DevWorks International

🌟 Celebrating a Year of Growth: 2024 Highlights 🌟 As 2024 comes to a close, DevWorks International is proud to reflect on the achievements we’ve accomplished together with our partners around the world. 2024 in Numbers: 🌍 DevWorks supported activities in 23 countries 🌾 More than 33,000 people benefitted from strengthened agriculture and food safety practices 💧 51 healthcare facilities gained access to basic drinking water services 📈 364 SMEs were supported and empowered to grow their businesses 🐟 130 fish processing facilities increased capacity to meet quality and sanitation standards 🤝 More than 420 local organizations and businesses engaged through partnerships and/or grants to drive sustainable, community-led change These numbers tell a story of resilience, growth, and impact— lives transformed, businesses strengthened, and local actors empowered. We couldn’t have done this without our dedicated team of staff and partners. Thank you for being part of this journey! Here’s to even greater impact in 2025! 🎉 #SustainableDevelopment #WASH #Agriculture #Entrepreneurship #FoodSafety

DevWorks looks forward to fruitful collaboration with the Bangladesh Department of Fisheries over the next five years, on the Feed the Future Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity!

New project announcement! DevWorks is pleased to announce the award of the Feed the Future Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity, a five-year initiative of up to $23.8 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The Activity is designed to strengthen aquaculture practices, improve food and nutrition security, and enhance livelihoods in Bangladesh. This project will play a key role in supporting Bangladesh’s development priorities while contributing to USAID and Feed the Future’s objectives of reducing poverty and promoting sustainable, inclusive economic growth. The Feed the Future Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity will operate in key aquaculture-producing regions in the Southern districts of Bangladesh, including Khulna and Barisal divisions, directly benefiting over 460,000 individuals, including smallholder fish farmers, producer groups, input and service providers, post-harvest processors, and retail businesses. The project will train farmers in environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient techniques to boost productivity and reduce costs, while strengthening market systems to improve access to high-quality inputs, technical assistance, and profitable markets. By introducing climate-smart technologies and fast-growing and high-value fish species, the initiative will enhance community resilience to climate shocks. It will also expand economic opportunities for women and youth, fostering inclusive growth; engage private sector partners to drive innovation and ensure long-term sustainability; and increase the domestic consumption and safe and hygienic handling of nutrient-rich fish and fish-based products. "We are honored to collaborate with USAID and the people of Bangladesh to deliver innovative, inclusive solutions that will strengthen the aquaculture value chain," said DeAnn McGrew, CEO of DevWorks. "This project builds on our global experience and reinforces our commitment to creating sustainable livelihoods and healthy ecosystems." The Feed the Future Bangladesh Sustainable Aquaculture Activity is funded by USAID as part of Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. About Feed the Future Feed the Future is America's initiative to combat global hunger and poverty. It brings partners together to help some of the world’s poorest countries harness the power of agriculture and entrepreneurship to jumpstart their economies and create new opportunities. For more information, visit feedthefuture.gov.

“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.” — Kofi Annan On this #InternationalVolunteerDay, DevWorks celebrates the work of 114 volunteers that we mobilized to complete assignments in 15 countries this year. One of our volunteers provided substantial organizational support to a Ukrainian NGO, over the course of several months. In addition, through the #MarsAmbassadorProgram, Mars Associates completed impactful assignments with partners such as World Food Programme, Veterinarians without Borders North America, Sustainable Rice Platform, Save the Children Indonesia, CARE USA, Greater Good Charities, Humane Society International India, Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, GIZ, and several others. It’s been inspiring to see what can be accomplished through strong partnerships and volunteer engagement. We deeply believe in the value of volunteerism – and it is rewarding for us to play a role in facilitating these transformative exchanges. #IVD2024

DevWorks is excited to have been part of the recent Annual Convening of WE4F in Morocco featuring some of our innovators in South/Southeast Asia. Congrats to all of the participants for a successful event!

A Message of Gratitude from DevWorks International As the season of Thanksgiving invites us to reflect, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributes to our shared vision of creating a more equitable and sustainable world in which everyone has the means, capability, and opportunity to thrive.   To our dedicated team members around the world, thank you for your tireless commitment to empowering others and advancing local development solutions to address economic, social, and environmental challenges. Your passion and resilience are the foundation of our impact. To our partners, donors, and supporters, we are deeply grateful for your trust and collaboration that allow us to create meaningful impact together. And to the people, communities, and organizations we serve, we are honored to stand beside you as we work toward a brighter future together.   While Thanksgiving may not be celebrated everywhere, its spirit of gratitude transcends borders. Let us carry that spirit forward, united in hope and purpose. Wherever you are, we wish you moments of joy, reflection, and connection with those who matter most.   With heartfelt thanks, DeAnn McGrew CEO, DevWorks International

Happy World Toilet Day! DevWorks joins the global community and USAID in reaching the 2030 SDG goal of achieving clean water and sanitation for all. Access to safe sanitation is not only a fundamental human right but also essential for public health, dignity, and economic development. Without it, communities face increased risks of disease, water contamination, and barriers to education and productivity. “As we all know, access to a basic sanitation facility is a human right, yet millions of people around the world still lack access to a safe toilet. By raising awareness about this issue, we can work together to ensure that everyone has access to this fundamental resource. To promote the hygienic use of latrines, we must also focus on improving sanitation. Poor sanitation can lead to a range of health problems, and it is our community’s responsibility to address this issue.” — Mr. Padam Bahadur Gurung, Health Coordinator in Dailekh, Nepal, supported by the USAID Health and Hygiene Activity, implemented by DevWorks Since 2014, DevWorks has supported over 664,000 people to gain access to basic sanitation, over 195 institutions to gain access to toilets that are funcitonal and in hygienic conditions, and over 1,850 communities to achieve open defecation free status across Cambodia, Nepal, Rwanda and Uganda. Join us in accelerating change and building a world where sanitation is a right, not a privilege! #WorldToiletDay2024 #SanitationForPeace #HealthyCommunities #USAIDHealthandHygieneActivity DevWorks International

Bangladeshi friends: please check out more opportunities to join FIVDB, DevWorks, and others on this exciting project!

Team DevWorks is ready for great conversations at the #SIDUSDinner!

Excited to attend my 15th #SIDUSDinner, always one of my favorite development events of the year. Looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues this evening!