2022 End-Of-Year Message

Dear WI-HER community,

As 2022 comes to a close, it is a time of reflection, looking back on what we have accomplished, as well as where we’re headed next. This last year has been extremely incredible, and we have made significant progress in all areas of our work. We have accomplished many things, and we expanded our reach and relationships through different teams, including Technical, Operations & HR, Communications, Finance, and Business Development, and we expanded our reach and relationships through Coalition for Racial & Ethnic Equity in Development (CREED)–where we’ve further dedicated ourselves to racial and ethnic equity in development–and work with the Small Business Association for International Companies (SBAIC) and the Society of International Development on various initiatives. 

Further, our team across different regions and countries has greatly expanded the use of our innovative, results-based iDARE methodology. We’ve not only expanded to more than 20 districts in multiple countries, but we’re also applying our iDARE methodology to new sectors, beyond just health, and have published the remarkable results: Applying the iDARE Methodology in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania to Improve Health Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Improving Viral Load Suppression Among Men and Children Active in Care Through Community-Designed and Led Solutions: Protocol for Retrospective Closed Cohort Study in Eastern Uganda.

We have also expanded our number of active projects from 28 to 33 this year. Some of the new technical areas we have expanded into, in 2022 alone, include agriculture and nutrition, leadership and management, supply chain, sexual and workplace harassment, and US domestic work. In addition, our gender mainstreaming and integration work within all of our projects has gone to another level throughout the past year, both internally with our prime partners as well as with local organizations and government bodies.

As we move forward into the new year, we ask ourselves, how can we expand to reach more people and meaningfully contribute to inclusive and equitable outcomes, not just in health? It’s not about the funding. It’s about reaching people with improved services by further expanding our work, and we remain committed to enabling people to drive locally-led solutions for equitable and sustainable development. 

We wish you a happy holiday season and a happy new year.

Regards,

The WI-HER team