Think Creative Fall 2023

Think Creative by Creative Associates International

Letter from Leland Kruvant President & CEO Creative Associates International

CREATIVE SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Founder & Board Chair Charito Kruvant

President & CEO Leland Kruvant

Creative’s Founder and Board Chair started to use the word “Peace” in her email signature line as far back as when email was introduced to the public. Like her, many of us continue that tradition. Peace is a powerful word that Creative embraces as a cornerstone of our work in fragile, conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as in our everyday life. Yet, peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the result of many factors—inclusiveness, interdependence, openness, equitable distribution of resources and many more—that are achieved through numerous

locally driven approaches. This issue of Think Creative examines one of those elements— social cohesion—by showing examples of how communities are strengthening their bonds and collaborating to overcome issues that could lead to conflict. As I read through the successes in our cover story, I was impressed to see how people within a community—an educator, a blogger, a traditional leader and an indigenous activist—stepped forward to build social cohesion. Equally impressive are their results. While the countries we draw

these examples from have larger challenges, they demonstrate that taking steps to build social cohesion can have a dramatic, lifelong, positive impact on a community, despite the larger national context. These are small, worthwhile steps in the long journey to peace. As we face a variety of global, regional and local challenges, each community’s efforts to build social cohesion are critical in their journey to fulfilling the positive changes they seek. Peace,

Executive VP & Chief Innovation Officer Pablo Maldonado

Chief Operating Officer Sani Daher

Chief Financial Officer Oswaldo Holguin

VP, External Relations Jessica Kruvant

VP, Global Operations Noy Villalobos

VP, Education Cory Heyman

VP, Economic Growth Jim Winkler

VP, Communities in Transition Sharon Van Pelt

EDITORIAL STAFF

Senior Director, Communications Michael J. Zamba

20 Feature Stories

Art Direction Amanda Smallwood

20 // A Good Investment: Using blended finance in Senegal to strengthen food security and boost employment 22 // La Comadrona: An indigenous midwife’s gift and struggle in Guatemala’s Western Highlands ​

Communications Manager Marta S. Maldonado

Boosting Food Security in Senegal 20 p.

Senior Strategic Content Manager Ashley Williams

22 p.

25 Creative Life A mission-driven community 26 // Staff Spotlight: Sara Benavides 27 // Staff Photos

Digital Media Manager Olivia Chapman

Guatemala’s Comadronas

Think Creative is published three times a year by Creative Associates International, a global development organization dedicated to supporting people around the world to realize the positive change they seek. The content is produced by Creative and does not represent the policies or positions of its clients, partners or host governments. Reproduction of any or all of Think Creative is prohibited without prior written permission. Copyright ©2023.

28 // Continuing a Legacy of Progress: Creative’s leaders visit programs promoting education, peace and economic growth 29 // Celebrating Milestones: Recognizes decades of service at Creative 30 // Walk this Way: Alinor Osman, Outreach and Communications Manager for USAID’s Bar ama Baro

26 p. Meet Sara!

For more information about Think Creative , please email us at ThinkCreative@CreativeDC.com

4445 Willard Avenue NW, Suite 400 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 + 202.966.5804 Creative Associates International

Photos by Skip Brown (Leland Kruvant); Deleba Nomo Serge Kadel for USAID (Senegal); Karen Chang (Comadronas); Amanda Smallwood (Sara Benavides)

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