Global Communities

🌟 Exciting Announcement 🌟 Global Communities is thrilled to announce that we are joining forces with IntraHealth International, a renowned global health organization with a shared commitment to saving lives, advancing equity and securing strong futures. Through this agreement, IntraHealth becomes a subsidiary of Global Communities, a strategic combination that increases our collective scale and impact, expanding and deepening our technical portfolios, geographic reach and digital capabilities. Join us in welcoming IntraHealth to the Global Communities family! Together, we will help create a world where health is a universal human right, emergency response is swift and effective, and resilience is ingrained in our global commitments. Read more about our future: https://lnkd.in/ghXq8uSc

Imagine a world where every woman and girl can live #WithoutFear. Let's make it a reality. This #16Days of Activism, advocate for change, support survivors and spread the message that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated ✊

The humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence have underpinned humanitarian action for decades. They provide a foundation for delivering aid with integrity and fairness, ensuring that assistance reaches those in need based on vulnerability and urgency, rather than political or personal interests. “In theory, the humanitarian principles sound straightforward, but in practice, humanitarians face challenges around their implementation,” says Elise Hannaford, Director of Humanitarian Response at Global Communities. “[In Gaza, for example,] our colleagues work tirelessly to deliver lifesaving assistance to their communities while facing unfathomable danger, severe trauma and significant logistical challenges caused by widespread insecurity and restrictions on aid.” Read our recent blog to learn more about the challenges of delivering effective, principled assistance and how Global Communities is addressing them in our humanitarian response programs across the globe: https://lnkd.in/gvR7Cqj8 #HumanitarianAid #HumanitarianPrinciples #HumanitarianAssistance

The humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence have underpinned humanitarian action for decades. They provide a foundation for delivering aid with integrity and fairness, ensuring that assistance reaches those in need based on vulnerability and urgency, rather than political or personal interests. “In theory, the humanitarian principles sound straightforward, but in practice, humanitarians face challenges around their implementation,” says Elise Hannaford, Director of Humanitarian Response at Global Communities. “[In Gaza, for example,] our colleagues work tirelessly to deliver lifesaving assistance to their communities while facing unfathomable danger, severe trauma and significant logistical challenges caused by widespread insecurity and restrictions on aid.” Read our recent blog to learn more about the challenges of delivering effective, principled assistance and how Global Communities is addressing them in our humanitarian response programs across the globe: https://lnkd.in/gvR7Cqj8 #HumanitarianAid #HumanitarianPrinciples #HumanitarianAssistance

Beloved Sesame Street characters like Elmo, Grover and Cookie Monster arrived in the small city of Snovsk in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine this year. Although they only appear on TV screens, they do so to offer a friendly escape for children living in a war zone just miles from the Russian border. Sesame Workshop joined our partnership with a local civil society organization known as LAMPA through the Community-Led Emergency Action and Response (CLEAR) 2 program. With funding from the USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the organization developed a series of animated content and tools to help children, caregivers and teachers process the trauma of conflict and displacement. “The purpose of these sessions is to develop psychological competency and resilience, teach children self-regulation techniques, and eliminate the fear of expressing their own emotions and thoughts,” says Nataliia, a psychologist in Snovsk who provides art therapy sessions with elements from the “Welcome Sesame” program. “Kids like our meetings. They learn quickly, and you can see the results very soon.” To date, 11 CLEAR partners have implemented “Welcome Sesame” programming at 1,407 facilities across several regions in Ukraine. More than 21,000 children, parents and caregivers have benefited from the sessions.

Globally, an estimated 153 million children under 18 are food insecure or lacking sufficient food for a healthy life. Poor health and nutrition are major barriers to educational access and achievement in low-income countries, impacting social skills, academic performance and overall health. While poverty and inequality are the root causes of hunger, long-running conflicts, climate-related extreme weather events and economic or health shocks exacerbate the scope and impact of hunger for young people around the world. For over half a century, Global Communities has been at the forefront of expanding access to safe, nutritious food. School meals are a key tool in this fight, not only combating child hunger but also improving educational outcomes and local economies. In 2024 alone, Global Communities has served over 30 million meals to 295,777 schoolchildren. Through our USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)-funded McGovern-Dole projects in Tanzania, Madagascar and Central America, we are helping communities sow seeds of hope and expanding the right to food for schoolchildren.

Global Communities is thrilled to introduce two exceptional leaders, each bringing proven experience and fresh energy to the organization. First, we want to congratulate Nubia Pacheco on her new role as General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer at Global Communities! Nubia has been an integral part of our organization since 2010, dedicating her legal expertise and commitment to our vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable world. Over the years, she’s tackled a wide array of complex legal and ethical challenges, always upholding the highest standards of integrity and compassion. We also welcome Nikolos Oakley, who joins us from IntraHealth International, as our new Chief Financial Officer! Nikolos brings over 25 years of expertise in finance and operations, with a proven track record in optimizing resources, improving efficiencies, and strengthening compliance systems. His appointment reflects the strong partnership and shared vision that connect Global Communities and IntraHealth as we work together to expand our impact. We look forward to the invaluable contributions their leadership will bring to the organization as we pursue our mission and continue to make a positive, sustainable impact in the communities we serve. Join us in celebrating these exciting new chapters for Nubia and Nikolos! 🎉

Health is at a tipping point. Around the world, health systems are still recovering from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and are constantly being pushed to the brink by new challenges. While conflict, environmental changes, and other emergencies are rooted in different causes, they all have a significant impact on health systems, and importantly, the well-being of communities around the world. In an increasingly complex and fragile world, strengthening health resilience at all levels is crucial for improving overall health outcomes and ensuring that individuals and communities can thrive even in the face of adversity. Tomorrow, join Carrie Hessler-Radelet and other health experts at the Closing Plenary for the Global Health Landscape Symposium to hear insights about the future of global health and resilience. There's still time to register: https://lnkd.in/gBTjW9iM

While defecation is a normal and necessary part of life, for the 4.5 billion people who lack safe access to a latrine, it can be a daily struggle fraught with health risks, indignity and danger. In Northern Ghana, women leaders are taking charge of community sanitation. Through the USAID-funded Enhancing WASH Activity, savings groups have helped women like Ama Moyom construct household latrines, moving communities in the region closer to Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. In recognition of World Toilet Day, we honor their resilience and vision for a healthier tomorrow. Photo: Global Communities - Ghana

Over the past five years, frequent landslides, winter floods and summer droughts have made it increasingly difficult for people in the mountains of Honduras to live off the land. To help increase access to fresh vegetables, Global Communities is helping residents like Glendy learn how to establish climate-resilient home gardens. The activity is part of a larger initiative known as the Honduras Agricultural System Support (HASS) program. With funding from the USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, program participants acquire everything from seeds and fertilizer to cultivation techniques and equipment that enable them to increase their land productivity and adapt to drought conditions. “Before, we had to wait for a car to come to the community once a week to buy vegetables or make a trip to the town. But since I have the family garden, I have fresh vegetables every day,” Glendy says. The mother of three also sells the leftover harvest from her garden to earn extra income. Profits from this venture help cover her children’s school expenses and allow her to buy a variety of seeds to cultivate additional crops. “… Thanks to this project, I was able to discover the leader inside me,” Glendy says. Learn more about how she has been able to transform her life through small-scale agricultural work and entrepreneurship: https://lnkd.in/gtDWM56a