3. IntroductIon
International Alert has been growing over the past several years. spent more than a year involved in discussions throughout the
Compared to an annual turnover of £5 million in 2006, we organisation to delineate this model – an expression of what sort
registered £10 million in 2009. Though economic recession and of organisation we need to be in order to fulfil our mission goals
the prospect of public spending cuts in many of our main donor and do the work we believe is so necessary.
governments caution us about what may happen in the near
future, we are set to continue this trend in 2010. our mission goals
The increased level of finance only represents increased activity.
1. to work directly with people affected by violent
We now have 13 offices in other countries. In 2009 we started
conflict in support of their efforts to improve their
working for the first time in Lebanon and Tajikistan, while laying prospects for peace;
the foundations for new offices in the Philippines to consolidate
our work there, and in Brussels to take forward our EU advocacy. 2. to shape international policy and practice that affect
peacebuilding; and
Our real impact comes not from offices alone but because,
everywhere that we work, our approach is knowledge-based and 3. to strengthen the expertise, impact and public profile
tailored to the needs of that place. That takes time, analysis and of the peacebuilding sector.
implementation by the most valuable of all our assets: our people.
Since 2006 we have grown from about 80 staff members to 125, The main message of the business model is that, in order to
of whom 65 are in London and 60 in our overseas offices. undertake our well informed and carefully shaped peacebuilding
interventions, the organisation needed to work on a somewhat
And we invest time and money into ensuring that we recruit bigger scale. It is the nature of the financing we receive that
the best and offer them every chance to develop their skills determines this course of action; so much of it is project-specific
and talents further. Some staff members at Alert have decades that we have to be able to benefit in our administration and
of experience, others are relatively new; all are motivated by a management from economies of scale.
commitment to our mission goals and to fulfilling them through
high quality work. As a result, our small teams are able to make a This is what we have now set out to do. In the course of 2009,
real difference in circumstances that are always complex, often we generated a detailed business plan, putting figures on the
difficult and sometimes dangerous. business model. And we developed a new five-year strategic
perspective. This articulates our approach and sets out the key
At Alert we bring insight gained from working on the ground initiatives we need to implement in order to scale up successfully.
to decision-makers’ tables. In 2009 we capitalised on previous You can read a summary in the next section of this report.
investment in expanding our communications to broaden our range
of advocacy work. As a result, our growing influence in the last 12 We enter 2010 with a strong sense of the extent of the
months can be seen in the thinking of the main political parties in challenges that face vulnerable, conflict-ridden communities, and
the UK, donor institutions and increasingly at EU and UN levels. with a growing sense of our capacity to be part of building a more
peaceful world. Crucial to this will be the continued support and
This unique ability to bring forward unheard voices and a genuine engagement of our donors, to whom we remain deeply grateful.
appreciation of how things look from the village is how we seek to
change the world around us, not simply respond to it.
It has taken time and hard work to be able to develop in this dan smith richard dales
way. We entered 2009 with a new business model in place. We Secretary-General Chairman
3
4. 5
International alert’s mission
Alert has a three-part mission:
strategIc perspectIve 2010-2014 1. To work together with people who live in areas affected or
years
threatened by armed conflict, to make a positive difference
for peace;
2. To improve both the substance and implementation of
international policies that affect peacebuilding and the
prospects for peace; and
3. To strengthen the peacebuilding sector.
These three broad tasks are part of fulfilling Alert’s vision over the next five years
of a world in which, when people pursue their human rights International Alert will continue working in all the regions where
and seek betterment for themselves and their communities, we are now active.
conflicts that arise are pursued with wisdom so that they do
not erupt into violence. The problem is not conflict – the • We will expand our activities in West Africa and the Great
problem is violent conflict. Lakes Region, in the Caucasus, Lebanon, Nepal and the
Philippines.
International alert’s work • We will expand our work in South and Southeast Asia and
In order to fulfil our mission goals in the changing world context: Latin America.
• We will explore regions where we can develop further based
1. We support and work with groups and institutions in conflict- on initial work in one part of the area: the Middle East beyond
affected countries that are mobilising for peace. Lebanon, Central Asia beyond Tajikistan, and the Horn of
2. We advocate improvements in peacebuilding policy and Africa building on our initial work on Sudan.
practice based on the evidence of experience. Our advocacy
targets are governments, international organisations, Alert will continue to build on its well established expertise on a
businesses and NGOs. number of cross-cutting issues in peacebuilding – gender, the
3. We explore the key international issues that have an impact economics of peacebuilding and the role of the private sector,
on prospects for peace and devise and advocate appropriate community security and access to justice, aid effectiveness
policies. and governance, climate change and its relationship to conflict
4. We work to strengthen the peacebuilding sector, through risk and peacebuilding. Our ability to connect local voices to
improving our own practice, through training and through international fora contributes decisively to the impact of our work
public outreach to increase awareness and support. with international organisations.
5. In a new departure, we have begun to explore how the
approach we take and the insights we have gained through In recent years, Alert has significantly strengthened its capacity
peacebuilding in other countries could be of use in the UK, for training and learning. In 2010-2014 we will expand our
drawing on this work to inform our practice overseas. training offers, making more courses and events available to more
participants in a wider range of locations. We will do this in part
for the full version including contextual analysis, by intensifying the active and explicit links between training and
visit www.international-alert.org/strategic.perspective learning and the work of our regional programmes.
5
5. 5
way of working will acknowledge the growing role of China
and the G-20 governments.
3. Be among the agenda-setters on major international
questions: Alert has been at the forefront of thinking on key
peace issues in our work on business and conflict, gender
initiatives and peace, and community security. More recently, on climate
change and aid effectiveness, we have again been among
those that are shaping the agenda. We will continue this
role and extend to other issues utilising our reputational,
networking and staff assets. To do this, we will meet and
discuss with a wide range of official perspectives including
G-20 governments such as China, India and Brazil. Youth
disempowerment, the peace and conflict effect of choices of
During 2010-2014, International Alert will: energy system, and the content and meaning of international
development are the kinds of questions in which we can
1. scale up across the organisation: In 2008, Alert productively engage.
discussed and identified its best business model. To deliver
peacebuilding as we understand it requires work that is 4. Initiate work on community conflict in the uk: As an
tailored to each context. This is a knowledge-intensive, organisation, Alert has never worked on conflict issues
design-heavy approach in which considerable investment within the UK. An international peacebuilding organisation
is required to allow time for adequate reflection, planning ought to see if it can offer something at home. Some leading
and assessment. Our analysis of our funding environment participants in community cohesion work in the UK have
revealed that, in broad terms, the way to provide adequate welcomed our analytical and comparative approach and
resources for this business model is by expanding the encouraged us to bring international lessons home. We
volume of projects while maintaining the level of core also know there is much that we can learn. We shall seek
funding. The business plan agreed in 2009 shows in detail opportunities for working together with them. In time, it may
how to do this. We will put this plan into effect in 2010-2014 be possible to work in this way with organisations in other
and, while small-scale activities will still be carried out, the European countries as well. All of this work will need to be
organisation as a whole and each individual programme specifically funded and Alert will not draw on funds given to us
will scale up, allowing us to deepen our engagement in the for work overseas.
places where we work, and increase our impact.
5. validate our mission and its effect: During 2010-2014,
2. engage with key international peacebuilding we will assess our contribution to events in conflict-affected
institutions: Alert has considerable experience of advocacy countries and to shaping policies in international institutions.
with some governments, the EU and the UN. Recently, we This will include commissioning independent studies as well
strengthened this work and began advocacy with the World as other ways of reaching out to get feedback. We will thus
Bank. In 2010-2014, Alert will continue to step this work up. develop a body of analysis of what worked and what did not
We will recruit a team, based both in London and in countries in some of our long-term work. We fully expect this to reveal
where the UN Peacebuilding Commission and World Bank flaws and underline difficulties faced, but also to show our
are active. We will strengthen our presence in Brussels and impact and provide evidence to strengthen the case for
develop a more systematic approach to EU advocacy. We will peacebuilding and for Alert as one of the world’s major
also engage directly with the African Union. As we do so, our peacebuilding NGOs.
7
6. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Work together with donor agencies to improve their policy 1. In 2009 we began work to support DFID in redefining its
guidance for private-sector development and economic approach to private-sector development and economic
recovery practitioners operating in conflict-affected and recovery in conflict-prone and conflict-affected countries.
the BusIness of peace conflict-prone environments. The new methodology will be piloted in conflict-affected
countries in 2010.
2. Help to create a transnational network of civil society 2. We designed and obtained funds for a project to create this
organisations working on issues of human rights and natural network in 2009 and will begin implementation in 2010.
resources in the Andean region of Latin America (Colombia,
Peru and Ecuador).
2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Increase uptake and implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, a set of non-binding principles
developed in 2000 to address the issue of balancing safety needs while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms
by the private sector, particularly in Latin America.
2. Strengthen peacebuilding approaches among South Asian civil society participants, particularly their analysis of political
economies, through our ‘Economic Dimensions of Peacebuilding’ course.
9
7. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Influence the UK Government’s policy so that DFID’s 1. DFID published a new overseas development White Paper
2009 White Paper reflects the need to adopt a markedly which for the first time established ‘Building Peaceful States
different peacebuilding approach, tailored to the realities of and Societies’ as one of the core aims of the government’s
governance that prevail in conflict-affected contexts. overseas development policy. This is in line with what Alert
has long been arguing, and we worked hard to explain and
convince government officials of this while the White Paper
was being developed, and advised the other political parties
development and aId: our puBlIc voIce as they considered their own development policies.
2. Advise the World Bank and other donors on how to 2. Based on Alert’s advice, the World Bank adapted the way
integrate practical peacebuilding into World Bank country it develops and approves projects in Nepal. Under this new
operations. system, it considers not only the expected impact of the
project on poverty, but also on the conflicts that have affected
Nepal’s ability to make social and economic progress.
3. Alter the debate in the UK by staging at least one public 3. Public discussion held at Chatham House to launch Climate
discussion with leading UK policy-makers on the links Change, Conflict and Fragility, a new report released ahead of
between climate change and conflict, and the policy the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP
responses required to meet these challenges. 15) highlighting the urgent policy responses needed from
global leaders to meet these challenges.
4. Influence inter-governmental discussions launching a 4. Engaged some of those attending COP 15 on the basis of
significant climate change and conflict public policy report Alert’s Climate Change, Conflict and Fragility report.
ahead of COP 15.
5. Influence the next UK Government by staging public 5. Staged a public debate at each of the political party
debates and lobbying at the party political conferences in conferences at which senior politicians debated with our
the UK in a general election year to make the case to those Secretary-General and other leading thinkers on how to
who will form the next administration for reform of overseas genuinely reform overseas development aid for conflict-
development aid in order to genuinely meet the needs of affected regions.
conflict-affected regions.
11
8. 2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Publish a report, designed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the UN Millennium Development Goals, explaining how aid
continues to be designed and used in ways that unwittingly reinforce conflict in poor countries.
2. Influence the way in which UK, EU and UN policy-makers and other influential voices understand aid and its impacts, by
refocusing the debate not on how aid works, but on what it is intended to achieve.
3. Start relevant activities in at least five countries based on our broad findings on the links between climate change and
insecurity and between peacebuilding and adaptation to climate change.
13
9. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Lay foundations for improving security by researching how 1. Using participatory research methods, we conducted
women and men in Burundi and Nepal feel about their own “snapshot” security assessments of three districts in Nepal,
and their families’ personal safety, and using the results to sharing findings and promoting better donor engagement
push for security improvements. with the security system through publications and a series
of dialogues on public security in Kathmandu. In Burundi,
research was conducted on the gender dimensions of
security sector reform, and this will serve as the basis of
ongoing engagement during 2010.
2. Improve levels of protection from sexual violence by 2. We have helped to change knowledge, attitudes and
makIng people safe
providing counselling and support for women and girls in practices in rural communities in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, and members of their Leone and within the justice sector. Our support to women
communities. survivors contributed to survivor support groups gaining in
number and strength, communities openly discussing sexual
violence, local chiefs and elders becoming increasingly open
to discussing and promoting the rights of women, and state
and traditional authorities increasing their collaboration to
respond to women’s security threats.
2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Improve security and justice service provision in rural areas of Liberia and Nepal by researching grassroots perceptions of
security and formal and informal access to justice, and by sharing findings with government, donors and other peacebuilding
agencies.
2. Strengthen knowledge and practice around economic reintegration of ex-combatants by conducting research in Nepal,
building capacity of Nepali stakeholders, and sharing findings locally and internationally via publications and training
programmes.
3. Increase understanding of the factors that turn fragility into violence by conducting research in Liberia and Nepal on how
media influences people’s perceptions of insecurity at national and community levels.
15
10. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Build the capacity of our partners and other civil society 1. Conference held at the start of 2009 for women’s
organisations to monitor policy commitments and to use organisations from 8 conflict-affected countries to develop
evidence-based advocacy so that gender is more effectively new approaches to advocating for peacebuilding processes
integrated into peacebuilding processes. to take full account of gender.
2. Contribute to the greater political participation of women 2. Working with women in each country in the Great Lakes
by implementing research with women’s organisations in Region, we have undertaken research into women’s political
Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of participation, and will publish the results in 2010.
Congo to evaluate the degree to which this participation has
increased, and develop plans to improve it further.
3. Advocate for greater systematic efforts by regional bodies 3. We closely advised the EU on how to put into action their
(e.g. the African Union) to comply with UN Security Council commitments around Women, Peace and Security, after they
Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on the rights of women and had adopted a key policy framework reflecting Alert’s advice
a voIce for women other policy commitments on Women, Peace and Security. in 2008. For example, we delivered recommendations on
how the EU can improve its record on Women, Peace and
Security, developed jointly with 45 European civil society
organisations, at an annual meeting of EU member states
in Brussels jointly led by Alert. In New York, Alert brought
together the EU and the African Union for a joint meeting
which provided an opportunity for the two regional bodies
to develop lines of collaboration on questions concerning
women and gender in peacebuilding.
2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Advocate for international peacebuilding practice to go further than increasing the representation of women’s voices in peace
processes, and begin to integrate an awareness of the role of gender identities in perpetuating violence.
2. Contribute to greater political participation of women and young people in the Great Lakes Region and West Africa through
research, training, capacity-building and awareness-raising.
17
11. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Grow community-based radio in Liberia and São Tomé and 1. Provided training to the leaders and staff of community
Príncipe by training and accompanying station leaders to radio stations in Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe, thereby
develop business plans so that the stations will become increasing programme quality and developing business
financially sustainable and produce programmes pertinent to plans which helped them to generate income from the local
community needs. community and INGOs.
2. Predict and inform the response to likely future conflicts 2. Funding constraints prevented this study from being
in Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria by exploring the link carried out.
between environmental stress, climate change and human
security and violent conflict at different scales and localities
along the Niger in collaboration with the Tyndall Centre, a
UK-based research institution on climate change.
3. Encourage the implementation of UNSCR 1325, which 3. Our accompaniment of women’s groups in Liberia in the
requires parties to a conflict to respect women’s rights and drafting of a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and
support their participation in post-conflict peace negotiations Security led them to become increasingly aware of their
and reconstruction, by developing a monitoring mechanism rights and the role they can play in consolidating the
for the implementation of National Action Plans on UNSCR democratic processes. This included the ability to monitor
west afrIca 1325 in the region. the implementation of UNSCR 1325 on the ground.
4. Contribute to peace in Guinea by continuing the Alert- 4. Following a coup d’état in Guinea, some participants
hosted dialogue among Guineans in Guinea and the of our dialogue sessions were influential in brokering
diaspora on themes such as elections, management of agreements between the military junta and other groups
natural resources and national reconciliation. throughout 2009.
2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Work with traditional leaders to increase their contribution to democratic life in their countries.
2. Investigate the link between climate change and water security in Mali, Niger and Nigeria.
3. Raise public awareness of the need to increase the participation of women and young people in politics and decision-making
processes in the region.
4. Facilitate the development of a national reconciliation process in Guinea.
19
12. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Strengthen our existing work on reconciliation in Rwanda 1. This was delayed until 2010. Our programme in Rwanda
with wider participation and an extension to new districts plans to double its target area, based on a 2009 evaluation
following an evaluation of the pilot phase in January. which showed that the project has been highly successful
in rebuilding relationships among divided people. We
will partner with a specialist youth organisation, and our
dialogue work will be extended through them to youth
groups and secondary schools.
2. Work with the Burundian police forces to enhance their 2. Alert and its partner organisation Dushirehamwe
capacity to promote women’s security in collaboration with contributed successfully to the training of the Burundian
partner organisations. police force. Among other positive responses, the Director
General of the Burundi National Police asked Alert to
continue our collaboration, aimed at integrating gender in
the reformed police service.
3. Raise awareness of the conflict potential of oil exploration in 3. Alert published a major study on the conflict potential of
the Ugandan Albertine Rift. oil exploration in Uganda. In this report, we urge national
and local government and oil companies to be transparent
and inclusive in sharing information about developments
in the oil sector in order to minimise the conflict risks and
maximise the benefits of oil discovery for all. The report
provoked considerable interest, and Alert has been engaged
afrIcan great lakes in a number of follow-up activities promoting better
communications around the issue of oil in Uganda.
4. Encourage confidence-building and trust by facilitating a 4. Research among petty traders plying between Goma (DRC)
programme of contact between civil society organisations and Gisenyi (Rwanda) demonstrated that around 22,000
on either side of the DRC-Rwandan border. people, mostly women, depend on cross-border trade
between the two towns, mainly in foodstuffs. Civil society
and business representatives from both sides of the border
made recommendations geared towards removing some of
the constraints these traders face, and a follow-up meeting
for women traders from the two countries will be held in
January 2010.
21
13. 2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Complete research into women’s political participation in the Great Lakes Region and begin advocacy based on the outcomes.
2. Assess the peacebuilding effectiveness of international institutions operating in Burundi and share conclusions with them to
improve their impact.
3. Provide advice to donors so that their support to economic recovery in Northern Uganda also contributes to peacebuilding.
4. Support multi-ethnic communities in North and South Kivu, DRC, in coming together to identify and manage development and
rehabilitation projects of benefit to the whole community.
5. Complete major research projects in DRC on the conflict dimensions of the minerals industry, on sexual violence and on
community-based peacebuilding networks.
6. Implement our reconciliation programme in Rwanda in an expanded number of districts and with a new focus on youth.
23
14. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Strengthen conflict-specific civil society dialogue to improve 1. Our facilitation of a Georgian-Abkhaz civil society dialogue
cross-conflict analysis and to reframe conflict issues from made a significant new contribution to debate on the
hard-line positions to interest-based solutions. conflict with a groundbreaking publication on security
guarantees which outlined the separate analyses of both
Georgian and Abkhaz civil society experts on the need
for security guarantees, the reasons why the sides have
been unable to agree on them, as well as barriers and
opportunities for future agreements.
2. Strengthen and widen coalitions of business people who 2. Our work with the Caucasus Business Development
have a vested interest in building peace across conflict Network (CBDN) continued in 2009 and resulted in:
divides in the South Caucasus. - Regional economic initiatives bringing together Armenian,
Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish as well as Abkhaz,
Nagorno-Karabakhi and South Ossetian business
communities. These processes led to the development
of joint branded products to promote regional economic
cooperation which underlines common economic interests.
- Advocacy work promoting cross-conflict divide and
regional economic cooperation, bringing together
hundreds of stakeholders across the region.
3. Foster dialogue between civil society and decision-makers 3. In 2009 a significant part of Alert’s work addressing
in order to promote policy solutions to the conflicts in the the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict focused on facilitating
South Caucasus. interaction between existing peacebuilding initiatives and
the official peace negotiations process. One of the most
visible contributions was the Armenian-Azerbaijani Public
the caucasus and central asIa Peace Forum that we organised and facilitated in March
2009. The Forum brought 40 Armenian and Azerbaijani
civil society leaders and other experts together with official
international mediators.
4. Strengthen the capacity of civil society figures in South 4. In 2009 we secured funds to begin work in South Ossetia,
Ossetia to engage in dialogue by supporting interventions to following the war of August 2008 which saw Russia invade
respond to local needs. Georgia after clashes between Georgia and South Ossetia.
This work will begin in 2010.
5. Develop actionable policy recommendations on resource 5. In 2009 we recruited a new Country Director for Tajikistan.
management in order to address new strategies to deal with With this leadership in place and working in partnership
threats and challenges to security in Tajikistan. with local organisations, our new programme for this part of
Central Asia will start in 2010.
25
15. 2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Strengthen the capacity of civil society figures in South Ossetia by supporting interventions to respond to local needs.
2. Inject independent analysis into public and political debate in Georgia-Abkhazia on issues related to peacebuilding.
3. Increase capacity of a range of mass media groups to provide balanced and challenging media coverage, thus changing
attitudes and enabling progress in conflict resolution.
4. Expand the reach and influence of the Caucasus Business Development Network (CBDN).
5. Establish new mechanisms for South Caucasus regional dialogue that support bilateral peace processes.
6. Develop actionable policy recommendations that will influence civil and state strategies affecting security in Tajikistan.
27
16. 2009 IMPACT OBJECTIVES 2009 REPORT AGAINST OBJECTIVES
2009
1. Build in-country capacity in Nepal and Sri Lanka for 1. Alert partnered with the Peace and Development Institute
peacebuilding through appropriate training activities for (PDI) to roll out 6 core and specialised courses to strengthen
selected target groups and partners. the professional skills and capacities of practitioners,
policy-makers and donors working in or on conflict in South
Asia – of which 2 were piloted for the first time globally.
Alert contributed expertise to the training courses on youth
and conflict as well as on the economic dimensions of
peacebuilding. Altogether, PDI trained 87 practitioners
from across South and Southeast Asia in 2009.
2. Ensure that peace networks and constituencies with whom 2. Throughout increasing instability in Nepal and the
Alert is working are strengthened during times of crisis. final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka, Alert actively
strengthened our peace networks in both countries.
This included our work with leaders of the business
community, who demonstrated their commitment to
promoting responsible investment opportunities that
contribute to peaceful development.
3. Contribute to policy and programming initiatives of partner 3. A National Youth Survey and youth consultations have been
governments as well as donor agencies that contribute to completed in Sri Lanka, highlighting opinions of young people
building peace especially on issues of justice for all, security on development, governance and cultural issues, which is
and equitable economic conditions. available now for policy-makers and practitioners to improve
policy formulation and programming. Furthermore, the Nepal
programme is being consulted by government as well as
development partners on security and justice issues faced by
local communities, with a special focus on women and youth.
4. Facilitate stronger regional linkages and collaboration on 4. We built further regional links and collaboration on youth
youth issues and the formulation of a South Asia blueprint issues, primarily by hosting a major conference on youth
for conflict-sensitive youth policy and programming. featuring experiences and challenges from Nepal, the
south asIa Maldives and Sri Lanka, which led to a continued sharing
of experiences and resources among partners in all three
countries. We also signed an MOU with the Prince of
Wales Youth Business International Ltd. (YBI) to work
together to better understand the contribution of youth
entrepreneurship initiatives to peacebuilding, including
the design, implementation and impact assessment of
youth entrepreneurship programmes. We will be taking
this programme forward in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
29
17. 2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
1. Establish a training and learning institution to operate in Sri Lanka with regional outreach to other parts of South Asia, offering
expertise on peacebuilding and development strategies.
2. Found a research and advocacy network in South Asia on the relationship between climate change and security in the region.
3. Build a model for youth employment initiatives in conflict-affected areas in South Asia.
4. Establish new strategic partnerships in Sri Lanka and Nepal to strengthen peaceful post-war development and community
security.
31
18. 2010 IMPACT OBJECTIVES
2010
In 2009 Alert broadened its engagement in the Philippines to include conflict in Mindanao, in addition to longstanding work
on the national conflict between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front
(NDF)/National Peoples’ Army (NPA). In 2010, we will further consolidate this broader approach, aiming in particular to:
1. Maintain communication between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic
Front (NDF) negotiating panels, in the context of the results of the May presidential elections.
2. Expand the reach of the Waging Peace and Generation Peace networks of peace advocates.
3. Establish a new mechanism for transformative dialogue and action in Mindanao Mindanao (namely the Mindanao
Multi-stakeholder Group/MMG).
4. Invest in the skills of local business and community leaders in Conflict-Sensitive Responsible Business Practice (CSRBP)
concepts and guiding principles and in the application of this knowledge to community consultation and analysis processes
in Mindanao.
5. Revisit our Philippines country strategy in light of a planned external evaluation of our peacebuilding work and the
appointment of a Country Director.
phIlIppInes
33
19. Treasurer’s Report uncertainty like the present; it was thus both welcome and a
reflection of effective budget management that in 2009 we were
Continuing the trend of recent years, having invested in improved able to increase our net general unrestricted reserves.
financial controls and effective fundraising supported by robust
management, we emerged in a strong financial position at the end In conclusion, system changes, restructuring, capacity building
of 2009. and investment between 2004 and 2009 have all contributed
to a much improved financial picture at the end of 2009. Work
Total income during the year ended 31 December 2009 was underway to diversify sources of unrestricted income and to
£10.51 million. Total charitable expenditure was £9.71 million, increase contributions to indirect costs has borne fruit and will
which represents an increase of £1.73 million on £7.98 million continue into 2010, along with efforts to increase restricted
in 2008. income streams. A good contribution to reserves has been made
in 2009 and International Alert’s balance sheet and cash flow at
Within our income, unrestricted income in 2009 was £2.37 the year-end are secure. We are looking to achieve a continued
million, comprising £1.83 million in incoming resources from period of financial growth in 2010 and beyond in line with the
generated funds (£1.67 million of institutional grants; £149,000 business plan of the organisation for the period 2010 to 2014,
in donations and gifts and £1 1,000 of investment income) and a notwithstanding the current economic climate.
further £534,000 of incoming resources from charitable activities.
This growth in unrestricted income largely reflects the continuous The figures on these pages are extracted from the full trustees’
efforts that have been made to strengthen relationships with report and financial statements that have been audited by
institutional funders and to increase income from donations and Kingston Smith LLP, who gave an unqualified opinion. The full
gifts in recent years. accounts were approved on 27th May 2010. Copies of the full
accounts have been submitted to the Charity Commission and
International Alert’s Reserves Policy is that general unrestricted Register of Companies. This summarised financial information
reserves, excluding any part which represents the book value may not contain sufficient information to gain complete
of fixed assets, should be sufficient to cover two months of understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. The full
unrestricted expenditure and programme employment costs. trustees’ report, audit report and financial statements may be
obtained from the Secretary General’s office.
Overall funds being carried forward to 2010 are £5 million
(compared to £4.25 million carried forward to 2009). The total Signed by Trustee
carried forward is made up of £3.6 million restricted funds as
well as the £1.4 million unrestricted funds. It should be noted that
the high balance of restricted funds is due to timing of receipts
in 2009 and that restricted funds represent funds received from
donors that are committed to be spent on existing projects in craig mcgilvray
2010 and beyond. Honourary Treasurer
International Alert
Unrestricted reserves are held primarily as a contingent buffer
that can be used, for example, for long term investment in the
competence of staff, investment in new programmes, to fund
fixed assets, to provide a degree of stability in a period of adverse
fInancIal sectIon funding, to manage fluctuations in cash flow or to respond rapidly
to opportunities that may present themselves. A strong level of
unrestricted reserves is particularly important in a time of financial
35
20. Independent Auditor’s Statement to the Balance Sheet at 31st December 2009 Statement of Financial Activities Our Income
Trustees of International Alert
2009 2008 The statement of financial activities includes income and expenditure for the year ended
12,000,000
We have examined the summarised financial statements for the year £’000 £’000 unrestricted restricted 2009 2008
ended 31 December 2009. fixed assets funds funds total Total
10,000,000
Tangible assets 66 79
respective responsibilities of trustees and auditors £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
The trustees are responsible for preparing the summarized financial Incoming resources 8,000,000
statements in accordance with the with applicable United Kingdom Incoming resources from generated funds
current assets voluntary income
law. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the 6,000,000
Debtors 642 738 Institutional grants 1,673 - 1,673 1,303
consistency of the summarised financial statements with the full
Cash at bank and in hand 4,841 3,707 Donations and gifts 149 - 149 92
financial statements and Trustees’ Annual Report and its compliance 4,000,000
5,483 4,445 Investment income 11 8 19 51
with the relevant requirements of section 427 of the Companies Act
£10,367,000
£10,510,000
£5,552,000
£5,632,000
£5,229,000
Incoming resources from charitable activities
1,000
£7,467,000
2006 and the regulations made thereafter. 2,000,000
creditors Working with people to make a positive
367 5,163 5,530 5,482
£5,31
difference for peace
Basis of opinion Amounts falling due within one year 503 277
Improving international policies that affect the 0
144 2,488 2,632 2,854
We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2008/03. Our 503 277 prospects for peace 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
report on the company’s full annual financial statements describes Strengthening the peacebuilding sector 23 484 507 585 Year
the basis of our opinion on those financial statements and the net current assets 4,980 4,168
Trustees’ Report. total incoming resources 2,367 8,143 10,510 10,367
How we spent the money in 2009
total net assets 5,046 4,247
opinion
In our opinion the summarised financial statements are consistent resources expended
with the full financial statements and the Trustees’ Annual Report costs of generating funds 133 - 133 127
funds
of International Alert for the year ended 31 December 2009 and charitable activities
complies with the applicable requirements of section 427 of the Working with people to make a positive
939 4,855 5,794 4,749
Unrestricted difference for peace
Companies Act 2006, and the regulations made thereafter.
General funds 1,012 734 Improving international policies that affect the
575 2,325 2,900 2,275
Designated fund 459 380 prospects for peace
Strengthening the peacebuilding sector 297 521 818 767
1,471 1,114
governance costs 66 66 64
kingston smith llp
Devonshire House Restricted 3,575 3,133 total resources expended 2,010 7,701 9,711 7,982
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
60 Goswell Road 5,046 4,247
London EC1M 7AD net incoming resources 357 442 799 2,385
n Africa programmes
n Eurasia programmes
Trustees’ Statement Funds brought forward at 1 January 2009 1,114 3,133 4,247 1,862
n Asia programmes
n Peacebuilding issues programme
The auditor has issued unqualified reports on the full annual funds carried forward at 31 december 2009 1,471 3,575 5,046 4,247 n Middle East programme
financial statements and on the consistency of the Trustees’ report n Fundraising
n Management and Administration
with those financial statements. Their report on the full annual The total of “funds carried forward” includes £1.4 million of unrestricted reserves and
financial statements contained no statement under sections 498(2), £3.6 million of grants received in late 2009 for implementation in 2010.
498(2)(b) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.
37
21. International Alert is dependent on grants and donations for its peacebuilding programmes. We are indebted to the following
donors and also to the growing number of individuals who have given financial support, attended events and who have
volunteered their time. We wish to acknowledge financial support from the following organisations:
AusAID (Australia) USAID/SPRING (Stability Peace and Save the Children UK
Arsenault Family Foundation Reconciliation in Northern Uganda) Project Search for Common Ground
Barrow Cadbury Trust William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust Shell
Bread for the World (Germany) Workers Beer Company Skillshare International
CARE Transition International
C B and H H Taylor 1984 Trust GAPS (Gender Action for Peace and Security) World Vision
The Ceniarth Foundation is funded through: The Joseph Rowntree York University
Charitable Trust Polden Puckham
Comic Relief Youth Business International (YBI)
Conflict Prevention Pool, UK
Cordaid we acknowledge our partnerships with:
Great Lakes Region of Africa
David and Elaine Potter Foundation Actions des Femmes pour les Initiatives de Paix/
Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Colombia Association des Femmes Chrétiennes (AFIP/
Ireland ACP - La Asociación Colombiana del Petróleo AFEC), DRC
European Commission (EC) Comité Minero Energético para los Derechos Alpha Ujuvi, DRC
Humanos
German Federal Ministry for Economic ARCT-Ruhuka (Association Rwandaise des
Cooperation and Development (BMZ) FIP - Fundación Ideas para la Paz Conseillers en Traumatisme), Rwanda
Government of Canada (DFAIT) Indepaz - Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo Association d’Appui aux Initiatives de Base –
y la Paz APIBA, DRC
Management Systems International (MSI)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands) CARE Uganda
Global Centre d’Etudes et de Formation pour la Gestion
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
ActionAid et la Prévention des Conflits dans la Région
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden
Adelphi Research des Grands Lacs (CEGEC), DRC
Misereor (Germany)
CAFOD Cercle d’Initiative pour une Vision Commune
Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
CARE (CIVIC), Burundi
Open Society Georgia Foundation
Center on International Cooperation (CIC) Collectif des Associations Féminines pour le
Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Développement (CAFED), DRC
Christian Aid
Shell Collective of Genocide Survivors’ Organisations
Conciliation Resources
Swedish International Development Cooperation (IBUKA), Rwanda
Agency (SIDA) Concordis International
Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) Commission Diocésaine Justice et Paix, North
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Kivu province, DRC
(SDC) EGMONT
Conseil des Organisations des Femmes Agissant
The Delegation of the European Commission European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) en Synergie (COFAS), DRC
to the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz FAFO, Norway Dushirehamwe, Burundi
Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y
Duterimbere ASBL (Association Sans But
The Macedonian Charitable Trust el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE)
Lucratif), Rwanda
The Office of the United Nations High GAPS
Duterimbere IMF (Institution de Micro-Finance),
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Rwanda
The Souter Charitable Trust Policy (ELIAMEP)
Dynamique Synergie des Femmes (DSF), DRC
The World Bank International Center for Transitional Justice
East African Sub-Regional Initiative on the
Turner Broadcasting (ICTJ)
Advancement of Women, Great Lakes
UK Department for International Development Interpeace
Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches
(DFID) NEP/CES (Peace Studies Group of the Centre in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa
UK Embassy in Angola for Social Sciences - University of Coimbra) (FECCLAHA)
UK Embassy in Bogota Netherlands Institute for International Relations Forum des Amis de la Terre, DRC
UK Embassy in Georgia (Clingendael)
Great Lakes Ecumenical Forum, Great Lakes
United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP)
Groupe d’Actions de Citoyens pour la
United Nations Development Programme Partners for Democratic Change International Surveillance de la Transition/Observatoire
(UNDP) (PDCI) Citoyen de l’Action Publique (GAT/OCAP),
United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Plan International UK DRC
United States Agency for International Responding to Conflict Institut Africain de Développement Economique
Development (USAID) Saferworld et Social (INADES – Formation), Burundi
acknowledgements 39
22. Institut de Recherche et de Dialogue pour la Paix Samjhauta Nepal Coalition Nationale de Guinée pour les Droits et
(IRDP), Rwanda Shanti Malika la Citoyenneté des Femmes, Guinea
Kitara Heritage Development Agency (KHEDA), Youth Action Nepal Conseil Nationale de Transition, Guinea
Uganda Social Welfare Council (Nepal) Corps Guinéen pour le Developpement et la
Le Caucus des Femmes de Sud Kivu pour la Paix, Guinea
Paix, DRC Flomo Theatre Production, Liberia
The Philippines
Life and Peace Institute, DRC Federação das Organizações Não-
AIM Policy Center
Makerere University, Uganda Governamentais (FONG), São Tomé and
FCO Manila
Mid North Private Sector Development Company Príncipe
Limited (MidNorth), Uganda Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute
Foundation for International Dignity, Liberia
National Commission for the Demobilisation and Generation Peace
Gabinete Registro Publico de Informação
Reintegration of Ex-Combatants, Rwanda Waging Peace Network (GRIP), São Tomé and Príncipe
National Unity and Reconciliation Commission International Foundation for Electoral Systems
(NURC), Rwanda Sri Lanka (IFES), Guinea
Observatoire de l’Action Gouvernementale Business for Peace Initiative (BPA) Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
(OAG), Burundi Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) International Committee of the Red Cross
ProFemmes Twesehamwe, Rwanda Ceylon Chamber of Commerce International Crisis Group
Radio Isanganiro, Burundi Consortium for Humanitarian Agencies (CHA) Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic
Refugee Law Project (RLP), Uganda International Labour Organisation (ILO) Church, Liberia
Regional Analysts Network, Great Lakes National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Liberia Media Centre
Réseau des Femmes pour un Développement Organisations Liberia Women’s Initiative
Associatif (RFDA), DRC Peacebuilding and Development Institute Mano River Union Peace Forum
Réseau Haki na Amani, DRC Sri Lanka (PDI-SL)
Mano River Women’s Peace Network
Saferworld, Uganda Sri Lanka Youth Parliament
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Service de Renforcement des Appuis aux University of Colombo
Communautés de Base en Afrique Centrale Media Women Centre for Development and
Young Asia Television (YATV) Democracy, Liberia
(SERACOB), DRC
Youth Business Sri Lanka (YBSL) Ministère de la Réconciliation Nationale, Guinea
Solidarité des Femmes de Fizi pour le Bien Etre
Youth Employment Network (YEN) Ministère de l’Administration et des Affaires
Familial (SOFIBEF), DRC
Solidarités Féminines pour la Paix et le Territoriales et Politiques, Guinea
Développement Intégral (SOFEPADI), DRC The South Caucasus region Ministry of Gender, Liberia
The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum for Peace Abkhaz Experts’ Council Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism,
(Amani Forum), Great Lakes Association of Women of Abkhazia Liberia
Transitional Justice Consultation Group, Burundi Caucasus Business and Development Network Ministry of Internal Affairs, Liberia
Umuseke, Rwanda (CBDN) National Movement for Justice and Democracy,
Civil Diplomacy Institute Sierra Leone
Nepal Civil Society Institute Office of the Gender Adviser at UNMIL, Liberia
Antenna Foundation Council of Europe Office of the Commissioner Petroleum Oversight Commission, São Tomé and
Association of International Non-governmental for Human Rights Príncipe
Organisations (AIN) Cultural-Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” Population Services International
CARE Nepal Eurointegration NGO Press Union of Liberia
Equal Access Nepal Foundation for Development of Human Search for Common Ground
Forum for Women, Law and Development Resources Solidarité Thérapeutique & Initiatives contre le
Friends for Peace German Federal Foreign Office (Zivik) Sida (Solthis), Guinea
Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal HAYAT International Humanitarian Organisation South Eastern Women’s Development
(IHRICON) International Association of Business and Association, Liberia
Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Parliament Televisão Santomense, São Tomé and Príncipe
Research Centre Public Committee for Development of Tajikistan Terre des Hommes, Guinea
Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (Nepal) Society for Humanitarian Research Universities of Kofi Annan, Sonfonia, Labé and
Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Kankan, Guinea
(Nepal) West Africa United Nations system in Guinea, Liberia, São
Ministry of Youth and Sports (Nepal) Agência Nacional Petróleo, São Tomé and Tomé and Príncipe and Sierra Leone
National Business Initiative (NBI) Príncipe West Africa Civil Society Forum
NGO Federation AGORA, Guinea Women in Peacebuilding Network, Liberia
Saferworld Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, Liberia Women’s NGO Network, Liberia
40
23. International Alert.
346 Clapham Road, London SW9 9AP, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)20 7627 6800, Fax +44 (0)20 7627 6900
Email general@international-alert.org
www.international-alert.org
ISBN 978-1-906677-61-9
