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KindernothilfeAnnual Report

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06

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03 Kindernothilfe

04 Report of the Executive Board

06 Hands-on help

10 Project example: Swaziland

12 Project example: Pakistan

14 Project example: Peru

16 UPR procedure: for human rights, no distance is too far

20 Impact monitoring of our project work

22 Education changes everything – from the earliest age!

26 Cash flow and accountability

27 Self-commitments

28 Finance report

30 Outlook 2016

32 Imprint

Contents

22

Kindernothilfe

Kindernothilfe is one of the largest non-governmen-

tal organisations in Germany working in the field of

development co-operation and humanitarian assistan-

ce. In 2015, its income amounted to 60 million euros.

For over 55 years, Kindernothilfe has been working on

behalf of disadvantaged children and their rights in

developing countries. It currently supports and protects

nearly two million children, enabling them to participate

in 783 projects in 31 African, Asian, Eastern European

and Latin American countries.

Our objective is to enable girls and boys to live in dignity

throughout their lives – free of poverty, suffering and

violence. This includes securing their basic needs and

rights as well as giving them an opportunity to take their

development into their own hands, assisted by their

families and communities. All Kindernothilfe projects

are implemented through local partner organisations.

Human and child rights, as well as Christian charity

form the basis of our work; help towards self-help, parti-

cipation and sustainability are our guiding principles.

In Germany, too, we campaign for the interests of chil-

dren in developing countries. Through our campaigns

we provide information and raise public awareness; and

through our advocacy work we urge politicians to stand

up for the interests of children and to improve legislati-

on impinging on their lives.

The work of Kindernothilfe is supported by 313,000

donors, including 75,000 sponsors, 1,000 volunteers,

numerous celebrities, the Kindernothilfe Foundation

and Kindernothilfe organisations in Austria, Switzerland

and Luxembourg. Every year since 1992, Kindernothilfe

has been awarded the Seal of Approval from the German

Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI) for its responsi-

ble and statutory use of donations. In the context of the

PwC Transparency Prize, Kindernothilfe has received

several awards for its high-quality, transparent reporting.

Kindernothilfe was founded in 1959 and is a member of

the Diakonisches Werk of the Evangelical Church in the

Rhineland. It works within numerous alliances of non-

governmental organisations, for example as a member

in the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (Alliance Development

Works).

The organisation

3Annual Report 2015

Organisation

Mr Borchardt, Kindernothilfe managed to be in the black at

the end of the year. How was this outcome achieved?

We finished the year with a most satisfying plus of nearly

795,000 euros. Our income rose by nearly six percent; this me-

ant that we took in 5.4 million euros more than we had antici-

pated. The main reasons for this development are: we received

over three million euros more in donations for humanitarian

assistance projects than in 2014; the level of donations recei-

ved for emergency relief in Nepal and for the Syrian refugees in

Lebanon was particularly high; there was another plus, of over

20 percent, in the subsidies received from State providers to

co-finance projects.

Alongside this, our expenditure fell by 2.6 million euros. For

a variety of reasons, including the fact that we lacked the

necessary funds, we provided 2.1 million euros less for project

An overview of the key developments in our national and

international work is provided by the three board members

of Kindernothilfe, Katrin Weidemann, Jürgen Borchardt and

Christoph Dehn.

January February March April May June

Donations: Launch of the new donation form “Ichbindabeitrag” (I’monboard) Photo: Hartmut Schwarzbach

Campaign: Press conference and events to mark Red Hand Day Photo: Christian Herrmanny

Zimbabwe: Meeting of all self-help group partners Photo: Kindernothilfe partner

Campaign: Debt report 2015 published by Kinder-nothilfe and erlassjahr.de Photo: Angelika Böhling

Nepal: Emergency relief provided by our partner AMURT following the serious earthquake Photo: AMURT

Protestant Kirchentag (church congress): Kindernothilfe’s extensive live programme in Stuttgart Photo: Ralf Krämer

support than last year. And, finally, we also saved 0.5 million

euros in our work in our head-office.

Mrs Weidemann, more donations were received for huma-

nitarian assistance than last year. How was this money

allocated?

The civil war in Syria has been going on now for over five years.

Through our work in the Chouf mountain region in Lebanon, we

are providing Syrian refugees prospects for the future and preven-

ting them from having to make the dangerous journey to Europe.

Another of our humanitarian assistance areas is Nepal. After

two devastating earthquakes hit central Nepal in April and May

2015, leaving nearly 9,000 dead, we decided to provide hu-

manitarian assistance in the country. After finding two partner

organisations, the first thing we did together was set up protec-

tion centres for children, which we call child-friendly spaces. At

the same time, the construction of temporary learning centres

began and teachers were trained to recognise psychological

damage and deep-seated anxiety among children and deal with

them in a supportive, healing manner.

Highlights from the work of Kindernothilfe in 2015 Photo: Jürgen Schübelin

4 Annual Report 2015

Mr Dehn, in 2015, Kindernothilfe started working in Le-

banon and Nepal. Are there plans to make any more chan-

ges to the country portfolio?

Last year, we ranked our partner countries according to the Ine-

quality-adjusted Human Development Index; alongside poverty

and quality of life, its evaluation also takes account of the un-

equal distribution of life opportunities within a country. It was

on this basis that we adopted Lebanon and Myanmar as new

partner countries and decided to wind up our work in Russia at

the end of 2016 and in Chile at the end of 2018. We originally

intended withdrawing from Kosovo in 2016, but the refugee

situation has put the focus back on our vocational training

centre in Mitrovica. Returned refugees have almost doubled the

student population; the placement rate for graduates is nearly

100 percent. That is why we have decided to continue this

successful work.

Which areas of your partner organisations’ capacity buil-

ding played a significant role in 2015?

In the past year, we worked together with our partner organi-

sations to improve planning and monitoring instruments. Our

partners should not only be accountable for what they have

done in a specific period, they should also ascertain what

changes the project activities have brought about: How have

children’s lives been improved? What are the impacts of the

new skills and know-how acquired in the training? One example

of where the changes are particularly evident is the work of our

self-help groups. Families are working their way out of absolute

poverty. Children are going to school regularly and now have

enough to eat. Alcohol abuse and violence against children

are in decline, and this means that new life opportunities are

opening up for the girls and boys.

We have also stepped up child protection training. In a project

funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-ope-

ration and Development, which we run together with five other

child rights organisations, we provide child protection training

to organisations in nine countries. Nearly all of our partner

organisations have a child protection policy in operation.

Mrs Weidemann, what conclusions do you draw following

the completion of Kindernothilfe’s education campaign?

Early childhood care and education is one part of the solution

on the road to finally winning the battle against poverty, since

high-quality education programmes for young girls and boys

have the potential to sustainably promote the development of

entire societies. These are the findings of a study conducted by

the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, which we commis-

sioned at the end of 2014. Based on findings from 15 projects in

three continents, it has provided empirical evidence that early

childhood care and education has significantly greater effects

on children’s lives than all the other subsequent youth work

interventions and adult education programmes. Despite this, the

expansion of early childhood care and education programmes in

many African, Asian and Latin American countries is progressing

slowly. We have raised the issue with the German Parliamentary

Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment

and a bill has been introduced to parliament. (See also page 22)

And Kindernothilfe has reason to be pleased about a new

business co-operation?

Yes, that’s right. In August we signed an agreement with Procter

& Gamble (P&G) Germany and the Rewe Group. P&G and the

Rewe Group have joined us to initiate the “Stück zum Glück” (a

step away from happiness) campaign. The goal of this long-

term donation campaign is to improve the life prospects of

street children in Bangladesh. The supported initiatives include

the construction of a safe house as well as holistic care and

support for up to 300 street children over a three-year period.

March 2016

Katrin Weidemann, Chairperson of the Executive Board

Christoph Dehn, Deputy Chairperson of the Executive

Board, Programmes

Jürgen Borchardt, Member of the Executive Board, Finance

and Administration

Contact: vorstand@kindernothilfe.de

July August September October November December

Haiti: Rebuilding six mountain schools destroyed in the earthquake Photo: Jürgen Schübelin

Lebanon: Press trip with actress Natalia Wörner to the project for Syrian refugee families Photo: BILD/Guenther

Study: Presentation of the Kindernothilfe study on early childhood care and educationPhoto: Bastian Strauch

Campaign: Grand finale of the Kindernothilfe Action!Kidz campaign in Buchholz Photo: Kettwig

India: Lena Gercke visiting the Kindernothilfe-project for the RTL fund-raising telethon Photo: RTL/Daniel van Mol

Peru: Johannes B. Kerner visiting the Kinder-nothilfe project for the ZDF gala “Ein Herz für Kinder” (A heart for children) Photo: Chr. Herrmanny

5Annual Report 2015

Hands-on Help

Children / Youth

1959

1969

1979

1989

1999

2009

2015

5

4.970

69.460

113.210

120.640

588.700

1.979.810 Photo: Stephen Davies

Photo: Bastian Strauch

Global aid 2015

Year

Continents 2015 2014Projects

Children / Youth

Expenditure in Euro Projects

Children / Youth

Expenditure in Euro

Total Africa 194 1.649.510 14.360 T. 196 1.529.300 15.542 T.

Total Asia 435 241.100 16.187 T. 439 192.200 16.545 T.

Total Europe 6 1.400 276 T. 8 1.400 667 T.

Total Latin America 148 87.800 12.694 T. 156 91.000 12.920 T.

Worldwide general * 110 T.

Total 783 1.979.810 43.627 T. 799 1.813.900 45.755 T.

* This includes continent-spanning costs, particularly for evaluations

6 Annual Report 2015

Africa

ProjectsChildren /

YouthExpenditure

in Euro Project Interventions Target group

BurundiProjectssince 2007

3 75.210 411.616 Nutrition, rural community development, self-help groups

Malnourished and other vulnerable chil-dren, refugees, socially excluded people, mothers/caregivers, promotors, decisi-on-makers

Ethiopiasince 1973

73 681.100 4.510.204 Nutrition, gender-specific project work, health, basic education, HIV and AIDS, disaster risk reduction, small businesses, micro-credits,agriculture/livestock/forestry, rural/urban community develop-ment, life skills, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, capacity building of partners, rehabilitation of peo-ple with disabilities, schooling/vocational training, self-help groups, emergency relief, personal empowerment, environmental protection, water

Working, exploited, sick, malnourished, traumatised and neglected children, chil-dren with disabilities, parents/caregivers, mothers, street kids, orphans, child- headed households, other vulnerable children, victims of violence/abuse, socially excluded people, people in conflict with the law, decision-makers

Kenyasince 1974

21 120.490 1.785.795 Nutrition, health, basic education, lobbying/advocacy, violence prevention, disaster risk reduction, small businesses, life skills, rural community development, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitation of people with disabilities, schooling/ vocational training, self-help groups, personal empowerment, environmental protection

Exploited, sick, malnourished, traumati-sed and neglected children, children with disabilities, street kids, orphans, other vulnerable children, victims of violence/abuse, mothers/caregivers, promotors, decision-makers

Malawisince 1998

12 82.890 822.055 Basic education, nutrition, health, HIV and AIDS, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitation of people with disabilities, schooling/vocational training, self-help groups

Neglected children, children with disabi-lities, orphans, street kids, child-headed households, other vulnerable children

Rwandasince 1994

13 151.760 1.240.894 Nutrition, health, gender-specific project work, violence prevention, HIV and AIDS, small businesses, agriculture/livestock/forestry, rural/urban community develop-ment, psychosocial rehabilitation, legal assistance, self-help groups

Neglected children, child-headed house-holds, victims of violence/abuse, other vul-nerable children, socially excluded people, people in conflict with the law, mothers/caregivers, promotors, decision-makers

Somaliasince 2011

6 22.920 776.551 Health, basic education, disaster risk reduction, rural community development, lobbying/advocacy, psychosocial rehabili-tation, capacity building of partners, legal assistance, self-help groups

Refugees, vulnerable children, parents, promotors

South Afrikasince 1979

20 16.070 1.251.799 Basic education, health, HIV and AIDS, small businesses, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitati-on of people with disabilities, personal empowerment

Traumatised and neglected children, chil-dren with disabilities, street kids, orphans, other vulnerable children, victims of violen-ce/abuse, socially excluded parents

Swazilandsince 1985

5 13.860 370.106 Vocational training, nutrition, integrative education, agriculture/livestock, rural community development, self-help groups

Sick, malnourished and neglected children, children with disabilities, orphans, other vulnerable children, socially excluded parents

Ugandasince 1981

21 281.200 1.107.365 Nutrition, health, basic education, HIV and AIDS, rural community development, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, capacity building of partners, self-help groups, personal empowerment, environ-mental protection, water

Sick, malnourished and neglected children, orphans, child-headed households, other vulnerable children, socially excluded people, parents/caregivers

Zambiasince 1998

10 158.570 1.372.686 Nutrition, gender-specific project work, health, violence prevention, HIV and AIDS, agriculture/livestock/forestry, small busi-nesses, rural/urban community develop-ment, psychosocial rehabilitation, legal assistance, self-help groups

Neglected and other vulnerable child-ren, victims of violence/abuse, socially excluded people, children with disabilities, parents/caregivers, people in conflict with the law, promotors, decision-makers

Zimbabwesince 2010

10 45.440 679.939 HIV and AIDS, hygiene, small businesses, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, ca-pacity building of partners, legal assistan-ce, rehabilitation of people with disabilities, self-help groups, personal empowerment, environmental protection

Traumatised and neglected children, child-ren with disabilities, orphans, child-headed households, children in conflict with the law, other vulnerable children, victims of violence/abuse, ethnic minorities, parents/caregivers, promotors, decision-makers

GeneralTotal 194 1.649.510

31.09514.360.105

7Annual Report 2015

Photo: Roland BrockmannPhoto: Guido FalkenbergPhoto: Kindernothilfe partner

AsiaProjects

Children / Youth

Expenditure in Euro Project Interventions Target group

AfghanistanProjectssince 2002

5 12.890 274.393 Peace education, inclusion, life skills, lob-bying/advocacy, rehabilitation of people with disabilities, self-help groups

Children with disabilities, other vulnerable children, socially excluded people, decision-makers

Bangladeshsince 1971

17 7.690 736.333 Health, basic education, disaster risk reduction, rural community development, life skills, human rights education, psycho-social rehabilitation, self-help groups

Working, malnourished and neglected children, street kids, orphans, victims of abuse, socially excluded people, ethnic minorities, pregnant women

Indiasince 1959

325 92.680 7.130.119 Basic education, nutrition, community development, health, inclusion of children with disabilities, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, schooling/vocational training, self-help groups, environmental protection, water

Working, malnourished, traumatised children, children with disabilities, street kids, orphans, other vulnerable children, ethnic minorities

Indonesiasince 1978

6 2.840 570.874 Vocational training, basic education, life skills, rehabilitation of people with disabili-ties, rehabilitation of street kids

Working children, children with disabilities, street kids, pre-school children, teachers/child care workers

Lebanonsince 2013

3 2.620 887.293 Basic education, psychosocial rehabilitati-on, emergency relief

Traumatised children, refugees, victims of violence, parents/caregivers, promotors

Nepalsince 2015

4 12.600 761.979 Gender-specific project work, psycho-social rehabilitation, emergency relief, reconstruction assistance

Malnourished traumatized children, child-headed households, other vulnerable chil-dren, parents, pregnant women, promotors

Pakistansince 1977

25 29.390 2.672.781 Basic education, disaster risk reduction,rural community development, life skills,lobbying/advocacy, human rights educati-on, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilita-tion of people with disabilities, schooling/vocational training, self-help groups, personal empowerment, environmental protection (climate change)

Working and exploited children, children with disabilities, street kids, other vulne-rable children, victims of violence/abuse, people in conflict with the law, socially excluded people, promotors

Philippinessince 1977

27 61.980 1.845.854 Reconstruction, community development, health, basic education, psychosocial rehabilitation, self-help groups, emergency relief

Working and traumatised children, child-ren with disabilities, street kids, victims of violence/abuse, refugees, ethnic minori-ties, parents, decision-makers

Sri Lankasince 1975

11 6.580 675.394 Peace education, community develop-ment, violence prevention, life skills, lob-bying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitationof people with disabilities

Working and traumatised children, children with disabilities, orphans, other vulnerable children, victims of violence/abuse, ethnic minorities, people in conflict with the law, socially excluded people, mothers/caregivers

Thailandsince 1983

12 11.830 558.194 Combating human trafficking, gender-spe-cific project work, basic education, HIV and AIDS, rural community development, life skills, schooling/vocational training, self-help groups

Working, traumatised and neglected children, victims of violence/abuse, ethnic minorities, refugees, socially excluded peopleGeneral

Total 435 241.10073.814

16.187.028

Eastern EuropeProjects

Children / Youth

Expenditure in Euro Project Interventions Target group

KosovoProjects since 1998

1 630 62.749 Vocational qualification Ethnic minorities

Russian Federationsince 1998

5 730 213.161 HIV and AIDS, life skills, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitation of people with disabilities,personal empowerment

Sick and neglected children, children with disabilities, street kids, other vulnerable children, parents/caregivers

Total 6 1.400 275.910

Annual Report 20158

Photo: Peter MüllerPhoto: Jürgen Schübelin

* NGO-IDEAs project (see page 21)

Latin AmericaProjects

Children / Youth

Expenditure in Euro Project Interventions Target group

BoliviaProjects since 1974

24 19.540 1.538.278 Violence prevention, rural communitydevelopment, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitation of people with disabilities,schooling/vocational training

Working and exploited children, street kids, children with disabilities, other vulne-rable children, victims of violence/abuse, parents, duty-bearers

Brazilsince 1971

49 12.690 2.366.325 Nutrition, peace education, gender-spe-cific project work, violence prevention, small businesses, agriculture/livestock/forestry, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, rehabilitation of people with disabilities, schooling/vocational training, environmental protection, water

Victims of violence/abuse, children living in rural poverty, children with disabilities, parents, families, communities/com-munity organisations, social workers/educators, decision-makers at municipal, state and national level

Chilesince 1969

14 2.450 830.258 Violence prevention, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, strengthening partners' lobbying, personal empowerment

Working and exploited children, other vulnerable children, ethnic minorities, refugees, victims of violence/abuse,deci-sion-makers

Ecuadorsince 1979

7 2.620 686.219 Nutrition, family-based agriculture, health,violence prevention, basic education, rural community development, life skills, human rights education, psychosocial rehabili-tation

Working, exploited and neglected children,street kids, teachers, parents, promotors,decision-makers

Guatemalasince 1976

19 10.710 1.780.123 Nutrition, family-based agriculture, women empowerment, peace education, health, violence prevention, basic educa-tion, rural community development, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, legal assistance, self-help groups

Working and neglected children, victims ofviolence/abuse, women, parents/caregi-vers, teachers, health workers, promotors, decision-makers

Haitisince 1973

14 16.300 3.789.379 Early childhood education, violence pre-vention, formal and non-formal education, self-help groups

Working and neglected children, victims of violence/abuse, parents/caregivers, women, teachers, promotors, decisi-on-makers

Hondurassince 1979

13 16.080 910.311 Nutrition, family-based agriculture, early childhood education, health, violence prevention, rural community development, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, human rights education, psychosocial rehabilitation, legal assistance, schooling/vocational training

Working and neglected children, street kids, victims of violence/abuse, parents/caregivers, teachers, health workers, promotors, decision-makers

Perusince 1984

7 7.410 602.147 Violence prevention, life skills, lobbying/advocacy, rehabilitation of people with disabilities, schooling/vocational training, personal empowerment, environmental protection, civil society development in the field of child rights

Working, malnourished and neglected children, children with disabilities, victims of violence/abuse, socially excluded peo-ple, pregnant women, parents, promotors, decision-makers

GeneralTotal

1*148 87.800

191.56412.694.604

9Annual Report 2015

Africa Swaziland

Swaziland is one of the poorest countries in the world. Here,

the HIV rate is at its highest, while hunger, despair and

death are part of children’s everyday lives. In some regions,

though, a new generation is growing up, with the courage

and irrepressible determination to bring about change.

“A great idea, but nothing will come of it. We don’t have enough

money. We’re too poor. No, it’s impossible.” The villager, Mr

Nhleko, shook his head in resignation. A few years ago, Kinder-

nothilfe’s partner ACAT had asked the 200 sponsored children

in the Sidlangatsini community what they wanted to do with

Kindernothilfe’s Christmas gift. Normally, the money is spent on

presents or a Christmas party. But the children’s response took

everyone by surprise: “We want to grow some crops on the big

field you gave up years ago!” The girls and boys had had enough:

day after day, there was not enough to eat at home. The families

The Kingdom’s orphans

were unable to produce enough in their small gardens. Yet, as far

as the children were concerned, the solution was so simple.

Some of the adults just smiled at the thought of their naivety.

In contrast, ACAT loved the idea and offered their support. The

organisation laid water pipes from a well further up the valley,

found a small water pump and trained the children and some of

the parents in agricultural know-how. “During the week, a few of

the parents lend a hand,” says ACAT director Enock Dlamini. “But

at the weekend, all the children are here.” ACAT provided their

expertise as to what should be grown, when and how. “Cowpeas

grow particularly well in this climate zone. They are very nutritious,

not prone to disease and can also survive periods of drought,” the

ACAT director adds. “And cowpeas are quite expensive, which

means that the children can sell whatever they don’t need for their

families. They can then use the field to grow their vegetables."

Global aid 2015

Photo: Ralf Krämer

10 Annual Report 2015

Project 74701

Entrepreneurial and Skills Development ProgrammeProject background: the project areas are located in the

country’s poorest districts. Around 70% of the population

lives below the national poverty line. Apart from agriculture,

there are few other income opportunities. As a result of the

regular periods of drought, many people are suffering from

chronic malnutrition. And because of poverty, children are

dropping out of primary school.

Target group: 38,760 people, including 27,790 children –

orphans and other vulnerable children, widows with no

income, needy single parents and grandparents, AIDS

patients, in need of care and support

Project goals: food security, higher incomes through

savings and credit groups, greater understanding of HIV and

AIDS and improved provision of medication to people

affected by HIV and AIDS, less discrimination through

providing information about the disease

Project partner: Africa Co-operative Action Trust (ACAT)

Lilima Swaziland, a Christian NGO set up within the rural

development work in 1982, which works primarily with

women and children in the rural population

Example of activities and outcomes achieved in 2015:

around 230 families have taken their first steps out of

poverty and are helping others to do so. Awareness-raising

campaigns on HIV and AIDS ensure that it stops spreading,

that people change their behaviour and that victims and

their families are no longer subjected to discrimination. The

local people created around 100 new vegetable gardens.

Before the major drought at the end of 2015, they were able

to produce enough vegetables and fruit for their own

consumption and still have enough left over to sell. Thanks

to the credit and savings groups and the training carried out

by ACAT staff and volunteers from the villages, 185 women

have set up (micro) businesses and are now making their

own living. Since then, their families have been eating more

The children sowed and planted – e.g. 4,000 tomato seedlings;

they tended, nurtured and watered all their plants. At the end of

the first year, they reaped a tremendous harvest. Mr Nhleko

was spotted proudly sorting out his enormous yield of tomato-

es. He had to admit: the children had achieved the impossible.

The young agricultural experts quickly discussed whether

they should further extend their operations to more fields,

an idea immediately supported by ACAT. Above all for the

grandmothers – whose own children should actually have

been looking after them had they not died of AIDS – the

harvested crops from the fields mean that they have a better

chance of making ends meet. “And we also get something out

healthily, their houses are in better condition and their

children are going (back) to school. The volunteers pay

twice-weekly visits, e.g. to the orphans, do the housework

and help them create vegetable gardens.

Ensuring sustainability: the target group and the people in

the vicinity of the project are encouraged to become as

actively involved as possible in the various project phases, to

encourage them to regard it as their own project. Thanks to

the training, they are in the position to continue operations

without assistance in the long-term.

Plans for 2016: as well as promoting savings and credit

clubs and providing support to create gardens and establish

micro-businesses, the ACAT staff will set up children’s’ clubs

for up to 30 boys and girls in each project region: at the

clubs’ weekly meetings, participants discuss issues inclu-

ding childrights, treating other people more fairly and

protection against HIV infection. Selected representatives

from each club will address children’s interests and con-

cerns and, partly in co-operation with adults, ensure they

are appropriately followed up.

Risks: disputes within the village population – that is the

reason for trying to involve local leaders and other influential

individuals from the very beginning. Crop failures caused by

drought – the people learn, e.g., to use non-potable water in

their gardens.

Project duration: 28.02.2006–31.03.2022

Type of support: Sponsorship

Total project budget: 857.926 Euro

Kindernothilfe share 2015: 87.964 Euro

Kindernothilfe share 2016: 87.242 Euro

Ingrid Hach, Project co-ordinator for

South Africa and Swaziland

Contact: Ingrid.Hach@kindernothilfe.de

of it,” says 14-year-old Sibongile. “If we are left on our own one

day, we are well prepared for it. We know how to survive.”

Swaziland and many other countries in Africa were badly

affected by a long period of drought at the end of 2015. The

ground is still rock hard, completely dried up. Nothing can grow

in such circumstances. Kindernothilfe supports the children

and their families in the Sidlangatsini community by providing

food to see them through until they are able to sow and plant

again during the next rainy season.

Gunhild Aiyub, Press office

Contact: Gunhild.Aiyub@kindernothilfe.de

11Annual Report 2015

If people are to adapt effectively to the long-term consequen-

ces of climate change, they have to develop an awareness of

the fragility of the ecological balance as early as possible. That

is why Kindernothilfe’s partner, the Research and Development

Foundation (RDF), has established environmental clubs in the

schools within the project area: here, children and teachers

discuss issues relating to climate change and its impact on

their lives. They take part in awareness-raising campaigns in

their villages – for example, on the issue of garbage - create

school gardens and plant trees. “Because we are responsible

for our environment, we have learned to plant more and more

trees to preserve it. The more trees there are, the better off we

are,” says eleven-year-old Daivan from Chachro. The nine-year-

old Padam from Bharmal is fully aware of what is happening:

“The rainy periods have shifted – that’s because of climate

change. I’m learning to live with it. We should plant more trees

to make our villages greener. That’s what my environmental

club is doing at the moment.”

For the people living in the Thar Desert, reforestation has

particular importance because the new trees and shrubs help

preserve biodiversity, reduce erosion, improve the soil’s water

retention and provide shade for humans and animals alike.

Moreover, some of the plants can also be used as animal-feed.

Together with the rural population, the partner organisation is

seeking the best climate adaptation methods for the prevailing

conditions in the Thar Desert. That is why it is important for

Living with climate change

Asia Pakistan

The people living in the Thar Desert in Southeast Pakistan

are suffering badly as a result of climate change.

Together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic

Co-operation and Development (BMZ), Kindernothilfe

and its local partner in Tharparkar district are promoting

a project that prepares the people to be well equipped

to face the new climate conditions.

Photo: Silke Wörmann

Global aid 2015

12 Annual Report 2015

Project 25752

Promoting local strategies for climate-change adaptation and protecting natural resourcesLocation: four communities (Chachro, Khinsar, Mithrio

Charan and Rajoro) in the Tharparkar district of Sindh

Province in Southeast Pakistan

Project background: protracted drought, in combination

with recurrent floods, deforestation, chemical fertilisers and

the overexploitation of resources reduces agricultural

productivity. The population has very limited knowledge of

suitable agricultural practices, resource-efficient livestock

husbandry, appropriate use of water resources and soil

conservation. Famine and poverty force many rural resi-

dents to move to the cities, at least on a temporary basis.

Project partner: Research Development Foundation (RDF)

Target group: 139,600 people (smallholders, tenant farmers,

farm workers and stockbreeders) in 19,952 households with

a specific focus on women, children and young people

Project goals: better preparation of the population for

extreme weather and in how do respond to it through

self-developed strategies and techniques, sustainable

resource use, independent development of disaster risk

reduction and climate change-adaptation measures

facilitated by local authorities and civil society organisa-

tions, with the knowledge acquired being passed on to the

general public

Example of activities and outcomes achieved in 2015:

communities grew almost 5,000 drought-resistant crops

on communal land to be used, for example, for animal-feed

production. The experts trained in the project inoculated

23,980 goats and 15,674 sheep against such things as foot

and mouth disease. The animals are, consequently, more

resistant to disease, produce more milk and meat, can

survive food shortages longer and are worth more at

market. The villagers constructed 1,835 energy-efficient

people to broaden their knowledge, put their newly acquired

expertise into practice and pass it on to others. One example is

the enormous success of the energy-efficient stoves that have

been introduced and developed as part of the project.

For generations now, the women living in the Thar Desert have

been cooking over an open fire. The energy-efficient stoves are

enclosed and, thereby, give off less heat and smoke. “The risk of

fire in our house is so much lower now!” says a relieved Nirmi

(39 years old) from Sokro. “And the kitchen walls don’t get

nearly as dirty so quickly. Because it has two openings, I can

cook curry and naan, chapatti or rice at the same time, and that

saves time.” Mathri (34) from Kagia is also pleased: “My clothes

do not covered with as much soot as before, my children are

stoves (a total of 3,351 in 70 villages since 2013). Women

who had received training in courses within the project

then passed on these skills to their neighbours. These

stoves require less firewood, give off very little smoke and

are less likely to cause conjunctivitis and irritation of the

upper respiratory tracts. The risk of burns or house fires is

also significantly lower.

Plans for 2016 (selection): 30 communities will revise

their climate adaptation plans. Training in locally adapted

risk management techniques and early warning systems

will be conducted in 60 villages. The communities, with

professional supervision, will construct 125 rainwater-har-

vesting systems as demonstration models for the villagers.

RDF will discuss project progress and possible changes in

quarterly meetings with representatives from civil society

and government.

Risks: In the case of long-term extreme weather condi-

tions, activities must either be suspended or abandoned

(e.g. reforestation, cultivation of drought resistant varie-

ties). In the case of long periods of drought, the villagers

will concentrate first and foremost on their own survival,

rather than working on the project.

Duration: 01.01.2013–31.12.2018

Type of support: 1+3=4 (co-financed project)

Total project budget: 1.135.728 Euro

Kindernothilfe share: 107.894 Euro

BMZ share: 1.027.834 Euro

Total expenditure 2015: 243.094 Euro

Kindernothilfe share: 23.094 Euro

BMZ share: 220.000 Euro

Christine Idems, Co-ordinator for humanitarian assistance

Contact: Christine.Idems@kindernothilfe.de

safer, and they don’t get as hot when they want to sit with me

when I’m cooking.” And Amyan (53) underlines why the new

stoves are so important for the environment: “We need so much

less firewood. We know that wood is precious, because the

trees and shrubs where we live are steadily disappearing.”

In close co-operation with the women, the RDF has adapted the

construction of the energy-efficient stove to local conditions, so

that it only uses materials that are available to the women. This

means they can carry out any small repairs themselves and, if

necessary, even build a new stove.

Christine Idems, Co-ordinator for humanitarian assistance

Contact: Christine.Idems@kindernothilfe.de

13Annual Report 2015

Latin America Peru

Hard bricks and seductive goldIn 2013, Girasol was still toiling away, day after day in a brick factory. She was only twelve years old at the time. Today, she

and her younger brother go to school. Her parents were eventually persuaded that education is the key to a better future.

Girasol hurls the volleyball high into the air. She is in high spirits,

playing with her friends during the school break. The 14-year-old

is one of 250 children – mainly former brick-workers – receiving

support from Kindernothilfe and its local partner IINCAP

(Instituto de Investigación, Capacitación y Promoción “Jorge

Basadre”) in Cajamarca in northern Peru. Only two years ago,

Girasol was helping her father every day in the quarry. They

shovelled limestone, shoved heavy wheelbarrows and made

bricks. Girasol worked as hard as an adult. Up to then, she had

never been to school, and she had virtually no time to play.

Today, Girasol is the proud owner of a school uniform. Every

day, she receives a hot meal, and the project also helps her

to buy school materials. It is only at the weekend that the

14-year-old sometimes gives her parents a helping hand to

supplement the family income.

The fact that children are labouring in brickworks is common-

place in Cajamarca: four and five-year-olds mix the clay, carry

the bricks – weighing up to three kilos– to the kilns, and trim the

sharp edges. The children’s skin is often chapped and scratched

and smeared with blood. Their kidneys and urinary tracts

regularly become infected as a result of stamping down the

cold, moist clay. And the weight of the stones inflicts damage on

the children’s still growing bones. The Kindernothilfe project

helps the families to break the vicious circle of poverty and child

labour: anyone receiving a good education has the chance to

enter training and go on to earn a decent income. Many young

people from the project have already become mechanics or

bakers or are working in other professions. “The lives of the

families in the project have improved enormously,” says the

IINCAP social worker, Antonieta Torell Rabanal. “But the overall

number of child labourers is still increasing. The children are

undernourished and the poverty rate is incredibly high. This is

mainly the responsibility of the mine.”

Global aid 2015

Photo: Christian Herrmanny

The “Yanacocha” mine near Cajamarca is one of the world’s

largest gold mines. But demand for the precious metal has

fallen. For several years now, the mine has been steadily laying

off workers. Many of them are forced to move away, and unem-

ployed parents send out their children to earn some money in

the brickworks. Since virtually no other income source exists,

many people in the region are employed in brick production. But

due to increasing competition, brick prices have fallen. Families

are now only earning 60 percent of what they were three years

ago, while the cost of living continues to rise. In return for their

work, some children only receive one warm meal per day.

Thanks to Kindernothilfe’s Action!Kidz campaign, which raised

nearly 100,000 euros nationwide in 2015, the families received

support from the project to pay for school uniforms and

materials as well as additional courses. With the 300,000 euros

raised by the ZDF charity gala "Ein Herz für Kinder” ("A Heart

for Children") in 2016, IINCAP will be able to support another

250 children for three years in a second project.

Text and photos: Christian Herrmanny

Contact: Christian.Herrmanny@kindernothilfe.de

14 Annual Report 2015

Project 88003

Combating the worst forms of child labourLocation: Cajamarca

Project background: Cajamarca is the second poorest

region in Peru. Most of the population are farmers, have

received little education and are, therefore, unable to find

well-paid work. Since many families are living on low

incomes, about half of all children and young people are

compelled to earn some extra money to support their

families. Many also have to work to pay for school uni-

forms, teaching materials and travelling to school.

Target group: 250 children and young people aged

between 6 and 18 and their 185 families

Project goals: combating exploitative child labour;

providing basic education for children, vocational training

for young people

Project partners: Instituto de Investigación, Capacitación

y Promoción “Jorge Basadre” (IINCAP) – an alliance

including social workers, agricultural experts and nursing

staff, who have been campaigning for the support and

development of children, young people and adults from

poor sections of the population since 1983

Project activities and outcomes in 2015: purchase of

school materials and uniforms, regular extra tuition in

maths and Spanish, creative leisure activities, courses to

boost self-confidence, non-violent conflict resolution, child

rights training courses for parents and children, and

courses to develop business concepts for parents. All the

children in the project go to school. More than 85% of

them were able to move up to the next grade. This has

been helped by an improvement in the quality of education

through teacher training funded by IINCAP. Nine young

people have started vocational training, e.g. as pharma-

cists; 30 parents have set up their own business and were,

thereby, able to nearly double the family income.

Plans for 2016: continuation of the project activities, more

teacher training, co-operation with state educational

institutions to sensitise them to the issue of child labour;

launch of the second project, financed by “A Heart for

Children”, involving a further 250 children

Ensuring sustainability: the project tackles the various

underlying causes that lead to child labour: low parental

income, cost of schooling and vocational training, poor

quality teaching, insufficient public awareness of the

consequences of child labour and a lack of co-operation

with the relevant authorities. Moreover, the children and all

the major stakeholders in Cajamarca are actively involved

in project design, which, thereby, promotes their participa-

tion in the project’s progress. Advanced training also

provides lasting know-how.

Risks: in 2016, the presidential elections in Peru could lead

to a change in the country’s political direction and also

result in social issues being neglected. Deterioration in the

economic situation and the consequences of the weather

phenomenon, El Niño, could mean that the earning

capacities of parents could change to the extent that more

pressure would be exerted on their children to contribute

to the family income, hence increasing the number of

working children.

Project duration: 11.12.2013–31.12.2016

Type of support: Sponsorship

Total project budget: 751.398 Euro

Kindernothilfe share 2015: 68.000 Euro

Kindernothilfe share 2016: 147.000 Euro

(The 300,000 euros from “A Heart for Children” will go to a

second project in Cajamarca)

Kathrin Meindl, Project co-ordinator for Haiti and Peru

Contact: Kathrin.Meindl@kindernothilfe.de

Photo: Christian Herrmanny15Annual Report 2015

Realising and upholding all human rights throughout the

world: a noble ambition, which we human beings will pro-

bably never quite fulfil, but which we can get a bit closer

to every day. An important mechanism to help us do so is

the Universal Periodic Review (UPR – see box on page 19)

introduced by the United Nations: UN States monitor

each other's progress and setbacks, and allow civil society

actors to make important submissions to the consultation

process. If and how this “recipe” actually functions, is so-

mething we can take a look at in the example of Honduras.

Recipe

Take: the UN Chamber for Human Rights in Geneva.

Add: 60 State representatives, who each have one minute

and 50 seconds to articulate, in tones ranging from friendly to

forceful, their recommendations as to how Honduras should

improve its human rights situation.

Also add: a delegation from the Honduran State, which, sub-

sequently, either adopts or rejects the individual recommenda-

tions, and presents the prospect of implementing the adopted

recommendations, ranging in intensity from 1 (minimal action)

to 6 (specific action).

“For human rights, no distance is too far” Honduras

Wait two and a half years and then add: a review of the imple-

mentation conducted by UN member States. Life in Honduras,

lived in accordance with human rights principles, is now ready

– without violence and destitution, but with good development

opportunities for all.

If only everything was as simple as that …

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the review process, to

which Honduras is subjecting itself here. All member States

of the United Nations are reviewed by the UPR every four and

a half years to assess their fulfilment of their human rights

obligations and commitments. Wilmer Vásquez is sitting in the

Human Rights Hall, listening to a Spanish voice emanating from

the speakers: “You must develop measures, particularly within

education, to empower young people and stop them from

joining criminal bands!” In making his recommendation to Hon-

duras, the Columbian representative is sticking his neck out;

after all his own country has its own mess to clear up in this

regard. Many other States also add their voices to the criticism

of the situation children find themselves in Honduras. These

repeatedly refer to the girls and boys who run away, usually

alone, to the USA; away from the poverty and lack of any real

Global advocacy 2015

Text and photos: Bastian Strauch

Contact: redaktion@kindernothilfe.de

Wilmer Vásquez in the Human Rights and Alliance of

Civilizations Room at the United Nations Office at Geneva

16 Annual Report 2015

future prospects. But just as frequently, the voices are raised in

condemnation of the social oppression of women, human rights

campaigners and minorities. Vásquez does not miss a word. He

busily scribbles down the key points in his notepad.

“I’m happy and sad at the same time”, the 45-year-old says

after the 60 States that had requested to address the chamber

had presented 152 different recommendations to his native

country on how to achieve more humanitarian, dignified living

conditions. Vásquez is one of a handful of Hondurans sitting in

the human rights chamber who is not a government official. He

is head of the largest child rights NGO in the country, Coipro-

den, also supported by Kindernothilfe, and he is observing the

process here as a representative of Honduran civil society.

“I’m happy," he says, “because the international community

is poking its finger into our country’s most painful wounds, for

which the State has a share of responsibility.” The murder rate

is one of the highest in the world (90.2 murders per 100,000

inhabitants; in Germany the figure is 0.8); 66.5% of people

live below the poverty line; corruption, violence and impunity

(only 4% of all criminal cases end up in court) are eroding the

country’s already fragile structures. These are just some of the

alarming figures that have prompted the other States’ recom-

mendations. What saddened Vásquez were the introductory

speeches made by the Honduran government representati-

ves. For almost an hour, they read out their own human rights

report, including a long list of legislative and administrative ad-

aptations, intended to demonstrate that the human rights situ-

ation in the country has improved. “A load of eyewash” Vásquez

says. “The government has to acknowledge that, up to now, the

changes in legislation have been nothing more than a paper

tiger. In almost all respects, they have failed to bring about

any real improvements. It’s not surprising that Honduras has

received more recommendations today than at the hearing four

and a half years ago. Back then, there were 129. Now, we have

23 more.” Something else had upset Vásquez: “The National

Congress representative, here, spoke about the fruitful co-ope-

ration with civil society to improve the human rights situation.

For me, such contempt left me with a bitter aftertaste.”

Vásquez knows what he is talking about. For 25 years he has

been fighting untiringly on behalf of children and their rights.

Initially as a social worker out on the streets and now as an

activist operating on the diplomatic stage, in a constant state

of great tension with the government and authorities. “Good

co-operation between the government and NGOs would ac-

tually have meant that we could have analysed and discussed

the human rights situation together and come up with joint

solutions,” he adds. “Yet, none of this has happened.” But he is

still not tired of seeking dialogue – at a Government-organised

reception on the eve of the hearing in Geneva, he was the only

NGO representative to accept the invitation. “We need the

government and they need us,” is his credo.

But why is the relationship between government and NGOs

so full of tension in the first place? “Partly because many

NGOs are trying to set straight the myth that is deeply rooted

in Honduras, and which really hinders the implementation

of human rights”, Vásquez believes. “Generations of govern-

ment politicians have indoctrinated the people into believing

that since the colonial era, the country has been, per se, poor

and that it is actually the rest of the world’s responsibility to

make life better here. That development can only be achieved

with the help of money from outside.” As a consequence, the

country has been reliant on funding from donor countries for

the last few decades, while corrupt practices in the country

siphon off large sums of money. One recent example: accor-

ding to newspaper reports, State-run hospitals were used as

a front to misappropriate about $300 million, some of which

helped fund the ruling party’s election campaign. “Of course,

in a globalised world, global responsibility is constantly

increasing, including rich countries’ responsibility towards

those that are poorer,” Vásquez says. “But we want to make

the people in the country understand that our own State is

still primarily responsible for the quality of life we have. And

17Annual Report 2015

that it could actually raise most of the money itself – if it

didn’t disappear under mysterious circumstances.” This in

turn infuriates the government, which retaliates accordingly.

For instance, by accusing NGOs of putting the government in

a bad light and of, thereby, jeopardising the flow of investment

and development funds.

“The UPR process is a very important mechanism to counter-

act this lethal momentum, and to bring about an improved im-

plementation of human rights,” Vásquez says. This is because

it promotes two key elements. Firstly, by convincing the people

in Honduras of the existence of these rights and their accom-

panying responsibilities – since this is a long way from being a

matter of course in a country where the right of the strongest

dominates the streets. And secondly, by exerting so much inter-

national pressure on the authorities that they are no longer able

to ignore their responsibility.

But how can a process, which takes place so far away in the

marble chambers of the UN in Geneva, have any kind of impact

on the real lives and living conditions of people in Honduras?

The answer is provided a few days later by Wilmer Vásquez,

skyping from Honduras, and holding a newspaper up to the ca-

mera: one entire page devoted to a public information announ-

cement from the ruling party. This claims that an undisclosed

“sector of the opposition” in an undisclosed forum had withheld

human rights progress in an attempt to globally discredit the

government. Even if it is not stated in explicit terms, this is an

attack on the NGOs for supporting the UPR process. “One can

see from this,” Vásquez comments, “that the government is

actually taking the process very seriously. It is assuming that its

own people are closely monitoring the results. And although we

are referred to here as ‘organised conspirators’, this is actually a

success for us.”

This success is even more remarkable when one considers

that during the hearing in Geneva, the NGOs, themselves, are

restricted to merely observing the proceedings without making

oral statements. “Most of our working contribution to the

process was carried out in advance of the hearings,” Vásquez

explains. “We set up a network of 51 Honduran NGOs (Platafor-

ma UPR) specifically for the UPR process, analysed and carried

out studies into the human rights situation and, on the basis of

the findings, created a shadow report including recommenda-

tions to be submitted to the Human Rights Council for the UPR

process.” Plataforma UPR then carried out intensive lobbying

in support of the report: embassies around the world were

canvassed, background consultations with diplomats conduc-

ted, interviews given and so on and so forth. “All this with the

aim of ensuring that those responsible for drafting the recom-

mendations for Honduras during the UPR would include our

perspectives.”

In its report, Plataforma UPR specifically highlighted the

life-threatening situation facing children, women, human

rights activists and minorities. “All of these undertakings were

remarkable, even if some of them were a shot in the dark,”

Vásquez says, “because we obviously didn’t know if the States

would take our recommendations on board. It’s also difficult to

find common ground with 51 different organisations. They all

have their own priorities that they’d like to promote as much as

they can. For us at Coiproden, our priority is child rights.” But it

worked out in the end. The NGOs in Honduras had never before

been as unified as they were for the UPR. Another success were

the recommendations delivered by the State representatives

as a send-off to the Honduran government. Vásquez declares,

“Compared to the first UPR cycle four and a half years ago, we

can definitely say that partisan economic or regional interests,

which, at that time, led a few countries to make some pretty in-

18 Annual Report 2015

nocuous recommendations, clearly played a much less signifi-

cant role this time around”. And the core problems in Honduras,

identified by Plataforma-UPR in its shadow report, were also

clearly and frequently addressed. Vásquez again: “To hear what

happened in Geneva with my own ears, has made me so happy

and has reinforced my conviction. For human rights, no distan-

ce is too far."

Immediately following the hearing in the Human Rights Cham-

ber, the work of Wilmer Vásquez continues. In the cafeteria, he

meets up with other civil society representatives to analyse

the recommendations. Half an hour later they are standing

together in front of the cameras and microphones of the

Honduran media that have travelled to Geneva. Live on Skype,

Vásquez delivers his assessment of the process to his fellow

countrymen, again and again with the impassioned reminder:

“It is now imperative that our government does not merely take

the recommendations on board and produce new legislation,

but that it breathes life into them through concrete underta-

kings: more money for education and health, stronger institu-

tions, moves to combat corruption, etc. – and, as citizens, we

must monitor this closely and demand that all these commit-

ments are actually implemented.”

Three months later, the beginning of August: Wilmer Vásquez

is now nervously awaiting the next step in the UPR process.

Which recommendations will Honduras actually adopt and how

will the government choose to implement them. The response

is published in September. Vásquez’s hopes that something

would actually change is boosted by other simultaneous de-

velopments: for several months, a “movement of the enraged”

has been growing within Honduras. Tens of thousands of people

are going on to the streets to demonstrate against corruption

and injustice, calling, among other things, on the State to allow

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the UN review

process, through which the member states monitor each

other's progress and setbacks in implementing human

rights. Every four and a half years, each State must submit

a report to the Human Rights Council to verify how it has

implemented human rights. Civil society organisations in

the country can simultaneously submit a joint shadow

report to the process. The UN also produces its own report.

At a hearing in the Human Rights Chamber, the States’

report is presented first. The inspecting States then have

the opportunity to present their assessment of the

situation in the country and deliver recommendations for

improvements.

The inspected State must either accept or reject the

recommendations and give an indication of how it intends

to implement them. After two and a half years, a troika

(consisting of three states) inspects implementation. Their

report is then fed back into the next UPR cycle.

an UN Anti-impunity and Corruption Commission into the

country to conduct independent investigations. “A good sign,”

Vásquez says, “that the Hondurans are regaining their courage

to demand their rights”. Courage, which the child rights campa-

igner, with all of his untiring efforts, has himself played a part in

promoting. “I very much hope that the demonstrations remain

peaceful and that this will lead all sides to engage in const-

ructive dialogue – the population, NGOs and the government

– because each and every one of us is the State. Only through

working together, will we be able to improve life in Honduras.”

All member States of the UN undergo the UPR process every four and a half years in Geneva.

Live interview via skype: Wilmer Vásques analyses the process for Honduran TV.

The Honduran delegation presenting their human rights report

19Annual Report 2015

Impact monitoring of our project work Photo: Katja Anger

The impact we wish to achieve with our work is the

sustainable improvement in the lives and living condi-

tions of children, young people and their families.

Focusing projects on their impacts rather than on their

activities, together with the corresponding monitoring

of their impacts, are a prerequisite for successful

project work.

Project planning

When applying for project authorisation, our partners do

so using a detailed project application form. Important

quality criteria include the orientation of the project to

child rights and to its impact. We expect that the target

groups, especially older children and young people, are

given the opportunity to make a major contribution to

project planning. This is the only way to ensure that

projects are relevant and that the groups’ experience is

incorporated into the project design. A comprehensive

analysis of the child rights situation on the ground is at the

heart of this. Project goals are formulated on this basis, i.e.

what concrete changes does the project want to achieve.

These changes are developed into an “intervention logic”,

which formulates the project’s goals, strategies and

interventions. Project planning also includes the indicators

that measure the progress in achieving goals during

project implementation. The entire intervention logic is

mapped out in a log frame, which embraces goals, results

and indicators as well as assumptions and activities.

Project monitoring of partners and target groups

On the basis of the project application, our partners

systematically monitor the achievement of project goals in

Our work at home and abroad

20 Annual Report 2015

addition to the implementation of activities. Data relating

to the indicators specified in the application is regularly

collected, which is then analysed and, if possible, discus-

sed with target group representatives. Each year, the

partners – usually together with these representatives

– evaluate the progress and their experiences of project

implementation and make plans for the year ahead. This

includes an assessment of which strategies and activities

had been successful and could, therefore, be extended,

and of areas where improvement is required. Our intention

is for people in the projects to be involved as fully possible

in its management and impact monitoring. In many

projects, groups and committees set goals for the changes

they, themselves, want to achieve and regularly monitor

progress using simple and often graphic methods. The

people’s active involvement in setting project goals and its

monitoring increases their motivation, their identification

with the interventions that concern them and, frequently,

the impact of projects.

Kindernothilfe’s project monitoring

We primarily use project visits and project reports for

monitoring purposes. We visit all projects on a regular

basis, always with an eye on progress in terms of achieving

goals, the appropriateness of the project design, the

quality of the implementation of activities and project

management. The annual project reports have a standardi-

sed structure, which we are currently revising so that it is

more closely oriented to child rights and impact orientati-

on. The reports provide information on the implementation

of activities and the impacts achieved. They also reflect on

the achievements and problems encountered and make

proposals as to how project strategies and activities can

be adjusted. These reports serve as the basis for the

reports received each year by our sponsors.

Evaluation

In addition to the many project evaluations we, ourselves,

carry out, we also commission strategic evaluations, which

examine the programme approaches. In 2015, the focus

was on early childhood development. All of these projected

evaluations are put out to tender and subsequently carried

out by external, independent experts. The benchmark for

this is our Evaluation Policy - http://bit.ly/290aVUZ -,

which includes the OECD criteria (relevance, effectiveness,

efficiency, impact, sustainability) and the standards of the

German Gesellschaft für Evaluation/DeGEval (German

Evaluation Society). One component of each evaluation is

an investigation into the impacts achieved, their sustaina-

bility as well as proposals for improvement. The consistent

use of evaluation results is important not only as a means

of increasing the impact of individual projects, but also for

the work of Kindernothilfe as a learning organisation.

Following each evaluation, our partners are invited to

respond to the conclusions and recommendations, which

we discuss with them and which could also include any

necessary adaptations to project design. In our head office,

all evaluation reports are discussed in the team. Any

evaluations that break new ground are presented to a

wider group of staff.

Professional networking and joint initiatives

In VENRO’s impact monitoring working group, we share

experiences and ideas with colleagues from other organi-

sations to help us develop them further and make use of

our joint influence. We also represent the interests of civil

society as part of the advisory board of the Evaluation

Institute DEval and in the support group working on the

development of Engagement Global’s monitoring system.

As a member of DeGEval we regularly attend conferences

and participate in working groups.

We are also currently actively involved in three different

initiatives: the VENRO initiative, “Impact Orientation in

National Work”, which focuses on methods that with little

effort can monitor the impact of educational work and

lobbying. The VENRO Project “Partnership for Quality and

Effectiveness” is based on the Development Effectiveness

Principles and promotes international dialogue on issues

relating to impact orientation.

Since impact monitoring by the target groups, themselves,

is one of our major concerns, we are also involved in the

NGO-IDEAs initiative. Having introduced this successfully

in self-help groups in seven Asian countries in recent years,

we have now turned our focus to Latin America. Six

partners in three countries have used the instruments with

children and mothers in community level projects focusing

on community development, early childhood care and

education and the promotion of child rights. In 2016, this

will be expanded to include another five partners in four

countries.

Training partners and staff

Monitoring impacts is a major challenge. Determining

whether planned activities have been carried out or

elements learned in training and infrastructure are being

put to use, is relatively simple. But measuring how the

impacts have actually changed people’s lives is much more

difficult. In an attempt to address these challenges, we

provide our partners and our staff with appropriate

training. And the accompanying dialogue with partners

enhances both their and our understanding of impact

orientation.

Albert Eiden, Co-ordinator for quality

development in programme work

Contact: Albert.Eiden@kindernothilfe.de

21Annual Report 2015

Education changes everything – from the earliest age!

Our work at home and abroad

Good quality education programmes for young children

have the potential to promote the sustainable development

of all societies. This is the conclusion reached by a study

conducted on behalf of Kindernothilfe by the Ludwig

Maximilians University in Munich. The study results were

discussed, for example, with members of the German

parliament in the Bundestag Committee for Economic

Co-operation and Development and incorporated into the

Bundestag motion for early childhood care and education

adopted by parliament in December 2015.

The background

Every person, from birth on, has the right to develop according

to her/his individual needs and abilities. Numerous scientific

studies and findings from practical experience throughout the

world confirm that the foundations laid down in the first few

years of life have a lasting influence on the emotional, physical,

cognitive and social development of each human being.

Eighty-five percent of brain structures are developed by the age

of three. Early childhood care and education is essential for a

fulfilling school and working life, a good quality of life and

participation in society. Early childhood care and education pro-

grammes, which also take account of children’s social environ-

ment, demonstrably improve nutrition, reinforce family ties and

promote social skills.

This conclusion is reflected in State-run as well as non-State-

run development co-operation, but not yet in any systematic

prioritisation. While three out of four children benefit from early

childhood care and education in industrialised countries, the

equivalent proportion in some developing countries, however, is

only one out of ten. In individual cases, children are supported

in all aspects of their learning before going to school, but many

of their peers have little opportunity to benefit from this early

support because of where they live, their ethnicity etc. These

unequal practices may be the consequence of insufficient

prioritisation, limited resources or a lack of strategies to

systematically promote early childhood care and education in

contexts of poverty.

The objectives of the research

In order to look at this in greater detail, Kindernothilfe put out a

research project to tender and subsequently commissioned the

Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich to conduct the study.

For six months, Professor Markowetz and his colleagues, Janina

Wölfl and Klaus Jahn, worked intensively with the support of an

interdisciplinary group of seven professors. One key objective

of the study was to clarify whether there actually was a lack of

conceptual strategies in contexts of poverty and to identify

which approaches proved to be successful in practice. The

study was also expected to raise awareness and understanding

of early childhood care and education and to critically examine

how early childhood care and education projects were normally

implemented in practice.

The study thereby had two objectives:

1. With regard to the conceptual enhancement of the project

work of Kindernothilfe and its partners, it sought to identify

22 Annual Report 2015

Education changes everything – from the earliest age!

Photo: Jakob Studnar

successful low-threshold approaches that could provide a basis

for orientation. This included identifying quality criteria and

testing them in 15 projects and also highlighting cost-effective

strategies for the implementation of these quality criteria.

2. With regard to raising the awareness of the specialist

community and influencing the funding policy of governmental

development co-operation, the study sought to ascertain the

standing enjoyed by early childhood care and education in

bilateral and multilateral development co-operation. The study

was also expected to formulate recommendations for German,

especially governmental, development co-operation and

funding policy.

Combining two very different objectives in one research project

is both very unusual and innovative. For Kindernothilfe, it was

enormously rewarding, since the study combined both of its

mandates and led to interdisciplinary exchanges and learning:

inspiring compassion for, and responsibility towards, disadvan-

taged children in the one world and contributing to the overco-

ming of suffering alongside engaging in informative and

educational work in Germany.

Methodology and approach

As a first step, a theoretical and reference framework was

developed. This included a systematic status-quo analysis

together with a study of the current expert opinion of early

childhood care and education and, on the basis of this, de-

veloped a frame of reference to evaluate the current state of

early childhood care and education. This included indicators to

evaluate the process and outcome quality of concepts and

approaches to early childhood care and education. Subse-

quently, a number of different organisations’ concepts and

approaches were evaluated in a “global mapping”. This was to

ensure, above all, that the impact variables of both the succes-

ses and failures of early childhood care and education were

identified and successful implementation strategies developed.

Finally, on the basis of this frame of reference and the results

from the global mapping, a catalogue of quality criteria was

drawn up and validated in workshops attended by a group of

experts and Kindernothilfe staff. This catalogue consists of six

central dimensions to be considered in early childhood care

and education programmes:

contextual factors (e.g. political, cultural)

educational programme (e.g. parental participation,

staff qualifications, children’s perspective)

process quality (e.g. co-operation with authorities,

networking of programmes)

quality of the effects of childhood development

(e.g. social, cognitive, linguistic)

organisational quality (e.g. working conditions of staff)

structural quality (e.g. premises, equipment, management)

These quality criteria were used to assess 15 Kindernothilfe

projects in Asia, Africa and South America. As a first step, 16

project co-ordinators, 65 members of staff, 142 parents and 152

children completed questionnaires containing questions on

quality criteria relevant to their particular situation. The

responses were then fed into a databank and statistically

analysed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 12 project

co-ordinators and then analysed. Five examples of early

childhood care and education in practice were documented as

case studies as a means of using individual examples to

ascertain the performance and quality standards as well as the

contextual factors and effect variables.

Results

The research team came to the conclusion that Kindernothilfe

has not only recognised the immense potential of early child-

hood care and education, but has already implemented it in the

selected projects using successful strategies and action plans.

They found that training programmes are particularly effective,

with advanced training in health and nutrition having an

immediate impact and, thereby, improving the lives and living

conditions of children and, hence, their growing up and de-

velopment processes. This is also true of measures to empower

families. The study, therefore, highlights the vital significance of

the family, focusing particularly on such supportive factors as

parental love, emotional ties, relationships, communication

within the family, stimulating activities and anxiety-free care

and attention for the child. In addition, free play and play-based

learning is a key phase of appropriation and activity in child-

ren’s growing up. It was found that equally good results are

23Annual Report 2015

achieved by addressing the life theories of families, providing

psychosocial support, securing families’ basic needs through

sustainable approaches and by mobilising the community.

Early childhood care and education should always be holistic

and participatory: care provision, attention, upbringing and

education.

The team also found that training and interventions should be

expanded to include pedagogically relevant content that

productively highlights the importance of music, art, language,

culture, educational socialisation, psychosocial support and

play to stimulate development for early childhood develop-

ment. They also found a need for improvement in the provision

of support for children with disabilities.

Recommendations

On the basis of the study’s results, the research team drew up

numerous recommendations for project work. They stressed

the key importance of the following aspects for the effective-

ness of early childhood care and education approaches:

develop emotional ties with children and show affirmative

acceptance of them

use play as an important component of this support

empower parents to provide adequate home-based support

for children

set up a network of educational programmes, co-ordinate

children’s transition from kindergarten to school

provide needs-based psychosocial support for children

and families

train specialist staff and create positive working conditions

for staff

To the world of politics, the research team makes the following

recommendations:

Ensure access: access to early childhood care and education is

still extremely inadequate and must be extended on a world-

wide basis. All children have a right to early childhood care and

education. Governments must ensure comprehensive provisi-

on, which also reaches children living in areas of conflict, and

children affected by exclusion and discrimination. This includes

appropriate funding and measures to improve the standing

of early childhood care and education, e.g. awareness-raising

campaigns.

Improve and ensure quality: in many countries there is consi-

derable room for improvement in the quality of early childhood

care and education programmes at various levels. This should

be achieved, for example, through extending holistic appro-

aches to early childhood care and education (care provision,

attention, upbringing and education), improving the profes-

sional qualifications of teaching staff and developing training

plans that focus on promoting holistic development. Monitoring

systems should be integrated into State systems, which not

only focus on the individual child but also on the systemic level

and include regular quality controls.

Making use of the results

One goal of the research project was to influence the funding

policy of State-run development co-operation. In addition to

numerous individual discussions with members of German par-

liament and staff from the German Federal Ministry of Economic

Co-operation and Development (BMZ), there were two other

important events. The study results were presented in detail by

Kindernothilfe staff are committed to ensuring that all children from the earliest age have the opportunity to benefit from education. Photo: Kindernothilfe

24 Annual Report 2015

the head of the research project, Professor Markowetz, and a

member of staff from Kindernothilfe at a session of the Bundes-

tag Committee for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Twenty-five members of parliament and a State Secretary from

the BMZ took part in the presentation and discussion. The pre-

sence of the Director of Kindernothilfe’s partner organisation,

World Relief Malawi, who had participated in and contributed to

the study, was especially inspirational. In addition, a parliamen-

tary breakfast focusing on early childhood care and education

in development co-operation was attended by another 28

members of parliament and staff from members’ offices. The

overwhelming interest and the discussions were most promising

and an indication that the issue has finally found its place in the

Bundestag. This is reflected in the Bundestag motion “Impro-

ving children’s start to life in developing and threshold coun-

tries – laying the foundations for stable societies” (Document

18/6329), which includes the issue of early childhood care and

education and which was adopted by parliament in December.

This motion took account of the expertise of Kindernothilfe.

Contact between the parliamentarians, who participated in the

events, and Kindernothilfe will be maintained.

To raise awareness of experts in the field, the study was

presented and discussed at a well-attended conference with

the theme, “Early childhood care and education – (no) issue for

development co-operation” The highlight was a panel discussi-

on involving prominent representatives from parliament, trade

unions and civil society. This was followed by numerous

contacts and inquiries and intense dialogue with the BMZ.

In September 2015, Kindernothilfe presented the study to a conference in Berlin. Photo: Bastian Strauch

In an attempt to conceptually improve the project work of

Kindernothilfe and its partners with respect to early childhood

care and education, the research team presented the study

results to the Kindernothilfe staff. A further training course

focusing on project examples is planned. For more detailed

information, a dossier on early childhood care and educa-

tion and the study, can be downloaded from our international

website www.kindernothilfe.org/ecce. The study, together with

a summary of the main results and presentation of potential

applications, was distributed to Kindernothilfe’s partners. An

action plan, providing advice on how the results could be

applied in the project work, contains measures that vary

according to the continent concerned: e.g. discussions with

Kindernothilfe’s country co-ordinators on how to improve

promotion of early childhood care and education, country-ba-

sed workshops with local partners, which also look at their

approaches, as well as the evaluation of existing concepts and

advanced training.

The continuation of the conceptual dialogue on the issue is

assured through its integration into Kindernothilfe’s working

group on education. It is still too early to make a conclusive

evaluation of the extent of the changes to project interventions

and design and funding policy. Nevertheless, the developments

so far have been positive.

Albert Eiden, Co-ordinator for quality

development in programme work

Contact: Albert.Eiden@kindernothilfe.de

25Annual Report 2015

Cash flow and accountability

We allocate 83.8 cents of every euro donated to project

expenditure. Of this, 73,7 cents go towards projects

supporting children, their families and communities. We

use 6,1 cents to finance the administration and monito-

ring of projects by country experts in Duisburg. They

ensure that donations bring about sustainable impro-

vements in the lives of children and their situation. A

further 4,0 cents are allocated for long-term changes to

structures and framework Transparency and Control

conditions with an impact on development. This is the

Transparency and Control

only sustainable way to combat poverty and injustice

against children. We influence politicians through our

lobbying and campaign work, and raise awareness for

issues of global concern through our work in education

and public relations. For example, many products are

cheap only because they are produced by children in

poor countries. Thus, consumer behaviour in Germany

does have an impact on the problem of child labour.

Recognising these global interconnections is the only

way to secure permanent change.

We invest 16.2 cents in other areas: Kindernothilfe

spends 5.5 cents on administration. Our staff ensure

that the work is carried out smoothly and efficiently

– for example, through professional accounting,

monitoring or up-to-date data processing. We, thereby,

ensure that your donation is put to good use for girls

and boys worldwide. 10.7 cents from every euro donated

goes towards public relations and donor services.

Donations account for more than 90 percent of Kinder-

nothilfe financing. But we need to continually attract

new donors to support our work if we are to sustain our

help for boys and girls in our programme countries in

years to come. Hence, these costs are an investment

that, ultimately, benefits children.

Project expenditure

Public relations and administration

sends to Project applications

Kindernothilfe annual accounts

certification from independent auditor

Evaluation results

Information about sponsored children

All documents from 1

sends to Kindernothilfe annual report with

certification from independent auditor

Project annual reports

Reports on the development of the

child and his/her situation

Children's letters

sends to Acknowledgment of money received

Annual planning including budget

Finance reports

Progress reports

Project annual accounts

Project annual reports

Children's letters

Reports on the development of

the child and his/her situation

Donors

Kindernothilfe Partners and In-country

coordination structuresProject

Documents

Donations Donations Donations

Documents Documents Documents

16,2 %

83,8 %

26 Annual Report 2015

Our Commitments Effective work requires a solid foundation, a reliable framework and diligent monitoring. Kindernothilfe has defined

guidelines and committed to applying existing external good practices guidelines. The goal is to ensure that our work is

becoming even more transparent, accountable and efficient.

Transparency and Control

Kindernothilfe statutes

Who: Kindernothilfe committeesWhen: 1961, updated 2012What: Defined mission for our international and national work composition and tasks of the various units of Kindernothilfe

Diaconical Corporate Governance Code (DCGK)

Who: KindernothilfeWhen: since 2007What: Transparency open communication clear separation of responsibility between the board of trustees

and the executive board commitment to excellence at all levels clearly defined roles of Kindernothilfe’s bodies, departments and

executive board monitoring sets a goal for efficient, clearly regulated rules that govern

collaboration at all levels

VENRO Code "Development related public relations"

Who: Kindernothilfe and members of the Association of German NGOs for Development Policies (VENRO)When: signed in 1998What: Sets professional and ethical standards in communications with the

press and donors including the transparent efficient and responsible use of funds prohibiting sharing, selling or exchanging donor contacts. This code

ensures that Kindernothilfe does not portray or present people in need in an undignified manner in photographs or in texts, does not use a catalogue style when presenting information on child sponsorships and does not encourage people to donate by using dramatic and extreme wording or expressions

VENRO Code of behaviour

Who: Kindernothilfe and VENRO membersWhen: since 2008What: Unified standards, stronger monitoring and proven professionalism greatest possible transparency defined generally applicable

development organisation standards strengthened independent supervisory authorities such as the

Deutsche Zentralinstitut für soziale Fragen (DZI) (German central institute for social issues)

VENRO Code "Protection of children from abuse and exploitation in development co-operation andhumanitarian aid”

Who: Kindernothilfe and VENRO membersWhen: since 2009What: Obliges all members to protect children from sexual, emotional

or physical abuse exploitation and neglect; to create an environment that guarantees

child and human rights to give children the opportunity to participate to raise awareness among Kindernothilfe and our partners on these issues to guarantee that the dignity of children remains intact in all public

relations, press and awareness-raising activities

Iniciativa Sociedad Civil Transparente

Who: Kindernothilfe and VENRO members,Transparency Deutschland e. V.,Bundesverband deutscher Stiftungen,DZI, Deutscher Fundraising Verband,Deutscher Kulturrat, Deutscher Naturschutzring,Deutscher Spendenrat,Maecenata Institut für Philanthropieund ZivilgesellschaftWhen: 2010What:Ten basic information items each civil society organisation should publish on its website including the bylaws, names of executives, sources of funding, use of funds and staff organizational structure.Please find the complete text of the association's statutes as well as codes in German language at: www.kindernothilfe.org/our_commitments

Kindernothilfe’s Anti-corruption code

Who: KindernothilfeWhen: since 2008What: This code of behaviour directs staff to act with integrity in accordan-

ce with the aw and in accordance with high ethical and moral values to prevent and combat corruption and to report any witnessed or

experienced act of corruption. This code establishes the position of ombudsperson

27Annual Report 2015

5,4 %5,8 %

88,8 %

16,2 %

83,8 %

Finance report 2015In 2015, income amounted to 59,955,087 euros and ex-

penditure to 59,160,509 euros. We thereby closed the year

with a plus of 794.578 euros.

IncomeIncome, amounting to nearly 60 million euros, comprises

donations, subsidies and grants as well as miscellaneous

and extraordinary income. The increase of almost 3.4 million

euros compared to 2015 is primarily a result of an increase

in donations received for humanitarian assistance in Nepal

and for Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Accordingly, the level of

donations for humanitarian assistance, totalling 8.9 million eu-

ros, is around 50 percent higher than the amount received the

previous year. Subsidies for the co-financing of projects from

the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and

Development (BMZ) as well as miscellaneous and extraordi-

nary income have increased significantly from last year.

Income

Donations 88.8 %

Subsidies and grants 5.4 %

Other income 5.8 %

Total: 100 %

Expenditure

Project expenditure: 83.8 %

Project support 73.7 %

Project administration & monitoring 6.1 %

Education, information and advocacy 4.0 %

Public relations and administration: 16.2 %

Public relations and donor services 10.7 %

Administration 5.5 %

Total: 100.0 %

ExpenditureExpenditure, amounting to 59.2 million euros, consists of

spending on projects, public relations and administration. As

part of our fiscal consolidation, project expenditure fell by 2.1

million and expenditure on public relations and administration

by 570,000 euros. The fall in project expenditure is primarily

because the development in donations meant that, compared

to the previous year, substantially reduced financial resources

were allocated for the promotion of long-term and short-term

projects. In 2016, funding will increase again, since a large

proportion of the funds received in 2015 for humanitarian

assistance in Nepal and for Syrian refugees in Lebanon will be

available.

Annual resultThe annual accounts show a plus of 795,000 euros. From

non-earmarked bequests, 936,000 euros have been transfer-

red to the association's capital, and withdrawals amounting

to 141,000 euros from the corresponding reserves used to

finance projects.

28 Annual Report 2015

The Audit Certification

Expenditure on specific areas (in thousand euros) Total

Education 24,9 % 10.859

Humanitarian assistance 17,2 % 7.528

Quality development 14,8 % 6.449

Political and legal support 12,9 % 5.618

Poverty reduction 10,8 % 4.698

Health 8,3 % 3.634

Food security 3,7 % 1.610

Violence prevention 3,6 % 1.582

Psychosocial work 2,0 % 854

Miscellaneous 1,8 % 795

Total 43.627

Education: vocational training, early childhood education,

basic education, promoting life-skills, secondary education

Food security: nutrition, agriculture, livestock and forestry

Health: health care and preventive measures, HIV and AIDS,

hygiene, rehabilitation of disabilities, reproductive health,

water supply

Humanitarian assistance: construction, disaster risk

reduction, emergency relief, reconstruction

Political and legal support: gender-specific project work,

lobbying and advocacy, human rights education, legal

assistance, civil society development, e.g. self-help groups

Poverty reduction: supporting small enterprises, micro-cre-

dits, rural/urban community development, environmental

protection

Psychosocial work: psychosocial rehabilitation, strengthening

self-confidence and personality

Quality development: Capacity building of partners

Violence prevention: peace education, preventing all forms

of abuse and neglect, child protection

In accordance with §317 of the HGB [German Commercial Code], we have voluntarily submitted our annual financial statements 2015, consisting

of balance sheet, profit and loss account and notes, as well as the management report 2015 to be audited by the auditors PKF FASSELT SCHLAGE

Partnership mbB. In the following, we cite the auditor’s report, which refers to the full financial statement and management report 2015.

The notes 2015 and management report are available on our German website.

We have audited the annual financial statement – consisting of balance

sheet, income statement as well as notes to the annual financial state-

ments – under consideration of the accounting records and the manage-

ment report of Kindernothilfe e. V., Duisburg, for the business year of

1 January to 31 December 2015. The legal representatives of the Associa-

tion are responsible for the accounting records, preparation of the annual

financial statements including the management report in compliance with

the German Commercial Code. On the basis of the audit conducted by us it

is our responsibility to give an opinion on the annual financial statements un-

der consideration of the accounting records and the management report.

We have carried out our audit in accordance with the stipulations of HGB

[German Commercial Code] s. 317. In doing so we considered the German

Accepted Auditing Principles stipulated by the Institute of Public Auditors

in Germany [IDW]. In compliance with these principles we planned and

performed our audit in order to gain sufficient certainty as to whether

accounting records, the annual financial statements and the manage-

ment report are free of significant flaws. We planned and performed our

audit such that misstatements and violations of the provisions regarding

accounting that materially affect the presentation of a true and fair view

of the net assets, financial position and results of operations in the annual

financial statements under consideration of the accepted accounting

principles are detected. When determining the audit approach we consi-

dered the knowledge about business activities and about the economic

and legal environment of the Association as well as the expectations of

potential flaws. In the course of our audit the effectiveness of the internal

accounting control system as well as proof for the statements in the

accounting records, annual financial statements and management report

are audited on a sample basis. The audit includes the assessment of the

applied accounting principles as well as the significant assessments of

the legal representatives including the appreciation of the overall presen-

tation of the annual financial statements and the management report. We

are of the opinion that our audit provides a sufficiently secure basis for

our assessment.

Our audit has not led to any objections.

According to our assessment on the basis of the findings in the course

of our audit we are of the opinion that the annual financial statement

complies with the legal stipulations and presents a true and fair view on

of the net assets, financial position and result of the Association Kinder-

nothilfe e.V., Duisburg, taking into consideration the generally accepted

accounting principles. The management report coincides with the annual

financial statements and it provides a true and fair view on the position of

the Association as well as an adequate assessment of the opportunities

and risks of the future development.

Duisburg, 21 March 2016

PKF FASSELT SCHLAGE Partnership

Auditors, Tax Counsellors, Lawyers

Schienstock, German Certified Public Accountant

Dr. Fasselt, German Certified Public Accountant

100 %

29Annual Report 2015

We will give specific prioritisation to the following

areas in 2016:

In a broad-based participatory process, we developed our

strategic planning in 2015 for the years 2016 to 2020. In its

overriding objective, it encapsulates how Kindernothilfe sees

itself: “Kindernothilfe is the reliable bridge between children

and those working on their behalf.” In order to realise this

overriding objective in the next five years, Kindernothilfe will

pursue to following strategic goals:

1. Kindernothilfe will raise its profile as a child rights

organisation.

2. Kindernothilfe will orient its work to principles of

development effectiveness.

3. Kindernothilfe will permanently maintain its

financial performance.

4. Kindernothilfe will proactively use the opportunities

provided by global digitalisation.

For 2016, this gives rise to the following operational priorities:

for our work in Germany and our programmes, we will be

developing a systemised approach for the prioritisation of

the content and scope of our core issues.

for the further expansion of humanitarian assistance, the

structural framework and objectives will be clarified.

we will create the conditions to ensure that the principles of

participation, accountability and sustainability defined in

the Istanbul Development Effectiveness Principles are

anchored in all areas of our work in the coming years.

to maintain the financial performance of Kindernothilfe, the

first phases of a three-year plan to optimise our funding

portfolios will be implemented. This will include attracting

new long-term donors and encouraging them to remain loyal

to Kindernothilfe by improving communications and exten-

ding the duration of projects. Raising the contribution for

child sponsorships to 39 euros from April 2016 should offset

the price increases since our last increase 22 years ago and

secure financing for long-term projects.

initial measures are contributing not only to improvements

in the cost-effectiveness of the programme and project work

within the next three years, but also to our ability to achieve

better impacts for children.

in order to take advantage of the opportunities provided by

the digital revolution, all work-related processes should be

examined, modernised and, as far as possible, digitalised. At

the same time, Kindernothilfe’s “business model” will also be

examined. We want to use this to find an answer to the

question of how Kindernothilfe, in times of global digital

communication and interaction, can be appropriately

equipped for the future.

Humanitarian assistance

Even if the name given to the weather phenomenon El Niño has

its origin in Latin America, its impacts are global: sub-Saharan

Africa is heading for its worst famine for decades. In some

countries, it has not rained for nearly two years, while, else-

where, heavy rains are destroying harvests. At least 18 million

people are suffering the consequences of extreme weather. We

are using our social networks to focus attention to the approa-

ching disaster.

In Nepal, we are currently looking at options for the transition

from the humanitarian assistance we began providing in the

aftermath of the two major earthquakes in 2015 to long-term

development work. We could significantly extend our work with

Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and we expect to reach at

least 14,000 children. We also want to continue and intensify

our support for the youth/training centre in Kosovo, which

offers the young people of Kosovo real prospects for the future

and the chance to stay in the country.

Time to talk

168 million children throughout the world have to work, 85

million of them in dangerous and intolerable conditions. To give

working children, themselves, a voice in the debate on child

labour and ensure that their views and proposals are heard

at the next World Conference on Child Labour in Argentina in

2017, we are organising a global survey of working children in

co-operation with partner organisations, initiatives and acade-

mics. In the consultations, the children, aged between five and

Photo: Bastian Strauch

The organisation

Outlook

30 Annual Report 2015

17, present their views of their particular situation, the causes of

child labour and possible solutions.

Forecast, risks and opportunities

Financial development: the financial forecast for 2016

anticipates income of 59.5 million euros and expenditure

amounting to 59.8 million euros. This income forecast, in

accordance with the principle of prudence, is, therefore,

cautious and, among other things, takes account of an increase

in the monthly contribution for child sponsorships of eight

euros per month to 39 euros.

Looking ahead, the financial performance of Kindernothilfe is to

be secured as part of a twin-track approach:

bearing in mind the initiatives already introduced to increase

income in the long-term (e.g. expanding the donor base, at-

tracting new long-term donors, extending co-financing), the

funding portfolio is to be further optimised. The aim is not

only, in the short term, to increase the donations response

to individual fundraising campaigns in proportion to the

costs incurred, but, in the medium to long term, to even out

the donor pyramid and increase the amount provided by a

donor over the entire support period.

simultaneously, we also want to improve cost-efficiency in

our central business operations: in our head office through

further optimisation of processes and the accompanying

process-oriented IT support; and in our project countries

through the restructuring of co-ordination initiated in 2015,

together with improvements in programme/project efficien-

cy. Through this, we will be able to improve outcomes for

children with the same financial outlay.

Project and programme work: a number of partners have been

suffering for many years from the growing constraints on their

operational freedom. State surveillance and repression, inade-

quate freedom of speech – in conjunction with corruption and

state tyranny – are increasingly hindering the ability of partners

to work for childrights and poverty reduction. Other risk factors

include a further deterioration in the economic situation in

some project countries, growing unrest and ethnic conflicts as

well as the growing terrorist threat in various parts of the world.

The weakness of the euro against the US dollar means that our

partners in some countries have less cash available in the local

currency. Since we lack the necessary financial resources to

offset this loss in purchasing power, if the worst does come to

the worst, some programme/project activities may have to be

cancelled and/or postponed to a later date. This can mean that

the (partial) goals and the planned impact of the programmes/

projects may not be achieved.

Through an effective and efficient allocation of financial resour-

ces at project level, we are able to reduce the risk that funds are

used improperly or misappropriated and can, thereby, enhance

our position as an effective child rights organisation. Thus, over

the entire project life cycle (from initiation, detailed planning,

implementation and management up to the audit and evalua-

tion) measures are introduced at project level, which seek an

effective and efficient allocation of financial resources.

Katrin Weidemann, Chairperson of the Executive Board

Christoph Dehn, Deputy Chairperson of the Executive Board,

Programmes

Jürgen Borchardt, Member of the Executive Board,

Finance and Administration

Finance planningin thousand euros

1. Income

1.1. Donations

1.2 Subsidies/grants

1.3. Miscellaneous income

1.4 Extraordinary income

Total income

2. Expenditure

2.1. Project support

2.2 Project administration

2.3 Education, information, advocacy

2.4 Public relations, donor services

2.5 Administration

Total expenditure

Withdrawal from reserves

Plan 2016

51.645

6.005

1.545

300

59.495

43.695

3.740

2.425

6.535

3.360

59.755

-260

Prognose 2017

53.400

6.250

1.600

300

61.550

45.265

3.830

2.490

6.700

3.440

61.725

-175

Perspektive 2018

55.700

6.500

1.650

300

64.150

46.515

3.910

2.540

6.830

3.510

63.305

845

This draft finance planning takes account of a sustained increase in income as well as withdrawals from earmarked reserves for humanitarian assistance projects, particularly in Nepal and for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

31Annual Report 2015

Donation Seal of quality

Kindernothilfe handles donations in a trustworthy manner.

Every year since 1992 this has been officially confirmed by

the Seal of Quality for charitable organisations awarded by

the German Central Institute for Social issues (DZI). This

certifies its financial responsibility and statutory use of

donations.

Masthead

Publisher: Kindernothilfe e.V., Düsseldorfer Landstraße 180,47249 DuisburgTelephone: 00 49.203.7789-0, Fax: 00 49.203.7789-118,Info-Service: 00 49.203.7789-111, E-Mail: info@kindernothilfe.deGuido Oßwald (Financial report)Design: Ralf KrämerBack page photo: Jakob StudnarTranslation: John McLaughlin

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