolution at Jebel Boma was developed 
during the peace dialogue.
Peace resolution was developed in Boma state. 
6 capacity building trainings in peacebuilding and conflict transfor-
mation were participated by 347 people (197 M, 150 F)
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal and unin-
terrupted access to inclusive quality education/
learning
7 TVET courses are being developed. The 3rd review of the draft  
curriculum was completed.
538 (295 M, 243 F) youth were enrolled in 5 TVET centres.
31,877 children and youth have access to quality education.
516 teachers (53 M, 463 F) were trained on pedagogy and lesson  
planning, assessments and occupational standards.  
235 (162 M, 73 F) PTA/SMC members, teachers and CFS facilitators 
were trained on psychosocial support.
SO 2.3 Disaster affected people have access to 
essential life-saving assistance
1,945 persons (700 M, 1245 F) received cash vouchers
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their members 
play an active and leading role in the societal 
development, contributing to enhanced social 
cohesion
30 processes and topics were supported, including community  
dialogues, peace dialogues and public outreach peace campaigns.
1 youth centre was constructed and equipped with youth recreational 
materials.
7 CBO’s/groups reported increased participation in development  
processes.
100% of the schools supported have parent-teacher associations
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and networks 
are strengthened and promote participation, 
open dialogue and positive social change.
14 civil society partnerships were established and/or supported 
SO 3.3 Disaster prone communities have enhanced 
capacity to save lives, alleviate human suffering 
[and bounce back] during and after disasters.
2,226 persons and 325 vulnerable households were trained on  
preparedness and DRR
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
To support the achievement of the 
right to inclusive and sustainable eco-
nomic growth (MO1), South Sudan CP 
organised trainings for 42 youth in 
business development, while 26 train-
ees completed their training on hospi-
tality and catering.
Under the objective the right to im-
proved and inclusive governance and 
service (MO2), FCA enhanced access 
to quality education and promoted 
young adults economic self-reliance 
through TVET. Trainings are ongoing in 
five TVET centers and 538 students are 
currently participating in trainings on 
building construction, auto mechanics, 
solar PV & general electrical, hairdress-
ing and beauty therapy, catering and 
hospitality services and tailoring and 
garment making. FCA is leading the 
development of the harmonized com-
petency based curriculum for South 
Sudan since there are high demands 
to prioritize TVET in the current coun-
try context.
Access to quality education was en-
hanced for 31,877 children and youth 
through training of teachers on psy-
chosocial support, pedagogical in-
struction and lesson planning, occu-
pational standards and assessment. 
FCA rehabilitated schools and class-
rooms, and distributed school materi-
als. All FCA supported schools have a 
parent-teacher association to support 
children’s inclusive quality learning.
One of the major achievements in 
2018 in promoting positive change was 
the peace resolution in Boma state. As 
part of this process, over 650 partici-
pants attended a two-day peace con-
ference, deliberated on conflict related 
issues and developed a resolution that 
addresses an intergenerational conflict 
among the Boma state youth and pro-
motes peaceful approaches for han-
dling community conflicts.
A number of actions contributed to 
both improved and inclusive govern-
ance and services (MO2) and sup-
porting people to fulfil their legitimate 
and active role for positive change in 
societies (MO 3). FCA promoted par-
ticipatory peace processes, which con-
tributed to enhanced social cohesion 
and peaceful coexistence of the com-
munities. In terms of capacity develop-
ment, SSUCO facilitated trainings for 
traditional chiefs, women, youth, and 
interchurches committees in Boma and 
Jonglei states. Following the trainings, 
the participants were able to establish 
peace committees, which can facilitate 
the rollout of the peace dialogues and 
public outreach peace campaigns in 
selected conflict flash points and cat-
tle camps.
One youth centre was constructed 
and equipped with youth recreational 
materials. The activities will allow the 
youth to interact positively, strengthen 
their relationships with one another, 
and help to disengage from negative 
activities.
CBO’s/groups including one wom-
en’s group, one youth group and five 
farmers groups were trained on car-
pentry, catering and agro-dealership 
activities. As a result, they have been 
able to improve their food security and 
livelihoods for greater resilience against 
future shocks.
Disaster prone communities’ capac-
ity to prepare for and recover from dis-
asters was enhanced through six train-
ing trainings on preparedness/DRR. 
The participants were mainly farmers 
and other community members. 
Evaluations and Studies
In 2018, two project end evaluations, 
CP evaluation and context analysis 
were conducted in South Sudan. 
South Sudan country programme 
evaluation (2013- 2017) concluded that 
FCA has made significant strides in 
improving the lives of the communities 
it serves in South Sudan. FCA’s work 
has been relevant and effective. Sus-
tainability of the actions was however 
challenged by external factors, such as 
conflict and displacement. 
In the education sector, stakeholders 
consider FCA a strong partner. Effec-
tive and impactful services have been 
provided, particularly in teacher and 
PTA trainings as well as construction 
of temporary and permanent learning 
spaces. It was observed that teachers 
have improved their performance indi-
cators and more children are now at-
tending school.
FCA’s peace work focusing on local-
ized community-led dialogue initia-
tives, undoubtedly contributed to the 
reduction of fighting and intra-com-
munal tensions. Livelihoods program-
ming has increased the capacity of the 
targeted beneficiaries in farming and 
other livelihood activities. 
The evaluation recommended that 
FCA should strengthen the interlink-
ages between the different thematic 
areas. The peace building initiatives 
should focus on communities where the 
local attitudes indicate a willingness for 
peace talks. To tackle the challenges 
related to education, a school-feeding 
programme and further teacher educa-
tion and teacher incentives were recom-
mended. Also, the school attendance of 
children that are affected by violence 
could be supported by providing psy-
chosocial services. In all the thematic 
areas, programming should focus on 
in-depth trainings, local capacity build-
ing and eg. money saving and lending 
mechanisms to promote sustainability. 
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
FCA entered into in a new partnership 
agreement with Peace in Action and 
Social Services (PASS), a local NGO 
specialized in peacebuilding work. This 
partnership enabled SSUCO to access 
opposition-controlled areas and thus 
led to the geographical expansion of 
peace work. 
FCA has developed a strong part-
nership with United Nations Mission 
in South Sudan. In 2018, FCA, UNMISS 
and VISTAS (AECOM) jointly facilitated 
Jebel Boma peace dialogues between

70
71
the Murle and Jei communities in 
Boma State. Furthermore, together 
with the local organisations, FCA and 
UNMISS organized a week long peace 
tournament in Greater Pibor Area and 
peace dialogues in Payam and Boma 
levels. As a core group member of the 
South Sudan Council of Churches, 
FCA facilitated the training of over 79 
interchurches committees, following 
which they were able to design peace 
dialogues, public outreach campaigns 
and peace conferences in their respec-
tive communities. 
FCA is an active member of the ACT 
Forum in South Sudan and an imple-
menting partner as part of ACT Ap-
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
10598
SSUCO South Sudan Field Office
FCA
MFA, private, parishes
295,032
310,554
11527
Enhancing sustainable peace and inter-commu-
nal reconciliation in Jonglei
FCA
MFA, private, parishes
260,000
271,891
11742
Livelihood support towards early recovery and resil-
ience - Mingkaman
FCA
MFA 
180,000
147,583
11774
RBA Horn of Africa Project in South Sudan
LWF
Private, parishes
73,672
73,672
11775
Support for implementation of South Sudan 
Council of Churches (SSCC) Action Plan for Peace
FCA
EU (through NCA)
116,520
116,520
11781
Food security and Livelihood support for most 
vulnerable communities in Lakes and Central 
Equatoria States
FCA
MFA HA 2017, DF
111,911
111,911
11838
Famine Crisis Response – SSD171
FCA
ACT
100,000
82,105
11853
Support to enhance the food security and com-
munity coping capacity – Fangak
FCA
DF
58,952
43,247
11904
SSUCO CO - FCA other projects PMER support
FCA
Private
155,324
175,405
11905
Restoring food security and coping capacities in 
South Sudan 
FCA
MFA HA 2018
409,000
344,785
11962
SSD Strengthening civil society and enhancing 
technical and vocational education and training 
(TVET) for youth employment
FCA
EU (through NCA)
368,365
324,915
11964
Providing safe access to basic education and pro-
tection services for crisis affected populations in 
Fangak County, Jonglei State
FCA
ECHO, DF
376,644
376,644
11969
Provision of equitable access to quality education 
for conflict affected children, youth and out-of-
school children in Jonglei State (GPAA & Fangak) 
and Lake State (Awerial County)
FCA
UNICE, DF
428,822
428,822
11976
Complementary Secondary School Education 
Support to Conflict Affected Children and Youth 
in Lakes State (Awerial County, Mingkaman) and 
Jonglei State (Fangak County)
FCA
Charlie Goldsmith
25,685
10,408
Total (€)    3,364,361        3,222,085
Project list and financial summary 
peals. SSUCO is also well represented 
in the NGO Forum Steering Committee. 
Challenges and lessons learnt
Operating in the opposition held areas 
was challenging but the overall security 
situation improved in comparison with 
2017. Peace talks made good progress, 
and open conflict and hostilities dimin-
ished in the areas surrounding SSUCO’s 
target areas. However, there was an in-
creasing number of reported cases of 
inter and intra communal violence. 
As a lessons learnt, SSUCO will con-
tinue to further develop the integrated 
programme approach. Combining a 
short-term approach through uncon-
ditional cash transfers and CFW and 
a longer-term approach through the 
provision of livelihood assets not only 
contributed to improved food security 
and households’ improved coping ca-
pacities but also increased children’s 
school enrolment rates, while keeping 
dropout rates at a minimum.
uganda
Overview of the Uganda 
country programme 
Uganda country programme (CP) 
was implemented across West Nile, 
South Western and Mid-Western sub 
regions in 11 districts of Arua, Yumbe, 
Adjumani, Moyo, Koboko, Kamwenge, 
Kibaale, Kakumiro, Lyantonde, Ka-
gadi and Kyegegwa. In addition, six 
sub programmes were located in the 
targeted communities in Rwamwan-
ja, Arua, Yumbe, Adjumani, Moyo and 
Kyaka. The CP continued to prioritise 
and expand access to quality and in-
clusive education, enhance livelihoods 
of vulnerable groups, and to promote 
advocacy in more stable and humani-
tarian contexts.  
In May 2018, the Government of 
Uganda launched the Education Re-
sponse Plan for Refugees and Host 
Communities in Uganda (ERP) as a re-
sponse to the heavy inflow of refugees 
since 2016. This policy shift also influ-
enced Uganda Country Office’s (UGA-
840
4,873
people were trained 
in entrepreneurship, 
career guidance and 
counselling. 
people took part in 
VSLAs.
111,958
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the Uganda 
Programme in 2018.
CO) work and at the end of 2018, refu-
gee support projects formed the largest 
share of UGACO’s operations.  
FCA is a major education actor in 
Uganda with demonstrated competen-
cies in Education in Emergencies (EiE) 
and more recently also in the BTVET 
sector. This has ensured donors’ contin-
ued interest in and support to UGACO’s 
work and the refugee response. 
FCA was one of the implementing 
partners of a 12-month consortium 
project with Save the Children, Nor-
wegian Refugee Council (NRC) and 
War Child Holland (WCH), funded by 
the European Civil Protection and Hu-
manitarian Aid Operations. The donors 
expressed great appreciation for this 
new implementation modality and de-
cided to extend the operation by two 
years. Furthermore, Education Cannot 
Wait (ECW) also decided to channel 
its funding through the consortium. It 
is likely that joint planning and imple-
mentation will be one of UGACO’s key 
fundraising strategies in the future too.
62,374
49,584

72
73
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
UGACO’s work contributed to the right 
to inclusive and sustainable economic 
growth (MO1) through enhanced access 
to quality vocational education, skills 
training and support to engage in gain-
ful economic activity. FCA supported 
women’s and youth’s small business 
development and increased women’s 
access to finance.  
Functional links between vocation-
al education and skills training (BT-
VET) and employment were promoted 
through Linking Learning to Earning 
(LL2E). FCA’s Rwamwanja BTVET cen-
tre admitted 840 trainees, with 95% 
completion rate. Out of the first in-
take of 238 students that completed 
the training in July, 78% are employed 
or self-employed. Self-employment 
mostly focused on agriculture, hair-
dressing and tailoring.
The youth’s participation in BTVET 
training also positively contributed to 
enhanced social stability. Previously, 
many of the youth were out of school 
and exposed to risks associated with 
casual labour and substance abuse. 
Participation in BTVET has enhanced 
their employment opportunities, con-
tributed to their communities’ socio-
economic development and peaceful 
coexistence. The good results of this 
work have also led to additional fund-
ing for FCA’s BTVET work.
The VSLA approach was the key micro-
finance model used by UGACO, which 
enabled beneficiaries to save and borrow 
for investments, business start-ups and 
expansions. Savings groups were formed 
at the community level to reduce poverty 
by financially and socially empowering 
vulnerable people, especially women. 
Altogether 4,873 people took part in VS-
LAs. In addition, 828 rights-holders, most 
of them women, started a new business 
enterprise after saving and borrowing in 
their VSLA groups.
Several projects contributed to the 
right to improved and inclusive govern-
ance and services (MO2), with focus on 
enhanced access to protective, safe and 
stimulating learning environments. With 
FCA’s support, 40,202 learners benefit-
ted from improved quality learning envi-
ronments at primary and secondary level 
and over 1,800 youth took part in the 
Accelerated Education Program (AEP). 
Furthermore, 840 trainees were trained 
in entrepreneurship skills and received 
career guidance and counselling. The 
youth also attended life skills training to 
increase their self-confidence, problem 
solving and other skills to realize their 
full potential.
School infrastructure was improved 
through construction of learning spaces, 
and FCA also provided school materials. 
The construction of learner and disabil-
ity friendly classrooms in the refugee 
hosting areas increased access to qual-
ity education services. 
Altogether 1,293 teachers were trained 
on peer learning and learner-centered, 
inclusive and gender-sensitive teach-
ing with focus on learners with special 
needs. The teacher trainings provided 
the targeted teachers with the neces-
sary pedagogical competences even 
in resource-limited settings. Following 
the trainings, 89% of the trained teach-
ers felt that the quality of their teaching 
had improved. Furthermore, 123 teach-
ers were trained on effective responses 
to the psychosocial impact of conflict 
and emergencies.
The Teachers without Borders (TwB) 
network volunteers supported and men-
tored 466 teachers in learner-centred 
pedagogy. The teachers noted that this 
enabled them to improve their teaching 
methodologies, and encouraged peer 
learning in the classroom. 
FCA Uganda worked with Omnia Ed-
ucation Partnership (OEP) on entrepre-
neurship training and to award refugee 
graduates with Finnish diplomas. To 
date, 54 youth have been awarded with 
diplomas and 44 of them have started 
successful businesses.
Numerous initiatives supported people 
in fulling their legitimate and active role 
for positive change in societies (MO3). 
At the district level, FCA and its partners 
organised campaigns that promoted a 
closer dialogue between the civil society 
and district-based duty bearers. For in-
stance, FCA’s local partners participated 
in budget formulation and emphasized 
the importance of budgeting for educa-
tion, teacher recruitment and deploy-
ment. Community members also suc-
cessfully advocated the government for 
improved school infrastructure. District 
education departments were engaged in 
supporting FCA’s work, which generates 
synergies and builds sustainability and 
local ownership.
At the national level, FCA was an active 
member of the NGO forum, which collec-
tively advocated for increased space for 
NGOs. NGOs also campaigned against 
the tough registration guidelines for 
NGOs.
Many initiatives contributed to more 
peaceful co-existence in the local com-
munities. Activities such as peace leader-
ship camps and madrasa curriculum de-
velopment promoted community-based 
strategies in conflict resolution. Altogeth-
er 4,523 youth learnt about peace and 
development and became active peace 
agents in their communities. In addition, 
140 children rights’ clubs were established 
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in vulnerable situ-
ations become economically self-reliant and 
contribute positively to social cohesion
78% of the 238 trainees who graduated in July were either employed 
or self-employed. 
840 people (607 M, 233 F) were trained in entrepreneurship, career 
guidance and counselling. 
840 youth (607 M, 233 F) attended life skills development.
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations engage in 
and benefit from inclusive and sustainable eco-
nomic growth
4,873 people (549 M, 4,324 F) took part in VSLAs. 
828 people (276 M, 552 F) started a business enterprise, after saving 
and borrowing from their VSLA groups. 
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes promote a posi-
tive change and are transparent, responsive and 
participatory
480 advocacy events focused on supporting the local communities’ 
participation in local governance and community development.
1,509 community engagement events brought together 50,137  
participants (30,758 M, 19,379 F). 
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal and unin-
terrupted access to inclusive quality education/
learning
35,599 primary school learners (18,724 M, 16,875 F) benefitted from 
improved school infrastructure
1,293 teachers (807 M, 486 F) participated in teacher trainings.  
89% of the trained teachers had improved their quality of teaching 
following the trainings they attended.
4,603 secondary school students (3,218 M, 1,385F) gained access to 
quality education through teacher trainings, construction of class-
rooms and recruitment of teachers.
210 students (14 M, 69F) were provided a scholarship to attend 
Rwamwanja secondary school. 
840 trainees were admitted to Rwamwanja BTVET centre, with 799 
trainees (585 M, 214 F) completing the course (95 %). 
1,883 youth (791 M, 1,092 F) took part in the Accelerated Education 
Program (AEP). 
123 teachers (81 M, 42 F) were trained in psychosocial support.
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and networks 
are strengthened and promote participation, 
open dialogue and positive social change.
140 School Management Committees were supported.
8,484 people (4,727 M, 3,757 F) were trained in dialogue building and 
conflict resolution.
SO 3.3 Disaster prone communities have enhanced 
capacity to save lives, alleviate human suffering 
[and bounce back] during and after disasters.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) interventions were implemented in  
8 schools and one target community.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018

74
75
and trained in the target schools. The 
clubs are now better equipped to sensitise 
other children of their rights and to pro-
mote issues related to children’s safety.
Evaluations and Studies
Two project evaluations were conducted 
in 2018. Final Evaluation of the project 
Education in Emergencies Assistance to 
South Sudanese refugee children in Pa-
grinya and Bidibidi refugee settlements 
in West Nile Region of Uganda (11800) 
noted that the project was able to ad-
dress the vital educational needs of the 
targeted children, especially those with 
special education needs. The findings 
showed that improvements in the learn-
ing environments, namely the construc-
tion of schools and the provision of text-
books, resulted in increased enrolment. 
The evaluation recommended building 
the capacity of the School for Children 
with Disabilities to enrol more children 
and expanding and replicating the Mobile 
Mentoring approach.
Final Evaluation of the project Improv-
ing Access to Quality Education for South 
Sudanese Refugee Children in Bidibidi 
and Omugo Refugee Settlements (11703) 
concluded that deliberate efforts are re-
quired to reach out to refugee children’s 
mothers to enable them to enrol into 
schools, especially for vocational skills 
training. Evaluation also noted that 
targeted training and psychosocial sup-
port for refugee teachers would enable 
them to progressively recover from the 
stressful experiences they went through 
during the war.
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
In addition to continued partnerships 
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 
Finland (MFA), ECHO and UNICEF, new 
partnerships were initiated with UNHCR 
and Enabel. Furthermore, because of 
FCA’s good work in the refugee settle-
ments, UNHCR nominated FCA as the 
Co-lead for the national education in 
Emergencies (EiE) Sector Working Group 
jointly with the Ministry of Education 
and Sports. Consequently, FCA will host 
the EiE coordinator in 2019. 
Partner capacity building remained 
an important priority for UGACO and 
focused on inclusion and gender equali-
ty and monitoring, reporting and evalu-
ation for improved programme quality. 
Partners also took part in FCA’s 2019 
annual planning process. The capacity 
building of UGACO’s partner organisa-
tion Uganda Change Agent Association 
(UCAA) focused on providing technical 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding 
Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
10821
Pader Agribusiness and Value Chain Development Project
LWF
MFA, private and par-
ishes
100,000
100,000
11526
FCA Uganda office PMER support for the MFA frame  
funded programme
FCA
MFA, private and par-
ishes
441,500
541,500
11562
Rwamwanja TVET Project for Congolese refugese and  
host community
FCA
MFA, private and par-
ishes
410,000
396,000
11682
Stengthening the quality of education in Uganda’s  
education sector
RACOBAO
MFA, Comic Relief
120,000
120,000
11683
Preventing violent extremism among youth in Uganda
UMYDF
MFA, Common respon-
sibility campaign
150,000
150,000
11777
Women's Income Generating Support (WINGS) Project
RACOBAO
WB, MFA 
80,000
80,000
11800
Education in Emergencies Assistance to South Sudanese 
refugee children in Pagrinya and Bidibidi refugee settle-
ments in West Nile Region, Uganda
FCA
MFA HA, Disaster 
Funds
146,400
146,400
11837
Improving access to quality education for South Sudanese 
refugee children in Bidibidi Refugee
FCA
ECHO, Disaster funds
699 300
699,300
11844
Taping Agriculture potential for Employment through  
Skilling (TAPES)
FCA
AVSI
16,300
16,300
11845
Allocation of EUR 200,000 to support EiE for South  
Sudanese refugees fleeing famine in South Sudan to  
Bidibidi refugee Settlement in Yumbe District- Uganda
FCA
Disaster Funds,  
parishes
24,000
24,000
11862
EU/AV 2017-2018 Uganda
FCA
EUAV
18,600
18,600
11864
Empowering Women and Girls to excel in businesses in in-
formal settlements/slums of Kampala and Wakiso Districts
DRI
MFA
220,000
219,700
11870
Women in Development for Yumbe and Arua districts in 
Uganda
UCAA
MFA
210,000
210,000
11906
UGACO CO - FCA other projects PMER support
FCA
Disaster Funds
238,000
259,600
11908
Improving access to safe and secure learning spaces for 
South Sudanese Refugee Adolescents in Secondary Schools 
in Omugo  Refugee Settlement
FCA
UNICEF
415,000
424,400
11917
Sustainable Comprehensive Response to Education project 
(SCORE) - Phase 2
FCA
UNICEF
307,700
307,700
11921
Humanitarian Assistant support costs
FCA
Disaster Funds
5,600
5,600
11938
Domitory Construction at PAKELE Primary School,  
Adjumani
FCA
Disaster Funds
50,000
48,300
11952
Education and Livelihood Response to South Sudanese 
Refugees in Bidibidi & Omugo refugee settlement
FCA
UNHCR
1,055,800
1,098,000
11953
Increasing access to Business, Technical, Vocational Educa-
tion and Training and Secondary Education for Congolese 
refugee youth in Rwamwanja refugee settlement
FCA
UNHCR
299,000
297,100
11954
Training and Secondary Education
FCA
UNHCR
373,400
367,100
11956
EiE support to the new influx of Congolese refugees in Kya-
ka II refugee settlement in South Western Uganda
FCA
Disaster Funds
75,000
74,500
11958
ReHOPE interim project 2018
FCA
Disaster Funds
174,900
172,900
11965
Skills training for LWF identified refugee youth in Rwam-
wanja
FCA
MFA
18,900
8,500
11979
Construction of Classroom Blocks (11) In Bidibidi Refugee 
Settlement, Yumbe
FCA
UNICEF
305,600
296,300
11984
Construction project, UNICEF Phase II (Kamwenge,  
Kyegegwa and Lamwo DISTRICTS)
FCA
UNICEF
9,800
9,800
Total (€)   4,063,300     4,147,900
Project list and financial summary 
assistance related to the implementation 
of the UPR recommendations made by 
the UPR Peer review. Support was also 
provided to partner platforms for joint 
learning and to strengthen advocacy and 
lobbying at local and national levels.
Challenges and lessons learnt
The Uganda CP has experienced unprec-
edented growth since 2017. The growth 
has come with additional demands for 
increased human resources and human 
resource management skills. In the cur-
rent context, most project are of short du-
ration and staff-turnover is high. 
Opening of new field offices neces-
sitated additional resources and equip-
ment. The related logistical challenges 
contributed to some delays in project 
implementation. 
FCA executed significant construction 
works. In some cases, the project start 
was delayed due to the many consulta-
tions that UGACO had to organise with 
all the relevant stakeholders. 
UNHCR procedures have tightened, 
which caused short-term delays in com-
mitting funds for new UNHCR funded 
projects. There is also a possibility that 
UNHCR will reduce funding for the im-
plementing partners, which might nega-
tively affect also UGACO’s operations.

76
77
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
Due to thematic shifts in the country 
strategy, 2018 was the last year when 
FCA supported women’s agricultural 
livelihoods in the West Bank con-
tributing to the objective promoting 
the right to inclusive and sustainable 
economic growth (MO1). Due to their 
strengthened marketing skills and bet-
ter linkages to markets, the agricultural 
cooperatives enhanced their profit-
ability, which enabled the creation of 
27 new jobs for local women in the 
rural Qalqiliya, where unemployment 
rate is high and women have limited 
economic opportunities. The village 
savings and loans associations also 
granted micro loans for the total worth 
of 90,000 euros for the development 
of rural livelihoods in Qalqiliya. 
In the education sector, the CP con-
tributed to promote the achievement 
of the right to improved and inclusive 
governance and services (MO2). Work 
focused on the provision of non-formal 
education to hundreds of learners from 
Palestinian and Israeli backgrounds. In 
addition, 40 training sessions in vari-
ous agribusiness skills were organised 
for more than 300 Palestinian rural 
women in the West Bank. In East Jeru-
salem, FCA and its local partner ensured 
access to non-formal education for 48 
Palestinian children at high risk of be-
ing excluded from formal education. 
The initiative was complemented with a 
training in positive discipline techniques 
given to 57 parents whose children were 
on the verge of dropping out of school.  
As a new opening, FCA supported an 
Israeli partner in organizing extracurric-
ular activities for 162 secondary school 
students in the form of workshops that 
offered a forum and tools for discuss-
ing sensitive socio-political issues and 
encouraged the students’ civic activ-
ism. At the end of the process, 75% 
of the participants from Palestinian 
background reported that they would 
choose non-violent means to address 
an external threat to their quality of life, 
compared to the baseline of 46%.
In formal education, FCA success-
fully piloted TwB cooperation and re-
cruited the first volunteers to work on 
IOPT
middle east
Overview of the IOPT  
country Programme
Year 2018 witnessed the 51st year of the 
Israeli occupation of the West Bank as 
well as the continuation of the block-
ade around Gaza with no solution in 
sight to the protracted crisis. The situ-
ation was further complicated by the 
relocation of the US Embassy from Tel 
Aviv to Jerusalem and the decision to 
cut US funding for UNRWA and other 
organizations that work with highly 
vulnerable groups of the Palestinian 
population. 
FCA’s country programme (CP) 
continued to expand its engagement 
in the education sector and gradually 
48 
36 
East Jerusalemite children at 
risk of dropping out of school 
were paired with volunteer 
mentors and took part in non-
formal education activities.
Palestinian teachers 
participated in in-service 
training in two schools in 
the West Bank.
648
direct beneficiaries 
reached by the IOPT 
Programme in 2018.
517
131
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situations engage 
in and benefit from inclusive and sustainable 
economic growth
27 new full and part-time jobs were created for Palestinian women in 
agricultural cooperatives in the West Bank. 
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have equal and un-
interrupted access to inclusive quality educa-
tion/learning
48 East Jerusalemite children at risk of dropping out of school were paired 
with volunteer mentors and took part in non-formal education activities. 
162 Israeli students from both Jewish and Palestinian backgrounds 
participated in workshops aiming to increase their socio-political un-
derstanding and civic activity. 
40 training sessions were organized for 341 Palestinian female farm-
ers in the West Bank on thyme cultivation, marketing, financial man-
agement and community based savings and loans mechanisms. 
36 Palestinian teachers participated in in-service training in two 
schools in the West Bank. 
Main Objective 3 
People and Civil Society: People fulfil their legitimate and active role for positive change
SO 3.1 Local communities and their members 
play an active and leading role in the societal 
development, contributing to enhanced social 
cohesion
28 workshops were organized in Israeli secondary schools on gun vio-
lence, discrimination and against domestic violence.
SO 3.2 Civil society partnerships and networks 
are strengthened and promote participation, 
open dialogue and positive social change.
6 facilitators were trained to conduct workshops for Israeli secondary 
school students focusing on socio-political awareness and civic activity. 
55 Palestinian university students were trained as volunteer mentors 
for children at risk at dropping out of school.
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
shifting away from livelihood work. 
The focus of the programme was on 
the provision of non-formal educa-
tion and increased quality of formal 
education. New pilots included co-
operation with the Teachers without 
Borders (TwB) network in the West 
Bank and provision of non-formal 
education to Israeli teenagers in sec-
ondary schools.

78
79
teacher training and school develop-
ment in the West Bank. After identify-
ing needs together with the targeted 
schools, FCA’s volunteers offered in-
service training on inclusive educa-
tion and learner-centred teaching and 
learning methods to 36 Palestinian 
teachers with a high satisfaction rate 
for the training.  
Synergies were successfully created 
between promoting improved gov-
ernance and services (MO2) and sup-
porting people to fulfil their legitimate 
and active role for positive change in 
societies (MO3). Two education projects 
trained volunteer mentors and facilita-
tors to support the implementation of 
project activities, hence strengthening 
the skills and capacities of the local civil 
society in East Jerusalem and Israel. 
The participants who have taken inter-
est in volunteering and civil society ac-
tivism are overwhelmingly female (87% 
in East Jerusalem and 66% in Israel). As 
a result, FCA will analyse how to en-
courage greater participation by men, 
as the involvement of positive and re-
latable male role models for boys and 
young men is very much needed. 
Evaluations and Studies
A final evaluation was commissioned 
for the Qalqiliya Agriculture Livelihood 
Project (11670) implemented by a local 
partner in the West Bank in 2016-2018. 
The report concluded that the project 
had met and/or surpassed many of 
its expected results and targets, pro-
vided unforeseen additional benefits 
and had direct positive impact on the 
right holders’ lives. The Value Chain 
Approach had clear added value. The 
recommendations included advocacy 
to promote women’s empowerment 
and early integration of disaster risk 
reduction into the project. 
A mid-term evaluation was con-
ducted of the project Instilling Human 
Rights Values in Israel’s Future Soldiers 
(11668) implemented by a local part-
ner in Israel. The report concluded that 
the project had potential impact and 
strong relevance in content, activities 
and target group. The evaluation rec-
ommendations included improvements 
in the internal monitoring system and 
the development of appropriate indica-
tors to assess long-term impact. 
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
The partnership with the Israeli part-
ner Rabbis for Human Rights was 
terminated but FCA’s partnership 
portfolio was complemented with a 
new Israeli partner Sadaka Reut Arab 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11848
IOPT Office
FCA
MFA
160,760
154,227
11668
Instilling Human Rights Values in Israel's 
Future Soldiers
Rabbis for Human Rights
FLA 
20,000
20,000
11819
Big Brother Big Sister phase 2
Arab Councelling Center  
for Education 
MFA
100,000
95,959
11670
Qalqilia Agriculture Livelihoods Project
Economic and Social  
Development Center
MFA 
100,000
97,000
12012
IOPT School Workshops Project phase1
Sadaka Reut Arab Jewish 
Youth Partnership
FCA 
12,324
12,324
10250*
Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in 
Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)
WCC
MFA 
90,000
128,385
Total (€)   483,084         507,895
Project list and financial summary 
Jewish Youth Partnership in non-for-
mal education. The capacity building 
needs identified in the partnership 
assessment focusing on finance ad-
ministration and fundraising will be 
addressed in 2019. 
Challenges and lessons 
learnt
The departure of FCA’s long-time 
manager was one of the key chal-
lenges in 2018. The successful con-
tinuation of the programme and 
management of the transition period 
was ensured through close coopera-
tion between FCA’s programme staff 
and the head office.  
The steering committee formed in 
the TwB initiative has proven to be 
a good channel for engaging stake-
holders and promoting dialogue be-
tween the rights holders and duty 
bearers – especially school head-
masters, the Palestinian Ministry of 
Education and UNESCO – and for 
FCA to have a space to engage the 
duty bearers. This has contributed to 
good relationships with UNESCO and 
the Ministry that can be leveraged for 
future initiatives.
jordan
Overview of the Jordan 
country programme 
In 2018, the Jordan country pro-
gramme (CP) was implemented in 
Amman and the northern part of the 
country with the heaviest concentra-
tions of Syrian refugees. 
While the protracted crisis in Syria 
continues, the presence of Syrian refu-
gees affects the Jordanian society in 
many ways. Currently, no immedi-
ate mass return of displaced people 
to Syria is expected. Simultaneously, 
Jordan struggles with a high youth 
unemployment rate and economic 
stagnation. In this context, FCA Jor-
dan CP has shifted its focus to build-
ing the resilience of the refugees and 
their Jordanian host communities. 
new businesses were 
established by 51 
entrepreneurship training 
graduates. The businesses 
created jobs for 21 
employees. 
Syrian and Jordanian 
youth participated 
in vocational and 
entrepreneurial skills 
trainings.  
3,021
3,955
6,976
Direct beneficiaries reached 
by the Jordan Programme  
in 2018.
49 
1,339  
The CP promotes reduced dependen-
cy on humanitarian aid and aims at 
addressing the local youth unemploy-
ment crisis through a combination of 
education and livelihood interventions. 
* Project managed from the HO

80
81
Analysis of the key results and 
achievements 
FCA’s efforts to promote the right to 
inclusive and sustainable economic 
growth (MO1) focused on ensuring the 
smooth transition of TVET and entre-
preneurship graduates from studies to 
economically prwoductive activities. 
Consequently, more than 600 per-
sons benefited from Linking Learning 
to Earning (LL2E) mechanisms, such 
as start-up grants and kits as well 
as career counselling and on-the-job 
training. Additionally, 84 TVET gradu-
ates were linked to vacant jobs in the 
labour market.
The graduates of FCA’s entrepre-
neurship trainings established 49 
businesses, which also employed 21 
people. Moreover, 46 people earned 
an income through Cash-for-Work 
as trainers or teachers in FCA’s non-
formal education activities. This win-
win situation enabled FCA to tap into 
the locally available expertise and 
support the members of the refugee 
communities to access scarce job op-
portunities available in the camps. 
The CP promoted the right to im-
proved and inclusive governance 
and services (MO2) for nearly 4,000 
young Syrian refugees and their host 
community members through non-
formal education, including English 
and ICT courses as well as recrea-
tional activities, such as circus and 
football. 
FCA has increasingly focused on 
resilience building to enable refugees 
and the host communities to strength-
en their self-reliance. The vocational 
and entrepreneurial trainings reached 
1,339 Syrians and Jordanians. Follow-
ing the trainings, 97% of the trainees 
felt that their skills had improved, giv-
ing them an advantage in the labour 
market. The CP is actively promoting 
women’s participation and more than 
50% of the trainees were women, thus 
enhancing their opportunities for an 
improved economic status. 
FCA was also involved in the devel-
opment of the local education sector 
by providing 17 early childhood care 
specialists with Training of Trainers in 
parenting skills and strengthening the 
capacity of six vocational teachers in 
teaching methodologies designed to 
support learners with disabilities. The 
latter intervention further contributed 
to the successful graduation of 55 
TVET students with disabilities. 
The CP also organised two events 
and published one policy paper to 
address the barriers for home-based 
businesses and to promote closer col-
laboration between vocational train-
ing institutions and private sector to 
ensure the relevance of the vocational 
curricula and future employment op-
portunities. Furthermore, 336 TVET 
students were informed about their 
legal rights in the labour market. Lo-
cal duty-bearer capacities were simul-
taneously built when 32 vocational 
training institute and private sector 
representatives participated in train-
ings on career counselling and on-the-
job-instruction. 
Evaluations and Studies
A final evaluation was conducted of 
FCA’s project focusing on enhanced 
livelihoods and access to labour mar-
ket opportunities for Syrian refugees 
and vulnerable Jordanians (11762). 
Positive feedback was given especial-
ly to FCA’s facilitators who supported 
the entrepreneurs. The evaluation 
noted that similar interventions would 
benefit from closer linkages between 
the vocational trainees and the labour 
market and that they should offer 
more practical training opportunities. 
The evaluation also recommended 
that the incubation period of the en-
trepreneurship track should be pro-
longed to ensure support to start-up 
businesses at their most critical stage. 
The CP also conducted an educa-
tion thematic assessment. The as-
sessment note that FCA’s technical 
capacity in the education sector is 
strong, and the learners and their par-
ents are satisfied with the non-formal 
education activities, especially English 
and ICT courses. Based on the recom-
mendations, the CP has hired an M&E 
specialist to improve its MEAL per-
formance. Awareness raising on child 
labour and early marriages will also 
be considered when designing future 
humanitarian interventions.
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
A new local partner was chosen to 
support the implementation of a live-
lihood project to be launched in 2019. 
The partner’s capacity will be built 
based on the conclusions of the part-
nership assessment.   
FCA is an active participant in the 
sectoral and cross-sectoral Amman-
based working groups in education, 
livelihoods, protection, government 
liaison working groups and coordina-
tion meetings in both camps.
New private and public sector part-
nerships were built especially with 
training providers and employers to 
ensure a god fit between the vocational ­ 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
10780
Middle East Regional Office 
FCA
MFA
105,800
114,076
11650
Finding Lost Generation
FCA
Private donation
585,870
617,310
11762
Enhancing Quality Access and Fostering 
Education Opportunities for Conflict Affected 
Children in Al Raqqa 
FCA
RDPP/Danida 
872,952
860,071
11911
Middle East Regional Office costs 
FCA
FCA own funds
238,540
259,335
11971
Linking learning to earning
FCA
Corporate donation 
29,084
24,518
11968
To assist Syrian youth in refugee camps to 
envision their future through the provision of 
needed skills trainings.
FCA
MONDO
21,827
23,355
11913
Bridging Learning Gaps for Syrian and  
Jordanian Children and Youth
FCA
MFA HA, Comic Relief 
159,871
19,523
11983
JOR Business assistance, monitoring and 
modelling (BAMM)
FCA
FCA  
10,000
9,198
Total (€)    2,023,944       1,927,386
Project list and financial summary 
training and the needs in the labour 
market.
Challenges and lessons 
learnt
After years of protracted crisis in Syria, 
the international donor community is 
gradually shifting focus away from 
the regional refugee situation, hence 
diminishing the available resources for 
humanitarian aid.
Lessons learnt include the need for 
longer career counselling and busi-
ness coaching to ensure effective sup-
port to the rights-holders in their new 
(self)-employment. This will contribute 
to strengthen the sustainability and 
impact of FCA’s interventions.
 
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults 
in vulnerable situations become 
economically self-reliant and 
contribute positively to social 
cohesion
53 TVET students took part in a course on starting own business and were equipped 
with start-up kits.
51 aspiring entrepreneurs were provided with start-up grants and business coaching to 
help to kick-start their businesses.
488 persons benefitted from career counselling and were supported by on-the-job-
instructors. 
SO 1.2 People in vulnerable situ-
ations engage in and benefit 
from inclusive and sustainable 
economic growth
46 people (32 M, 14 F) earned an income through Cash-for-Work.
84 TVET graduates were linked with job opportunities.  
49 new businesses were established by 51 entrepreneurship training graduates.  
The businesses created jobs for 21 employees.  
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.1 Policies and processes 
promote a positive change and 
are transparent, responsive and 
participatory
32 career counsellors and on-the-job instructors were trained. 
336 TVET students were informed about labor rights and labor law. 
Two events were organized and one policy paper produced to create opportunities for 
home-based businesses and promote closer cooperation between TVET providers and 
private sector actors. 
SO 2.2 Children and youth have 
equal and uninterrupted access 
to inclusive quality education/
learning
1,339 Syrian and Jordanian youth participated in vocational and entrepreneurial skills 
trainings. 
3,989 Syrian and Jordanian youth took part in English and ICT courses and recrea-
tional activities. 
17 early childcare specialists participated in ToT on parenting skills.
7 vocational teachers were trained in teaching methodologies for persons with disabilities. 
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018

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83
syria
Overview of the Syria 
country programme 
FCA continued building its Syria pro-
gramme in the education sector but 
with a shifting geographical focus 
and changes in the partnerships. In 
the course of 2018, the government 
of Syria made significant territorial 
gains in the protracted conflict. At the 
same time, FCA encountered major 
challenges in accessing its project ar-
eas in the northern part of the coun-
try, making monitoring of the projects 
impossible. This forced the country 
programme to shift its focus to more 
accessible areas in Central Syria. The 
work concentrated on the rehabilita-
tion of school buildings in the less vol-
atile areas of the country. Functional 
and safe schools are one of the key 
factors that IDP families are known to 
prioritise when they consider returning 
to their old home communities. 
conflict-affected 
children accessed formal 
education through 
rehabilitation of 11 
schools.
conflict-affected 
children were equipped 
with school kits. 
of the 393 trained teachers 
indicated increased knowledge 
and skills in school and 
classroom management and 
modern teaching and learning 
methodologies.
3,979 
2,000
90% 
5,696
10,620
Direct beneficiaries reached 
by the Syria Programme  
in 2018.
Main Objective 1 
People and Private Sector: People can claim and enjoy their right to inclusive and sustainable economic growth for poverty 
eradication.
SO 1.1 Youth and young adults in 
vulnerable situations become eco-
nomically self-reliant and contrib-
ute positively to social cohesion
94 conflict-affected Syrians earned an income through cash-for-work activities.   
Main Objective 2 
People and Governance: People can claim and enjoy their right to improved and inclusive governance and services.
SO 2.2 Children and youth have 
equal and uninterrupted access 
to inclusive quality education/
learning
3,979 conflict-affected children accessed formal education through rehabilitation of 
11 schools. 
2,000 conflict-affected children were equipped with school kits. 
2,888 girls and 3,266 boys accessed non-formal education activities in 8 educa-
tional festivals organized in IDP camps. 
393 teachers (238 M, 155 F) took part in in-service training. 
90% of the 393 trained teachers indicated increased knowledge and skills  in school 
and classroom management and modern teaching and learning methodologies 
Progress made in the country programme’s sub-objectives
Key results in 2018
Analysis of the key results  
and achievements 
It is estimated that 75% of Syrians cur-
rently live under the national poverty 
line due to the protracted war. In 2018, 
the country programme (CP) contribut-
ed to the right to inclusive and sustain-
able economic growth (MO1) through 
the provision of cash-for-work opportu-
nities in infrastructure repair for 94 per-
sons in conflict affected communities. 
Due to cultural reasons, infrastructure 
repair involving heavy manual labour 
attracted mostly male participants. In 
2019, the CP will aim to identify more 
income-generating opportunities also 
for women. 
The main focus of the CP was on 
the right to improved and inclusive 
governance and services (MO2). More 
than 10,000 learners gained access 
to formal and non-formal education 
through school rehabilitation, school 
kit provision and educational festivals 
that complemented the services pro-
vided by schools in IDP camps. 
The quality of education was pro-
moted through in-service training for 
393 teachers to strengthen their ca-
pacity to work with conflict-affected 
learners. Notably, 39% of the trained 
teachers were women, which is a good 
achievement in the culturally conserv-
ative environment in the target area, 
which does not normally favour fe-
male participation in similar activities. 
Evaluations and Studies
FCA and its new partner St. Ephrem 
Patriarchate Development Committee 
(EPDC) conducted a joint education 
needs assessment. The results high-
lighted e.g. the need for strengthened 
child protection and school rehabilita-
tion as well as greater attention to out-
of-school children and children. The 
conclusions will inform the development 
of the new project with EPDC in 2019. 
Partnerships and Capacity 
Building
A long-term partnership with the 
American NGO International Ortho-
dox Christian Charities (IOCC) was ter-
minated, as the country programme 
strives to work more directly with local 
partners. A new local partnership was 
started with St. Ephrem Patriarchate 
Development Committee (EPDC) in 
the education sector. 
Challenges and lessons learnt
FCA faced significant problems in ac-
cessing the project areas, which severe-
ly undermined the monitoring of the 
on-going activities. After concluding 
that remote monitoring would not meet 
FCA’s requirements the geographic fo-
cus of the programme shifted to more 
accessible areas. The changes in the 
programming led to the non-achieve-
ment of some of the expected results, 
eg. the remedial classes and support to 
the targeted school committees. 
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
Costs (€)
11760
Improving Living Conditions for Syrians  
Affected by the Conflict in Syria
International Orthodox 
Christian Charities 
MFA HA
259,137
257,682
11946
Capacity reinforcement for education staff  
in Idlib camp school 
Watan
FCA 
102,294
948,68
11947
Improving access to quality education in 
Aleppo
Syria Relief 
FCA 
51,860
49,596
11950
Enhancing Quality Access and Fostering 
Education Opportunities for Conflict Affected 
Children in Al Raqqa 
White Hats
FCA 
9,000
11,718
11960
Central Syria Partnership Assessment 
DKH, HEKS, IOCC, NCA 
and FCA
FCA 
5,000
4,195
11922
Educational Support in Conflict-Torn Syria 
St. Ephrem Patriarchate 
Development Committee
MFA HA
20,769
20,769
11914
Syria admin cost
FCA
FCA 
207,446
156,249
Total (€)     655,506           595,077
Project list and financial summary 
4,924

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85
FCA’s co-operation with Evangelical Lutheran Church of 
Finland and its 384 parishes increased the visibility of the 
results of our work. Altogether 600 liaison persons, volun-
teers and local parish staff promotde FCA’s work and sup-
ported our fundraising campaigns. In 2018, eight liaison 
persons visited FCA’s country programme in Nepal and fol-
lowing their return organised 164 events with 6,273 partici-
pants to share their experiences and to promote discussion 
on sustainable development. Some of the events were also 
part of the Common Responsibility Campaign. 
Six FCA’s ’Ajankohtaispäivä’-trainings focusing on current 
issues were participated by 282 persons. Local Suvivirsi- 
singing-events were organized by about 200 local parishes 
in support of FCA’s education work. Furthermore, FCA’s theo-
logical foundation-document was launched in August and 
was well received by the local parishes. 
In addition to its international activities for pthe revention 
of violent radicalization and extremism, the Network for Re-
ligious and Traditional Peacemakers (NETW) continued its 
Reach Out 2–project with support from European Union’s 
ISF-fund. The project was implemented as part of the Na-
tional Action Plan (NAP) for the Prevention of Violent Radi-
calisation and Extremism in close collaboration with Minis-
try of the Interior of Finland. The project aimed to enhance 
awareness and build capacity, local collaboration and trust 
between different officials, civil society actors and religious 
communities to develop good practices on the development 
of a family support model and local violent extremism pre-
vention mechanisms. As part of the project, six women work-
ing in the social and health sector and in a religious com-
munity in Finland, participated in a study trip to Sarpsborg, 
Norway. The study trip gave the women an opportunity to 
learn about Saprborg’s innovative methods in building com-
munity cohesion and the family support model and to use 
this acquired knowledge in their work in Finland.
In order to promote women and girls’ participation in PVE 
efforts in Finland, the Network also successfully concluded its 
Programme in Finland
FCA’s work in Finland via resource mobilization, volunteer 
networks, communication and fundraising has the objective  
of supporting and resourcing FCA’s global programme.  
FCA co-operates with many domestic actors, volunteer 
networks, other NGO’s and state authorities. 
Women and girls building trust- project that was made possi-
ble with the support by Kide Foundation. The project supported 
trust-building and dialogue between authorities and women, 
and young people and their parents, and enabled women to 
increase their expertise and involvement in preventing violent 
radicalisation. Activities included eg. series of multicultural cook-
ing courses for social workers, police, other authorities, women 
and girls with the aim to build trust and provide a safe space 
for dialogue. 
The second phase of the Finnish Language Says Welcome 
–project, now entitled Learning the Language of Participation 
started in April 2018.  The project builds on the successes and 
lessons learnt of the first phase and focuses on learning the lan-
guage needed for democratic and societal participation, target-
ing youth and parents with small children who are at high risk of 
marginalization. The steering committee consists of TwB, City 
of Helsinki Education Division and Culture and Leisure Sector, 
City of Vantaa Immigrant Services, FCA´s Reach out -project 
and Church relations, Finnish Immigration Service, Let´s Read 
Together -network, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, 
University of Helsinki and Uusimaa ELY Centre.
The project promotes integration of the asylum seekers who 
have been granted a residence permit and encourages their 
participation in the Finnish society. A working group focusing on 
supporting young adults at risk of marginalization was estab-
lished in 2018 and includes teachers and experts in democracy 
education as well as youth from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. 
The project promotes the integration of asylum seekers 
who have been granted a residence permit and encourages 
their participation in the Finnish society. The project will make 
appropriate language teaching resources more widely avail-
able and cooperates with the relevant organizations to en-
hance their awareness of the target groups’ needs. A working 
group focusing on supporting young adults at risk of margin-
alization was established in 2018 and includes teachers and 
experts in democracy education as well as youth from Syria, 
Afghanistan and Iraq.
Network for Religious and  
Traditional Peacemakers
In 2018, the Network had approximately 50 partners and 
members globally and its programmatic priorities were 
reconciliation, traditional and faith-oriented mediators 
(TFIMs), peace support for Somalia and Buddhist-Muslim 
Dialogue in South and Southeast Asia. Activities were also 
undertaken in Libya, Central African Republic and Kenya, 
and with separate funding in Finland. 
Around 300 people participated in trainings organized 
by the Network, including United Nations (UN) personnel, 
peace practitioners, policy makers and religious and tradi-
tional peacemakers. Network-supported trainings, Religion 
and Mediation Courses, were organized for the 5th time in 
Switzerland and for the 4th time in New York for the UN DPA 
and DPKO staff. Additional trainings and awareness raising 
events reached approximately 120 participants, focusing on 
reconciliation, religion and mediation, inclusivity and insider 
mediation. 
The Network supported the UN in updating its Guidance 
Note on Insider Mediation and produced briefing papers to 
inform international stakeholders, particularly the UN, of the 
current trajectories of peace and conflict dynamics in coun-
tries such as Somalia. The Network also contributed through 
a case study to an OSCE report on Freedom of Religion and 
Belief (FoRB) and through the Network Inclusivity Working 
Group to a policy brief A Closer Look – Gender Dynamics in 
Violent Extremism and Countering Violent Extremism in Asia. 
In 2018, the Network also started the consultations to for-
mulate the longer-term strategy with the Core Group and 
the Advisory Group. 
NETWORKS AND VOLUNTEERING
FCA’s networks promoted collective engagement and 
cooperation for global justice. They provided thematic and 
technical expertise overseas, engaged in fundraising efforts 
and advocacy, and promoted global education in Finland. 
Peace Support Cluster 
The year 2018 marked key steps in peace processes sup-
ported by the Network, particularly in Somalia where the 
Network has been advancing the national reconciliation pro-
cess since summer 2017. In 2018 the Network, together with 
partners, conducted country-wide consultations to form the 
National Reconciliation Framework, built the capacity of na-
tional and local authorities in advancing reconciliation and 
supported a media campaign and strategic communica-
tions on forgiveness and reconciliation. Since August 2018, 
14 consultations were carried out in all five federal member 
states of Somalia, Banadir region and Mogadishu. 
Network’s work in South and Southeast Asia focused on 
addressing growing identity-based conflict fault lines with 
particular focus on Buddhist-Muslim relations. This was 
done through continued collaboration with Asia Working 
Group and the International Forum on Buddhist Muslim 
Relations (BMF) to jointly advance analysis, action and ad-
vocacy on the pressing conflict dynamics from country level 
(such as Myanmar, Southern Thailand, Sri Lanka) to regional 
level. As the highlight of the collaboration by key Network 
members and partners working in South and Southeast 
Asia, the FCA/ Network was granted EIDHR project fund-
ing of one million for a 30-month large consortium3 project. 
In the Central African Republic (CAR) 7 mediation train-
ings and 7 coaching sessions on interfaith dialogue, conflict 
resolution and mediation were organized in the 5 targeted 
provinces. Altogether 171 people were trained. In Libya, the 
support for peace and reconciliation focused on strengthen-
ing the inclusive Libya Tribal Movement and the implemen-
tation of a refined Libyan Social Contract with the purpose 
of creating an inclusive and peaceful society for all Libyans. 
3The consortium of the project includes Religion for Peace, Sathirakoses Na-
gapradipa Foundation, World Faith Development Dialogue and Islamic Relief 
Worldwide. In addition to the Network Secretariat the project is implemented 
in close collaboration with FCA MYACO office.

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87
In South Sudan, the Network provided support has led to the 
South Sudan Council of Churches being recognized as main 
implementer of reconciliation, and it coordinates its efforts 
in collaboration with the UN and international actors.
Furthermore, the Network has been leading on three 
thematic focus areas that are reconciliation, tradition- and 
faith-orientated insider mediator platform and advance-
ment of the implementation of Freedom of Religion and/or 
Belief. Concretely the Network has contributed to the devel-
opment and conceptualisation of a global support mecha-
nism: Platform of Faith Mediators (for tradition and faith 
orientated insider mediators). 
Inclusivity Cluster 
The Network contributed to the inclusion of women and 
youth in religious and traditional peace processes eg. in 
South and Southeast Asia, Somalia, Libya and CAR. Fur-
thermore, the Network’s Inclusivity Working Group (IWG) 
continued to ensure robust inclusion in all its activities, 
namely through engaging in advocacy toward policymak-
ers to ensure inclusivity (particularly in light of the UNSCR 
1325 and 2250), through engaging in research to provide 
evidence-based data on women and young people’s po-
tentials and needs in peacebuilding, and through support-
ing women, youth and minority group peacemakers in their 
efforts to counter violent extremism and advance peace in 
their communities. The Network, Kroc Institute for Peace 
and Justice (IPJ)’s Women PeaceMakers program, Search 
for Common Ground and Mercy Corps facilitated a round-
table on “Transforming Global-Local Partnerships in Pur-
suit of Durable Peace” during the 62nd session of the UN 
Commission on the Status of Women on March 20, 2018.
To inform evidence-based intervention on inclusive 
peacebuilding in religious contexts the Network together 
with USIP supported field research focused on the role of 
religious women, youth and minority peacemakers engaged 
in mediation/negotiations. The case studies on Libya, Syr-
ia Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Philippines explore the 
manner in which religious communities impact conflict and 
peace processes, and the degree to which religious women, 
youth and minorities peacemakers contribute to the suc-
cesses or failure of a peace processes. 
Thematic Expertise on Preventing  
Violent Extremism
The Network strove to create and support innovative col-
laboration models for preventing violent extremism (PVE), 
for example the Livelihood Innovations project that seeks to 
generate community benefits through socially and environ-
mentally sustainable private sector collaboration in Kenya 
and Somalia. 
In addition, the Network continued its research on PVE. 
This includes the US Department of State-funded research 
on the Kenyan Criminal Justice System and Rates of Vio-
lent Extremism, Global Centre on Cooperative Security led 
research that culminated in the policy brief A Closer Look 
– Gender Dynamics in Violent Extremism and Countering 
Violent Extremism in Asia and two briefing papers on al-
Shabaab that were in 2018 included in the UN draft pub-
lication Portfolio of Expert Briefing Papers on Peace and 
Reconciliation in Somalia.
In Finland, the Network’s activities focused on supporting 
collaboration between local and national authorities, and 
religious and other communities in preventing radicaliza-
tion and violent extremism. In 2018, the Network continued 
to promote global knowledge exchange on functional PVE 
models, for example through the Radicalisation Awareness 
Network of the European Commission, and by contributing 
to the design of training for the OSCE-led Leaders against 
Intolerance and Violent Extremism project.
Project nr
Project name
Partner
Primary Funding Source
Budget (€)
11789
Networking
Various network members
 POL-50, FCA
242,323
11812
Peace Support
E.g. SOCO, UN agencies, LIAS, INEB, 
IPTI, Berghof Foundation, Princeton 
University
MFAMFA POL-50, FCA 
372,400
11856A
Peace Support in CAR
CAR NETWS contribution
CAR/NETWS
14,566
11813
Inclusivity
E.g. UN agencies, USIP,  various net-
work members (Inclusivity Working 
Group) 
MFA POL-50, FCA 
59,154
11814
Prevention of violent extremism
E.g. KECO, UN Office for Genocide  
Prevention
MFA POL-50, 
103,636
11815
Religion and mediation trainings
E.g. FCAA, Swiss Federal Department 
of Foreign Affairs, ETH Zürich
MFA POL-50, 
90,560
11816
Staff and Administration
Religions for Peace, KAICIID (tbc)
MFA POL-50, 
328,032
11816A
KAICIID funded Core Support
KAICIID funded Core Support
KAICIID funded Core  
Support
34,887
11843
Research on Experiences in the Kenyan 
Criminal Justice System and Rates of 
Violent Extremism
KECO, Muhuri, KMYA, University of 
the Free State
US Department of State
320,018
11854
Reach Out 2 (Finland)
E.g. National Coordination group, 
MoI, Radinet
EUSA, FCA 
57,151
11856
Peace-making in Central African  
Republic 
E.g. CARCO, KAICIID
KAICIID, MFA POL-50, FCA 
107,835
11827
Kide-säätiö funded women and Girls 
building trust (Finland)
KIDE, FCO, HO
Kide foundation
46,299
11963
Somalia national and local reconciliation
SOCO, UNDP, UNSOM, Somalia  
Ministry of Interior
SOCO, UNDP, UNSOM,  
Somalia Ministry of Interior
338,784
Total (€)   2,115,646
Project list and financial summary 
Teachers without Borders (TwB)
Teachers without Borders (TwB) Finland and its volunteers 
continued to provide valuable support in enhancing the 
quality of education in FCA’s Country Programmes. In 2018, 
26 short-term and long-term volunteers were deployed to 
FCA Programme Countries in Kenya, Uganda, Central-Afri-
can Republic, Eritrea, IOPT, Myanmar and Greece.
The TwB volunteers worked on various levels, from minis-
tries to teacher training institutions and individual schools. 
They served as education specialists in sector develop-
ment projects and supported planning, capacity building 
and curriculum development. They contributed to teachers’ 
continuous professional development on pedagogy and 
didactics. This was done through observing and mentor-
ing, school visits, workshops and trainings, joint material 
development and curriculum planning. 
TwB volunteers have had an important role in support-
ing the school counselor programme in Cambodia. In addi-
tion, Finnish teachers peer-coached Ugandan teachers as 
a part of the World Teacher Programme, organized together 
with a Dutch NGO Edukans In the new initiative the Mobile 
Mentoring Programme, teachers in FCA’s target schools in 
Uganda communicated and interacted with their Finnish 
teacher mentors via WhatsApp and online tools.  
TwB network continued its close co-operation with the 
steering committee members from Ministry for Foreign Af-
fairs of Finland, Ministry of Education, National Agency of 
Education, Trade Union of Education in Finland OAJ, Uni-
versity of Helsinki and Finnish Development NGOs, such as 
Fingo. The development of the FinCapEducation initiative 
is still ongoing.

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89
Women’s Bank
Women’s Bank was founded in 2007 by FCA and a group 
of Finnish volunteers. Women’s Bank aims to increase wom-
en’s sustainable entrepreneurship and livelihood in develop-
ing countries. Women’s Bank also has a growing network of 
active volunteers raising funds and awareness of its mission.
Women’s Bank’s fundraising record was made in 2018 
with over 1.8 million euros raised to support women in de-
veloping countries. 
The nationwide volunteer network comprised of over 40 
local groups with about 1,000 active volunteers who organ-
ised over 500 fundraising events. In addition, thousands of 
volunteers participated in organizing one-off events.
Women’s Bank Walk was organised for the ninth con-
secutive year with events in 75 locations, raising a total of 
EUR 82,000. During its history, Women’s Bank Walk has 
raised a total of EUR 490,000. Women’s Bank Golf took 
place across 24 golf clubs and was attended by over 1200 
players with EUR 40,000 raised in funds. In total, Women’s 
Bank Golf has raised EUR 127,000 since its first tour in 2012. 
Women’s Bank’s coordinators continued developing private 
fundraising for the effective use of the available resources and 
sustained future growth. This was reflected in 6% increase in 
overall donations, 8% increase in monthly donations and 98% 
increase in online donations. Digital marketing and telemar-
keting are the key techniques and there is a stronger focus 
on sustaining donor relations with Women’s Bank’s 3,200 
monthly donors and 1,600 “shareholders”.
FCA is entrusted with the management of Women’s Bank 
funded projects overseen by the Women’s Bank Steering 
Group. In 2018, the Steering Group consisted of nine mem-
bers, an FCA representative and the chair, Reetta Meriläinen. 
Women’s Bank also has a Management Group responsi-
ble for operational fundraising and volunteer support and 
a Development Group of development professionals advis-
ing project and concept innovation. In 2018, the chair of the 
Management Group changed and the group participated in 
a process aiming to ensure quality support to the volunteer 
network. The Development Group mostly focused on the 
establishment of a poultry company in Uganda.
In 2018, the Women’s Bank portfolio included twelve en-
trepreneurship, education and cooperative development 
projects in five countries: Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, 
In 2018, Women’s Bank made 
its fundraising record 
and raised over 1.8 MEUR 
to support women in the 
developing countries.
Uganda and Central African Republic. The total number 
of beneficiaries was 26,800. Since its inception, Women’s 
Bank funded projects have directly reached over 59,000 
people. Indirectly almost 300,000 people in 15 different 
countries have benefitted.
FCA and Women’s Bank also continued the Skills Donation 
initiative, which provided six professionals the opportunity to 
volunteer in short-term assignments in FCA’s projects. Also, 
nine active Women’s Bank volunteers participated in the an-
nual self-financed volunteer excursion, which took place in 
Nepal and visited Women’s Bank projects in the country.
Changemaker Network
Changemaker Finland is the youth advocacy network of 
FCA. Changemaker supports youth advocacy and is based 
on volunteer work and youth participation. Changemaker 
strives for global justice by educating young people about 
development issues and organising advocacy campaigns. 
In 2018, the network organised two training weekends, 
five other trainings on advocacy and four on journalism. 
Altogether, 110 events were organised in 20 towns. Train-
ings and participation in events such as World village fes-
tival or church-related events enhanced the network’s vis-
ibility, which contributed to an increase in Changemaker’s 
membership by 132 new members. Inactive members were 
removed from the register and at the end of the year the 
total number of Changemaker members was 1,787. 
10,000 copies of the Changemaker’s own magazine, 
Globalisti, were published. The two issues focused on food 
security and peace.   
Changemaker’s advocacy efforts focused on food secu-
rity.  A petition with 1,929 signatures will be handed over to 
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland after the 
parliamentary elections in 2019. In addition to the food se-
curity campaign, Changemaker was also actively involved in 
the youth, peace and security process, as part of developing 
Finland’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 2250 (NAP 2250).
Changemaker also launched a new concept called 
Changemaker Evenings. They provide a number of ways to 
take action and a possibility to learn about different global 
advocacy themes. This concept and the updated advocacy 
trainings will strengthen Changemaker’s focus on effective 
youth participation in advocacy and the inclusion of youth 
as active members of their society.
EAPPI
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine 
and Israel (EAPPI) is an ecumenical initiative that supports 
local and international efforts to end the Israeli occupation 
and bring a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 
based on international law and United Nations resolutions.
In 2018, FCA deployed 11 EAs to Occupied Palestinian Ter-
ritories with support from the MFA. Out of the 20 countries 
that participate in the EAPPI programme, Finland is one of 
the largest contributors. FCA also provided direct coordina-
tion support to WCC.
The EA volunteers are deployed in the West Bank where 
they offer protective presence to vulnerable communities 
and monitor the compliance of the international humani-
tarian law and human rights in the Occupied Palestine Ter-
ritories. Following their deployment period, the EAs partici-
pate in advocacy work mainly in Finland. They advocate for 
civilian protection and policy change, affirming the respect 
of human rights and international humanitarian law, and 
urging the international community to actively promote a 
just peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. 
EAPPIs large visibility and advocacy campaign in May 
2018 “Somesta selliin-miehityksen virtuaalinen ulottuvuus” 
included a social media campaign, exhibitions, school visits 
and presence at the World village festival.

FCA’s quality and  
accountability framework 
FCA applies the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) as the 
overall framework on quality and accountability, and is 
certified against the standard. FCA continued aligning its 
policies, procedures and practices with the CHS, primarily 
based on the findings of the initial audit conducted in 2017 
and the maintenance audit that took place in 2018. During 
2018, the focus gradually shifted from head office level to 
country programme level, i.e. from revision of guiding docu-
ments and procedures to implementation and compliance.
The most urgent improvements implemented related to 
1) analysing safety of and risks to communities, unintend-
ed effects of work, and how to address them; 2) continu-
ous rollout of complaint response mechanism in Country 
Programmes; and 3) systematic learning from evaluations, 
audits, reviews, and monitoring. The maintenance audit in 
June 2018 confirmed that improvements have been ad-
equate but that the rollout of the revised or new guidelines 
and processes was still underway.
Developments in Knowledge Management and Learning, 
PMER and Risk Management greatly contributed to ad-
dressing the audit findings. In addition, FCA focused on de-
veloping safeguarding mechanisms to prevent sexual and 
other forms of exploitation and abuse, rollout of complaints 
response mechanism (CRM) and implementation of Child 
Safeguarding Policy in the country programmes. By the end 
of 2018, all country programmes had received a training on 
complaints handling, and support in implementing a con-
text specific CRM. In addition, FCA improved its prepared-
ness to investigate breaches of Code of Conduct at head of-
fice level (e.g. Standing Complaint Committee established). 
As part of the implementation of the Child Safeguarding 
Policy, child-safeguarding focal points were appointed in 
several country offices and a Yammer group was started.  
FCA’s quality assurance 
and accountability
Knowledge management
In 2018, FCA established a new staff position at the head 
office responsible for advancing Knowledge Management. 
A Knowledge Management Task Force was also established. 
A participatory consultation process was carried out, focus-
ing on building a common understanding of knowledge 
management, identifying the appropriate ways of work 
and clarifying roles and responsibilities in taking knowledge 
management forward. 
For FCA, the essence of knowledge management is to use 
data, information and knowledge to create value for FCA 
and the people we work with. Knowledge management 
brings together the various programmatic and operational 
functions of FCA,  all of which manage knowledge, including 
PMER, technology and systems, innovations, research and 
development, communications and people management. 
Enhanced knowledge management will allow FCA to im-
prove accountability; promote the effective use of agreed 
processes, tools and guidelines; support informed decision-
making and problem solving; stimulate innovations; reduce 
risks; enable learning and improve programming quality; 
and support fundraising. 
The consultation process fed into the development of FCA’s 
Knowledge Management Plan 2019-2023, to be approved in 
early 2019.  The plan will promote knowledge management in 
a more systematic and structured way. It includes a baseline 
from 2018 and objectives for 2023 as well as concrete mecha-
nisms and actions to achieve the set objectives.
Knowledge management was also advanced through 
management responses in project and programme evalu-
ations, inductions and exit interviews, process descriptions, 
MEAL Community of Practice, integration of feedback 
mechanisms into various processes (and piloting of the 
Listen, Learn and Act approach) and  furthering the com-
plaints response mechanism. In addition, FCA staff partici-
91
part 3 PROGRAMME 
MANAGEMENT  
AND SUPPORT 
The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) provides FCA with  
a performance based, verifiable standard to ensure robust quality 
and accountability management. FCA’s recent investments in 
improved knowledge management will further contribute to enhance 
programme quality and accountability to all our stakeholders.

pated in country programme evaluations and programme 
workshops at country or global level. The meeting structure 
in the head office and country offices was also improved. 
The development of FCA’s new programme management 
system (NOW) is also an important platform to support 
knowledge management.
PMER
On global and country programme levels, the focus was 
on the rolling out of the new global programme 2018-2023 
and its M&E system. Country programme level data col-
lection and aggregation tools were introduced and capac-
ity building was provided both at country programme and 
head office levels on all new tools and processes. In late 
2018, country programmes were requested to prepare their 
MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learn-
ing) plans to integrate accountability and learning into 
planning, monitoring and evaluation. Country programme 
evaluations were conducted in Kenya and South Sudan.
On project level, tools and guidelines were revised and new 
ones created to ensure that they are in line with the global 
programme result framework. The integration of the CHS 
recommendations into project work was enhanced through 
risk management, systematization of the use of M&E tools 
and meeting practices supporting systematic learning and 
improvement.
FCA also finalized the procurement of a Strategy Execu-
tion and Program Management System. Salesforce was se-
lected as a platform to be used for the system that was then 
internally named NOW (Navigating Our Work). The system 
aims at increasing the quality of PMER, while simplifying da-
ta processing and analysis. The system will enable improved 
results-based management and will amplify FCA’s manage-
ment and analytical capabilities.  During the second half of 
the year, FCA worked closely with the vendor on the detailed 
design and customization of the tool. Kenya and South Sudan 
have been involved as first pilot countries. The project team 
also configured and tested the system’s project management, 
approval chains and financial management functions. 
administration
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93
The role of Head Office support functions, including finance, 
HR and general administration, is to ensure and improve the 
quality of FCA’s programmatic work and administration,  
and to enable good core functions globally.
Finance and Administration
In 2018, FCA closed the programmes and country offices in 
Greece and Sierra Leone. The country office in Liberia was not 
closed as planned and there remains one small EU-funded 
project implemented by FCA’s local partner SHED. The clo-
sure of the country offices was a continuation of the exit from 
Haiti in 2017 and four other countries in 2016, due to funding 
cuts by the MFA. To minimize possible financial and security 
risks and to ensure responsible ending of programmes to the 
extent possible, exiting was done in close co-operation with 
FCA field staff and partners. In some cases exit was sup-
ported by an internal audit to mitigate against potential 
mismanagement or safety risks to FCA’s staff.
Financial management support was provided to the 
country offices by the manager of international finances 
and four financial controllers in the Head Office. The con-
trollers supported and monitored their respective country 
offices. One roving financial controller was based in Uganda 
and travelled to FCA country offices when needed. Regular 
visits to programme countries has been a vital part of the 
controllers’ effective support and control function. Finance 
staff in the Head Office and in the country offices met in 
their annual planning and training meeting in Jordan in 
September 2018, with focus on budgeting for 2019. New 
financial management guidelines for country offices were 
introduced reflecting more accurately the present financial 
control environment and organisational changes.
The development of the new project management sys-
tem continued in 2018, replacing the old Epeli-system in 
2019. The comparison and tendering process started in 
2017 and the final selection was done in early 2018. The 
new system will include added features for operational and 
financial monitoring of project implementation.
During the past few years, FCA’s funding base has 
changed. Instead of stable longer-term funding, work has be-
come more and more project-based and fragmented. This is 
reflected also in shorter employment contracts with our staff, 
based on the project cycles and the related available funding.
MFA’s continued support ensures longer-term funding 
for FCA’s country programmes and country offices. MFA 
funding has allowed FCA to build a field presence in most 
programme countries. FCA’s country offices include imple-
menting staff involved in the daily planning, monitoring, 
evaluation and reporting (PMER) of programmes and pro-
jects, thematic experts and staff working in finance and ad-
ministration. The country offices also support the capacity 
building of local partners. FCA’s presence in its countries of 
operation enables LRRD, agility, close working relationships 
with partners and donors and quality PMER and implemen-
tation of quality programme work. In 2018, FCA continued, 
together with its partners, applying for more funding from 
global institutional donors and expanding programme work 
and increasing its impact.

FINANCING OF THE GLOBAL 
PROGrAMME IN 2017
In 2018, FCA’s Global programme financing was based on four 
relatively equal funding sources: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of 
Finland, global institutional donors, church and private funding. 
We continued to strengthen our donor relations and build new 
partnerships on global and national levels.
In 2018, FCA expended a total of 40,5 MEUR on aid and 
other operations. The income for the period was 40,0 MEUR. 
The deficit of the financial period was 0,5 MEUR (2017 result 
of 0,05 MEUR). At the end of 2018, equity was 10,5 MEUR 
(13,0 MEUR in 2017). Advances received for disaster relief 
work, reconstruction, Women’s Bank and other operations 
totaled 6,0 MEUR in the balance sheet (7,9 MEUR in 2017).
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs funding for development 
co-operation activities was 6,6 MEUR, of which 5,4 MEUR 
through Partnership Agreement and 1,2 MEUR for the Sec-
retariat of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peace-
makers. 3,0 MEUR was received for humanitarian aid. Funds 
from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs made up 23,8 % (20,8 % 
in 2017) of FCA’s total income. 
Support received from the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran 
parishes, including proceeds from the Common Responsi-
bility Campaign and operational subsidies from the Church 
Council totaled 7,7 MEUR and were 19,3 % (17,5 %) of the total 
income. 
Income from international funding sources (e.g. EU, ECHO, 
ACT, SSF, USAID, DFID, KAICIID, UNHCR, UNICEF) totaled 
11,0 MEUR (27.5% of the total income) and income from pri-
vate sector was 10,6 MEUR (26,5 % of the total income).
In 2018, FCA used 86,6 % of the funds for the programme 
work and 13.4 % for the programme support including com-
munications, fundraising, stakeholder relations and general 
administration.
FCA received the Core 
Humanitarian Standard (CHS) 
certificate in June 2017.
94
95
Human Resources
At the end of 2017 Finn Church Aid (FCA) had a total of 
355 employees, of whom 115 worked in the Helsinki office, 
31 expatriates served in the programme offices and 209 
had been hired locally. Total number of full-time equiva-
lent (FTE) stood at 325. The ratio of locally hired employ-
ees in the programme countries was 82 %, which is in line 
with the objective to employ local staff whenever possible. 
To improve managing the global organisation FCA 
started to organise Leadership Forums twice a year in 
2016. The Forum brings together FCA’s management team 
and country directors. During each Leadership Forum or-
ganisational and people management are on the agenda. 
In 2017, senior management discussed FCA’s leadership 
culture and values to build a more unified organisational 
culture. In addition, an organizational culture that empha-
sizes ethical values and behavior was also on the agenda 
and a survey was conducted at the end of the year. The 
results will be processed in 2018. Facilitated peer support 
groups were organised to support country directors in their 
work and to share best practices within the organisation. 
Overall wellbeing of staff remained on a good level 
based on the report from the occupational health care 
service and the occupational safety and health inspec-
tion. The overall costs of the occupational health care 
continued to decline and the number of sick leave days 
per FTE were lower than in the previous year. Working in 
challenging environments requires investing in the health 
and wellbeing of staff. FCA continues to provide psycho-
social support and competence development to its staff, 
including security training. An e-learning platform has 
been operational since 2016 providing a growing number 
of trainings and induction material.
40,5 m.€
6,6 m.€
3,0 m.€
11,0 m.€
10,6 m.€
FCA expended on aid  
and other operations
MFA funding for development 
co-operation
MFA funding for  
humanitarian aid
International funding sources
Income
private sector funding

Domestic fundraising
FCA raised 10,6 million euros from private sources in 2018, 
mainly from individuals. Monthly donors formed the basis 
for a steady flow of private funds, largely acquired through 
face-to-face street fundraising. At the end of 2018, FCA had 
approximately 23,500 monthly donors, accounting for 39% 
of the private sector total income.
FCA continued to use various fundraising methods, in-
cluding tele fundraising, direct marketing, direct response 
TV-spots, Alternative Gifts (Toisenlainen lahja), digital 
fundraising and major donor fundraising. FCA also partici-
pated in the National Broadcasting Company’s (YLE) an-
nual fundraising campaign “Yle Helps Red Nose Day” (Ylen 
Hyvä Säätiön Nenäpäivä).
fundraising
WeFood Finland
FCA launched a new initiative, WeFood store that sells food 
that would otherwise become food waste. The volunteer-
run, innovative store opened in Finland’s capital Helsinki in 
September 2018. Partnerships started with Heinon Tukku, 
K-supermarket Sörnäistenniemi, Apetit, Ecolink, Meira, En-
tocube, ArvidNordqvist, Kaslink, Ruohonjuuri, Greenroom, 
Bonne, Urtekram, Orkla, Roll Foods, Europicnic and with few 
bakeries. WeFood sold over 30 000 kilos of surplus food 
during its first 3 months. Altogether 130 volunteers were in-
volved in reducing food waste in WeFood during 2018.
Parishes and Dioceses
Parishes of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland raised 
funds for FCA’s work for the total of 7,69 MEUR. Approxi-
mately half of this was non-allocated budget funds from 
Parish Unions and individual Parishes. Despite the chal-
lenges in parishes’ financial situations, the budget funds 
did not decline.
Parishes are strongly committed to Common Respon-
sibility (CR) Campaign, the largest and oldest fundraising 
campaign in Finland. FCA receives 60% of CR Campaign’s 
proceeds and in 2018 this accounted for MEUR1,39. The pro-
ceeds of CR remained at the same level as in 2017.
Sunday service collections and other events by the Par-
ishes raised over MEUR1. The income from donations was 
slightly lower than the previous year, mostly due to the 
general reduction of income in Parishes and yearly income 
variation in disaster fundraising.
96
97
of the private sector 
total income
39 % 
FCA continued to work to ensure a steady growth to enhance our 
performance and to guarantee the quality and sustainability of 
our actions. We successfully combined funding from international 
institutional donors with the support by MFA, parishes and private 
donors and implemented effective programmes with enhanced impact.
10,6 m.€
23,500
raised by FCA from private 
sources
monthly donors
Global grants
FCA submitted 55 funding proposals to institutional do-
nors, as opposed to 57 proposals in 2017. The majority of 
proposals were submitted to the UN (18) and to the EU (10); 
namely to UNICEF, UNHCR, UNWOMEN, UN Peacebuilding 
fund, UN MTPF, IOM, and EuropeAid, ECHO, EU TF Africa, 
EU TF Bekou, EU_EACEA and EU_EEAS. Other key donors 
included governments of US, Netherlands, Norway, UK, and 
Dubai Cares, Education Cannot Wait fund, Somalia Stabil-
ity Fund and other funds and foundations.
FCA America’s (FCAA) fundraising support included rela-
tionship building and advocacy with relevant actors, includ-
ing US Government agencies (primarily USAID and the US 
Department of State), peer foundations and organizations, 
multilateral actors (i.e. the Global Partnership for Educa-
tion and World Bank Group) and multiple United Nations 
agencies. 
FCA’s proposal success rate (in number of proposals) in 
2018 was 45% (against 33% in 2017), while 15% of submitted 
applications are still pending. In 2018, FCA submitted pro-
posals worth of 49,3 million €, out of which over 17 million € 
has been granted and 2,5 million is still pending. 
Donor relations have been built successfully and most 
new grants were based on negotiations in the respec-
tive programme countries. In many countries cooperation 
agreements with UN institutions continue. Grant agree-
ments with new governmental donors and different pooled 
funds (like Education Cannot Wait) are also an important 
opening for FCA.
FCA continued developing its expertise on its priority do-
nors as well as strengthening and building new relation-
ships globally. Cooperation with Development Banks has 
been strengthened and negotiations of a MoU with Islamic 
Development Bank were initiated in 2018. Furthermore, col-
laboration with African Development Bank has been en-
forced. Asian Development Bank operational departments 
55
45%
funding proposals to 
institutional donors 
submitted by FCA in 2017
FCA’s proposal success 
rate in 2018 while 15 % of 
submitted applications 
are still pending
in 2017
in 2017
57 
33 % 
and FCA’s Asia country offices identified pragmatic project 
opportunities to collaborate on in the spheres of education 
and women’s economic empowerment. As to Gulf donors, 
a high-level delegation with Pekka Haavisto successfully 
met with State Ministers of UAE and CEOs of Gulf founda-
tions at the end of 2018. Further actions for practical level 
co-operation are planned.
Combining funding from international institutional do-
nors with the support from MFA, parishes and private do-
nors has increased the potential to plan and implement 
effective programmes with enhanced impact.
49,3 m.€
worth of proposals 
submitted in 2018

In 2018, FCA communications unit focused on implement-
ing the new communications strategy and visual identity 
with the aim of strengthening FCA’s brand and producing 
impactful communications materials and campaigns both 
in Finland and globally.
During 2018, the communications unit continued to de-
velop in-house capacity to produce videos, animations 
and graphic designs, and focused more on social media 
marketing to better reach existing and new audiences. The 
animated graphics templates for in-house video production 
contributed to more efficient production processes and a 
more unified graphic identity.
Altogether 74 staff members participated in commu-
nications trainings in FCA’s programme countries and in 
Finland. The trainings increased staff awareness of FCA’s 
communications strategy and readiness to communicate 
more actively about FCA’s work and its results. 
FCA communications also carried out an innovative pilot 
project aiming to create new materials for global educa-
tion in schools and during events. The initial concept using 
video, text and audio contents in a 3D model of an African 
village was tested with different audiences and will be fur-
ther developed in 2019 together with the Teachers without 
Borders Network. 
A total of 150 articles, news stories, blogs and photo sto-
ries were published on FCA’s homepage. In addition, FCA 
published 97 videos on Facebook and 36 on YouTube. More 
attention was paid to versatile use of the produced materi-
als in multiple channels, which increased cost-effectiveness.
FCA’s homepage received 219 837 visits (+5,32 % com-
pared to 2017) and 154 903  (+9,09%) unique visitors. The 
number of English homepage views grew by 8,88 %.
On social media, FCA was mentioned in Finnish (Kirkon 
Ulkomaanapu) in 6313 posts with the potential reach of al-
together 31 million users. In English FCA was mentioned in 
3161 posts with the potential reach of 20 million users. One 
of the most popular posts was the photo of a banner on the 
communications
wall of FCA’s building Helsinki with a message: “Blessed 
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God 
(Matthew 5:9)” to presidents Trump and Putin during their 
summit in Helsinki in July. Blog posts and videos with a 
personal angle were popular as well as posts about FCA’s 
new waste food store WeFood and climate change.
Media covered FCA’s work out of FCA’s own initiative as 
well as following media’s requests to provide expert accounts 
about our work and operating contexts. FCA’s staff was in-
terviewed for example about the humanitarian situation in 
Syria, the EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme 
in Palestine and Israel) programme, preventing violent ex-
tremism and the situation in the IOPT as well as in Eritrea. 
FCA’s launch of the new waste food store WeFood, at-
tracted a lot of attention from the media in September 
2018. 15 medias were represented in the launch event (in-
cluding Yle, MTV3, Kirkko&Kaupunki and Iltalehti), and there 
has been a continuous interest for the concept since then. 
During autumn 2018, WeFood got over 30 media hits in 
Finland.
According to media monitoring, FCA was mentioned 1185 
times in the media during 2018. FCA built its networks with 
journalists and photographers, also internationally in its 
programme countries.
FCA produced two short documentary videos for the 
Common Responsibility Campaign (CRC) on improving 
access to quality education as a way to adapt to climate 
change in Turkana region in Kenya. The documents attract-
ed millions of views while being broadcasted in The Finnish 
Broadcasting Company Yle’s television channels from Feb-
ruary to April 2018. The format of the Common Responsi-
bility Campaign documentaries was further developed to 
gain more visibility at the Finnish Broadcasting Company 
Yle’s channels. In addition, FCA produced several articles 
for church-related media, materials for volunteers for fun-
draising purposes and advocacy work for the campaign in 
the parishes.
In 2018, FCA implemented its new communications strategy 
and visual identity. Effective communications reinforced our 
brand image, supported fundraising efforts and played an 
instrumental part in advocacy work.
FCA participated in corporate responsibility campaign 
“Ykkösketju” launched by Finnwatch. A joint campaign “Peo-
ple, simply” by FCA, Amnesty Finland and the Finnish Red 
Cross promoted a more multi-voiced and compassionate 
Finland. Also campaigns to increase the official development 
aid to 0,7 % of the GDP and advocating for a more focal role 
of education in the Finnish development policy were planned.
FCA has also published two magazines, Tekoja and Glo-
balisti, with funding from MFA. Tekoja magazine is edited 
and published by FCA’s communications unit. The maga-
zine continued to increase awareness of development is-
sues and to motivate the target audiences (general public, 
parishes, teachers, journalists, decision-makers and FCA’s 
supporters) to support development cooperation and hu-
manitarian assistance, and to engage in FCA’s advocacy 
work. In 2018, the print run was approximately 39,500 cop-
ies. The magazine is also published online on FCA home-
page and social media, and most of the articles are avail-
able in English and Swedish. Variations of the articles are 
often published in other newspapers and magazines, which 
provides more visibility for FCA’s work.
Altogether 8,000 teachers ordered the magazine through 
SubjectAid delivery service, and 85 % has used or were plan-
ning to use the magazine in their teaching. All of them con-
sidered the magazine as useful for the learners.
According to a reader survey of Tekoja Magazine, the 
readers were largely satisfied with the contents and the de-
sign of the magazine. Ideas for improvement included more 
diverse and critical stories. These findings will be addressed 
during in 2019.
Globalisti is the biannual magazine of FCA’s youth network 
Changemaker, and it covers global issues and raises aware-
ness among the youth in Finland. The editorial group of Glo-
balisti magazine consisted of 25 young volunteers. A total of 
10,000 copies were printed and over 60% of the copies were 
sent to schools through the SubjectAid delivery system. The 
magazine is also available online on Changemaker’s website.
98
99
A number of trainings were organized 
in FCA’s programme countries and 
in Finland. They increased staff’s 
awareness of FCA’s communications 
strategy and readiness to 
communicate more actively about 
FCA’s work and its results.

Risk management, 
internal audit and 
security
In 2018, FCA continued to assess, analyse and minimize risks 
through our risk management system and processes, improved 
work practices and security measures, and trainings. Internal audit 
activities were also performed in a number of country offices.
100
101
Internal Audit
Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance 
and consulting activity designed to add value and improve 
FCA’s operations. It helps organization to accomplish its 
objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach 
to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk manage-
ment, control, and governance processes. 
Internal audit enhance and protect organizational value 
by providing stakeholders with risk based, objective and re-
liable assurance, advice and insight. Focus is on operations 
prioritized on the organizational risk analysis and which are 
considered critical for the achievement of the organizational 
objectives. Additionally, internal audit may undertake spe-
cial engagements, including verifications, investigations 
and consultations.
Risk Management 
During 2018, risk management work continued throughout 
the organisation. FCA started using the new risk assessment 
tool. The tool was introduced to all Country Directors and 
Head Office Directors in Leadership Forum that was organ-
ised in Helsinki in March 2018. The risk assessment process 
itself stayed unchanged: entering into a new programme 
country a context analysis including risk assessment is 
done. The context analysis is updated as needed. During the 
project planning stage the risks (internal/external) related to 
the project are assessed and a mitigation plan is prepared. 
Implementation includes active risk management. 
Programme countries and HO departments assessed 
and reported risks regularly and a summary of risks, in-
cluding global risks, was presented to the Board of Directors 
three times/year. Risk assessments were uploaded in FCA’s 
intranet where they could be updated in real time. However, 
some operating countries faced challenges due to unstable 
internet connections.
The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) initial audit, con-
ducted in 2017, pointed out that FCA’s risk analysis does not 
systematically take risks for communities into account and 
more attention should be paid to environmental impact of 
the use of local and natural resources. These audit findings 
together with feedback from the country offices led to some 
modifications in the assessment tool. 
Security
The security and safety of FCA personnel is a priority. This 
translates into a strong commitment to minimize risks through 
continuously improved work practices, security measures, ap-
propriate trainings, risk assessments and overall awareness. 
The main goal is to ensure that work can continue in the most 
challenging conditions without risking the personal safety and 
security of FCA personnel.
FCA’s security strategy is focused on the acceptance of our 
presence and work through clear communication of our man-
date and goals, coherent actions and on-going dialogue with 
the local communities and authorities. These are supported by 
protection measures in response to specific risks and in some 
rare cases deterrence, such as use of armed guards for the of-
fice and residence or for transport in some extreme situations. 
FCA enters the local communities through partners and seeks 
close relations with and the involvement of the community. 
The primary management tool for security preparedness in 
FCA country offices is the Security Plan and general security 
awareness. Country Security Plans (Emergency Plans) were 
reviewed during 2017. Country Security Risk Assessments, 
Standard Operating Procedures and Contingency Plans are 
in place in order to provide practical security tools for secu-
rity management and field personnel. In addition to Helsinki-
based Security Manager, FCA has a Regional Security Man-
ager Africa based in Nairobi and a Regional Security/Logistics 
Manager based in Bangui in Central African Republic to as-
sist personnel in all security related issues and trainings. On 
country level, the identified Security Focal Points support FCA 
personnel and management in the safe and efficient delivery 
of programme activities in the designated area of operations.
In 2017, FCA continued to provide travel security training 
and emergency first-aid training for Head Office personnel 
and travelers. FCA continued organizing and hosting in- house 
Hostile Environment Individual Security Training (HEIST) in 
Kenya, Nairobi. The training continues in 2018. In case of an 
emergency, ICE 24/7 response center continues to assist FCA 
personnel worldwide. ICE also assists FCA Crisis Management 
Team in case of significant security incidents, as necesssary.
Risks
Definition
1 Internal Controls
Assessment of relevance and effectiveness of internal controls and 
verification of control duties. 
2 Risk Management
Evaluation of risk management procedures with focus on risk identi-
fication, evaluation and on sufficient mitigation.  
3 Good Governance
Assessment of the adequacy of good governance. 
4 Financial management
Evaluation of the effectivity and efficiency of financial management 
controls.
5 Partner co-operation
Assessment of PME tool usability.
6 Program management
Nepal Country Office
Greek Operations
South Sudan Country Office
Middle East Regional Office
Central African Republic, Audit committee field mission
7 Administrative field missions
Somalia Country Office, Internal Audit 
Cambodia Country Office, Internal Audit 
Kenia Country Office, Internal Audit 
Myanmar Country Office, Internal Audit 
Central African Republic Country Office, Internal Audit
Middle East Regional Office, Audit Committee field mission
Internal audit operations 2018
Signature
 Helsinki 25th June 2019
Jouni Hemberg 
Executive Director
Finn Church Aid

102
103
list of Acronyms 
ACT (Alliance)        	
Action by Churches Together
AMIF        	
	
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
BTVET                             Business, Technical, Vocational Education  
	
	
and Training 
CAMCO        	 	
Cambodia Country Office
CAR                                  Central African Republic
CARCO                            Central African Republic Country Office
CBD        	
	
Caste-Based Discrimination
CBDMC       	 	
Community Based Disaster Management 	
	
	
	
Committees
CBO        	
	
Community-based organization
CCAA        	
	
Climate Change Adaptive Agriculture
CCN       	
	
Changemaker Cambodia Network
CEDAW       	 	
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms  
	
	
of Discrimination against Women
CERA       	
	
Community Empowerment and Resilience  
	
	
Association
CGC       	
	
Career Guidance and Counselling
CHS        	
	
Core Humanitarian Standards
CM       	
	
Changemaker
CO        	
	
Country Office
CP        	
	
Country Programme
CPD        	
	
Continuous Professional Development
CR        	
	
Common Responsibility
CRC        	
	
Common Responsibility Campaign
CRD        	
	
Center for Research and Dialogue (Somalia)
CRM       	
	
Complaints Response Mechanisms
CSE         	
	
Conflict Sensitive Education
CSO       	
	
Civil Society Organization
CVE        	
	
Countering Violent Extremism
CWCC        	
	
Cambodia Women’s Crisis Center
CwD        	
	
Children with Disabilities
DANIDA        		
Danish International Development Agency
DCA        	
	
Dan Church Aid
DFID        	
	
Department of International Development (UK)
DKH        	
	
Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
DPA        	
	
Department of Political Affairs (UN)
DRR        	
	
Disaster Risk Reduction
EAPPI        	 	
Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme on 		
	
	
Palestine and Israel
EAs        	
	
Ecumenical Accompaniers (Finland)
ECCD        	
	
Early Childhood Care and Development
ECHO        	
	
European Commission Humanitarian Aid 	
	
	
	
Department
EIDHR        	 	
European Instrument for Democracy and  
	
	
Human Rights
EiE        	
	
Education in Emergencies
ELCF        	
	
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
EPRP       	
	
Emergency Preparedness Response Plan
EU        	
	
European Union
EUAV        	
	
EU Aid Volunteers
EUAV        	
	
European Union Aid Volunteers
FAO        	
	
Food and Agriculture Organization of the 	
	
	
	
United Nations
FCA        	
	
Finn Church Aid
FCAA        	
	
Finn Church Aid Americas
FCAI        	
	
Finn Church Aid Investment Ltd
FCO        	
	
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK)
FGS        	
	
Federal Government of Somalia
FoRB        	
	
Freedom of religion and Belief
FWEAN        	 	
Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs’  
	
	
Associations of Nepal
GBV        	
	
Gender-Based Violence
GEC        	
	
Global Education Cluster
GEJCP        	 	
Gender Equality and Justice Community of 	 	
	
	
Practice (ACT Alliance)
GFOSS         	 	
Open Technologies Alliance
GTHS       	
	
General and Technical High Schools
HEIST        	
	
Hostile Environment Individual Security Training
HO        	
	
Head Office
HRAA        	
	
Human Rights Advocacy Alliance 
IAEVG        	 	
International Association for Educational and 	
	
	
Vocational Guidance
ICCO        	
	
Inter-church Organization for Development 	 	
	
	
Cooperation
ICCPR        	 	
International Covenant on Civil and Political 	 	
	
	
Rights
ICE        	
	
In Case of Emergency
IDP        	
	
Internally Displaced Person
IGA        	
	
Income Generating Activities
IIDA        	
	
Women’s Development Organisation (Somalia)
INEE        	
	
Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies
INGO        	
	
International Non-Governmental Organisation
IOCC        	
	
International Orthodox Christian Charities
IOM        	
	
International Organization for Migration
IOPT        	
	
Israel and the Palestinian Territories
IPRO        	
	
FCA’s International Programmes
IWG        	
	
Inclusivity Working Group
KAICIID    	
	
King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre 	
	
	
For Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue
KEKO        	
	
Kenya Country Office
LIAS         	
	
Libyan Institute for Advanced Studies
LL2E        	
	
Linking Learning to Earning
LNGO        	
	
Local Non-Governmental Organisation
LWD        	
	
Life with Dignity (Cambodia)
LWF        	
	
Lutheran World Federation
M&E        	
	
Monitoring and Evaluation
MEAL        	
	
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and 	 	
	
	
Learning
MERO        	 	
Middle East Regional Office
MFA        	
	
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)
MINUSCA    	 	
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated 		
	
	
Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic
MoEYS        	 	
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (Cambodia)
MoIFAR        	 	
Ministry of Interior Federal Affairs and Reconciliation
MoU        	
	
Memorandum of Understanding 
MYACO        	 	
Myanmar Country Office
NCA        	
	
Norwegian Church Aid
NEPCO        	 	
Nepal Country Office
NETW        	
	
Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
NGO        	
	
Non-Governmental Organization
NNDSWO        	
Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization
NRF        	
	
National Reconciliation Framework (Somalia)
OCHA        	
	
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN)
ODA        	
	
Official Development Assistance
OECD        	
	
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and  
	
	
Development
OSCE        	
	
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
P/CVE        	 	
Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism
PANEL    	
	
Participation, Accountability, Non-discrimination and 	
	
	
Equality, Empowerment, Legality (principles of RBA)
PKO        	
	
Puthi Komar Organization (Cambodia)
PME        	
	
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
PMER       	
	
Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
PTA        	
	
Parent-Teacher Association
PwD        	
	
People with Disabilities                    
R2L        	
	
Right to Livelihood
R2P        	
	
Right to Peace
R2QE        	
	
Right to Quality Education
RACOBAO        	
Rural Action Community Based Organization (Uganda)
RBA        	
	
Rights Based Approach
RBEP        	
	
Rights Based Empowerment Project
RRT        	
	
Rapid Response Team
SDC        	
	
Sustainable Democracy Center (Lebanon)
SDGs        	
	
Sustainable Development Goals
SFCG        	
	
Search for Common Ground (CAR)
SIRF      	
	
Syria Regional International Non-Governmental 	
	
	
Organisation Forum
SME        	
	
Small and Medium Sized Enterprise
SOCO       	
	
Somalia Country Office
SOP        	
	
Standard Operating Procedures
SOSWENSA        	
Somali Southwest Non-State Actors
SOYDEN        	
Somali Youth Development Network
SRA        	
	
Security Risk Assessments
SSCC        	
	
South Sudan Council of Churches     
SSF        	
	
Somalia Stability Fund
SSUCO        	 	
South Sudan Country Office
TA        	
	
Technical Assistance
TLS        	
	
Temporary Learning Space
ToT        	
	
Training of Trainers
TVET        	
	
Technical Vocational Education and Training
TwB        	
	
Teachers without Borders
UCEP       	
	
Underprivileged Children’s Education Programs
UGACO       	 	
Uganda Country Office
UN HR        	 	
United Nations Human Rights (mechanisms)
UN Women        	
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality  
	
	
and the Empowerment of Women
UN        	
	
United Nations
UNAOC        	 	
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
UNDP        	
	
United Nations Development Programme
UNESCO        	
United Nations Educational, Scientific and  
	
	
Cultural Organisation
UNGA        	
	
United Nations General Assembly
UNHCR        	 	
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF        	 	
United Nations Children’s Fund
UNOPS        	 	
United Nations Office for Project Services
UNU-WIDER    	
United Nations University World Institute for  
	
	
Development Economics Research
UPR        	
	
Universal Periodic Review
USAID        	 	
United States Agency for International Development
USIP        	
	
United States Institute of Peace
VDC        	
	
Village Development Committees
VIKES       	
	
Foundation for Media and Development (Finland)
VOD        	
	
Vocational Orientation Department
VSLA        	
	
Village Savings and Loan Association
WAC        	
	
Women’s Agricultural Cooperatives
WASH       	
	
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
WCC        	
	
World Council of Churches
WFP        	
	
World Food Programme
WGSS        	
	
Women and Girls Safe Spaces
WHS        	
	
World Humanitarian Summit
WICAS        	 	
Women in Church and Society (LWF’s Program)
WISE        	
	
Wider Security Network
YLE        	
	
National Broadcasting Company (Finland)
YPS        	
	
Youth, Peace and Security (United Nations Security 	
	
	
Council Resolution 2250)
YWCA        	
	
Young Women’s Christian Association

Kirkon Ulkomaanapu / Finn Church Aid
Eteläranta 8, FI-00131 Helsinki
Tel. +358 020 787 1200
Email: fca@kua.fi
finnchurchaid.fi
EDUCATION
CANNOT
WAIT
a fund for education
in emergencies
Government of the 
United States
Asylum, Migraon and 
Immigraon Fund
Supported by 
The European Union
European Union
Civil Protecon and
Humanitarian Aid
Internal Security Fund
Supported by 
The European Union