Page 5 - GDG Annual Report 2021

Global Development Group 5 Annual Report 2021

Executive Director’s Report

2021 was a tumultuous and mixed year for most of the world due to the impact of COVID-19. Despite
these challenges, I am amazed at the strong support of our Australian, USA and New Zealand donors,
and the incredible work of our partners across the globe.

While Australia has had its economic maintained standards. Back home,
hardships, Global Development our Australian team kept up strong
Group’s donors remained determined communication with in-country
to assist projects in their time of partners using zoom meetings and
hardship, and USA and New Zealand regular calls.
donations reached their highest levels
Several of our partners received
to date.
outstanding awards this year,
On the ground, many of the including: Debbie Edirisinghe of
communities GDG projects work with J696N Child Action Lanka (Awarded
faced loss of livelihoods, significant Keerthishri Deshamanya, the
health risks, lockdowns, school second highest honorific title by the
closures and often even hunger. Our Government of Sri Lanka in recognition Geoff in the original Global Development Group
home office.
partners in both Australia and overseas of service to the nation and its people);
rose to the challenge and worked David Begbie of J342N Crossroads
tirelessly to meet needs in the midst Foundation, Hong Kong (Asia’s Most 2021 Award recipients
of crisis - working long hours, making Influential Award, The Impact List);
sacrifices and raising financial support. and Deolindo DaCosta of J540N
Encouragement House, Timor Leste
You will read stories within these
(Awarded a Humanitarian Award by
pages of our projects and partners
the President of Timor Leste);
shifting their focus from regular
project activities to meet urgent
needs. We often needed to be
In the past year our records show
innovative and extend efforts to Debbie Edirisinghe
that we impacted 638,408 direct
ensure our beneficiary communities
beneficiaries and 3,496,997 indirect
were supported and protected. We
beneficiaries. Again, we have much
carried out relief projects in many
to be thankful for and I wish to
countries, particularly India during its
acknowledge the great work by our
second wave of COVID-19 cases. As
donors, our excellent partners and
well as the pandemic, many countries
especially the dedicated professional
faced natural disasters from floods
GDG team.
in Indonesia to earthquakes in the
Philippines. In Goma, DR Congo, David Begbie
Mount Nyiragongo erupted affecting
two great projects.
The halt on travel to and from
Australia meant that our monitoring,
BSc, MBA, AFAMI, CMC, MAICD, MASQ
conferences and network meetings
Executive Director
were all postponed. Despite this, GDG’s
in-country representatives were active
and our in-country project managers Deolindo DaCosta