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A Letter from Our CEO
In 2011, IRD enjoyed an outstanding year. Our nearly $500 million in
revenues extended to all our key service sectors and expanded our
global footprint to 42 countries. Of note were awards for community
stabilization in Afghanistan and West Africa, construction of health
centers in Ethiopia and schools in Jordan, and a Food for Progress
grant to increase grain production among smallholder farmers in
Burkina Faso. We received awards from several new donors and
gifts from 1,100 private donors. Our diversified portfolio and funding
base show that IRD provides outstanding value, implements programs
strategically and cost effectively, and delivers enduring results.
IRD’s success is also due to the strong governance from our Board
of Directors. In 2011 we strengthened our governance with the
addition of six new board members and established our first Board
Advisory Council to help drive IRD’s thought leadership. The Board
and the Advisory Council are strengthening our strategic planning,
identifying new partners and opportunities, and ensuring we adhere
to the highest standards of business and ethical conduct.
We completed work on two signature projects in Afghanistan:
Strategic Provincial Roads, known as SPR; and the Afghanistan
Vouchers for Increased Productive Agriculture, or AVIPA Plus.
SPR built the capacity of the Afghan private sector to rehabilitate
hundreds of miles of rural roads in Afghanistan’s southern and
eastern provinces, and AVIPA Plus was an agricultural recovery and
stabilization project that provided nearly 900,000 vulnerable Afghan
farmers with agricultural training, equipment, and machinery; and
vouchers for wheat, vegetable, and fruit seeds, and fertilizer.
Throughout 2011, IRD provided sponsorship and thought leadership
to global development events. These included the Global Health
Council Conference, Middle East Institute discussion on Libya, Rotary
International Summit on Water, SID World Congress, Peace Corps
50th Anniversary celebration, and Yale Divinity School briefing on
poverty and development. Our staff published widely, including in
Monday Developments, the Journal of International Peace Operations,
Devex, and the Miami Sun-Sentinel. And IRD launched the IRD-Peace
Corps Fellowship, a unique partnership that invites third-year
former volunteers to work at our headquarters and learn from our
experienced development professionals.
“Our diversified portfolio and funding base show
that IRD provides outstanding value, implements
programs strategically and cost effectively, and
delivers enduring results.”
IRD responded quickly and effectively to one of the largest
humanitarian crises of recent years. Our Horn of Africa team
delivered emergency food, medicine, and water to vulnerable
communities in Ethiopia and Somalia. And we continue our work
there to build resilience against future disasters.
On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank you for your
support. We are doing everything possible to ensure that IRD lives
up to the standards of quality, efficiency, and effectiveness you
expect from us. I am grateful to be able to work with such a talented
and dedicated organization, and I look forward to continuing our
progress during 2012 and beyond.
Rev. Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr.
IRD President and CEO