Page 4 - GDG Annual Report 2020

Chairman’s Report

“Thank you for taking the time to read our 2020 Annual
Report. As always, there are plenty of great stories of
people building better lives in the face of challenging
circumstances, so please read on.”

In the first 9 months of this financial year, it was business as and keep working to see people’s lives changed. There are
usual and then suddenly the outlook was very different for also organisations that despite economic challenges at the
business and economies, for social activity and travel plans. moment, have continued to support humanitarian work and
COVID-19 has been a major disrupter to most aspects of life I would like to thank our corporate donors for continuing to
this year, but I am a believer in responding to challenges sow into the development of staff and partners via grants they
head-on. So we have been working through initial impacts direct our way.
and devising solutions to support our people and collectively
Another disrupter has been the lower exchange rates over the
achieve results that many rely on.
past 12 months, but on page 27 you will see that donations
With good leadership and experience, it is amazing how have remained consistent. I would like to thank Geoff and
people adapt. New ideas and ways of working are often a result the management team for managing the operating budgets
of these challenges. Every cloud has a silver lining. On page 7 responsibly as they always do.
you will read more on how the COVID crisis has impacted GDG
and our partners since March and our response to date.
David Pearson
But as I have always said, this important work will not
happen without the support of our donors and the efforts Assoc Dip Bus Mgmt, CALU, AAII
of our partners and our own staff. Those who keep giving Board Chairman

In November 2019, David travelled to India for the India Partner Network Meeting and monitoring projects.

With students from the J189 Banjara India education project in Telangana Visiting with a women’s self-help group whilst monitoring the J544N
Enterprise India project in Tamil Nadu

4 Annual Report 2020 Global Development Group