Think Creative Fall 2024

Think Creative Fall 2024 Learning through play in the West Bank The flow of good governance in Syria Climate-smart agriculture in West Africa By Creative Associates International

Building Futures

Youth transforming communities from the ground up

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Photo by Jim Huylebroek

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Two girls play basketball in Somalia. The USAID Bar ama Baro accelerated education program used recreation to engage young people.

Somalia USAID Bar ama Baro By Jim Huylebroek, Photographer & Videographer

Girls in Mogadishu are pushing ahead, defying societal norms and challenging long-standing traditions in Somalia. I had the incredible opportunity to capture these young women during a sports tournament supported by the USAID Bar ama Baro project. Set against the backdrop of a city known more for its challenges than its triumphs, these student athletes pioneer a new era of empowerment and change. It was inspiring to see how here, as in many other places, sports can serve as a catalyst for change, fostering unity in the process. During the last four years, Bar ama Baro has worked with the Somali Ministry of Education, Culture, and

Higher Education and other partners to enroll more than 116,000 out-of school children in accelerated basic education. The project created a path to build foundational reading and math skills in a shorter time frame, enabling students to re-enter the formal school system. Tomorrow’s students require good teachers today. Bar ama Baro trained teachers, developed teaching and learning materials and supported events like this sports tournament to provide positive outlets for young people. These girls are not just playing basketball; they are forging a path for future generations. n

In this Issue

Our Impact 10 p.

07 Dispatches

Updates from around our world

08 // Intersectional Insights on Irregular Migration 09 // • Runner Up: Thinking and Working Politically • Field Notes 10 // Our Impact: Explore results from four projects in Africa and Central America. 12 // In Focus: West Bank Basic Education Activity

Intersectional Insights 11 p.

Building Futures 14 p.

14 Cover Package Building Futures: Youth transforming communities from the ground up

ON THE COVER: Leticia Torres, a Maya K’iche from an Indigenous community in Guatemala, is using her voice to create change in her community. Photo by Benjamin Lezama for Creative Associates International.

Photos by Jim Huylebroek

4 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

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

Executive VP & Chief Innovation Officer Pablo Maldonado

In this issue of Think Creative , we profile six other youths who took the initiative to raise their voices, get involved and act on behalf of a larger community. Their stories underscore that investing in youth, nurturing their talents and providing platforms for them to lead will build brighter futures and ensure sustainable development for the next generation. Supporting youth and their locally led solutions are among Creative’s development priorities.

Six weeks after Guatemala’s new president took the oath of office in late January 2024, nearly 100 youth mobilized to debate their priorities for the new administration. During two days of discussions among themselves organized by the USAID Tejiendo Paz program, the youth decided on a list that included violence prevention, advocacy, employment, education and more. On the third day, the youth eloquently outlined their pressing needs and proposed solutions before an attentive audience that included Vice Ministers from the Ministries of Education, Labor, Culture and Health, as well as representatives from Congress, the

National Youth Council and the Municipality of Guatemala City. This is an example of youth-led advocacy at its best. In April, I was honored to meet one of the March forum participants — an activist named Katherine Ovalle Morales associated with the Centre for Research on the Prevention of Violence in Central America and the Landivarianxs Collective — who was invited by Creative to speak at the SID US annual conference. The 22-year-old explained that the March forum was a whirlwind opportunity that allowed her to feel seen and heard. Learn more about Katherine’s story by visiting our YouTube channel.

Chief Programs Officer Noy Villalobos

SVP, Business Development Sharon Cooley

Chief Financial Officer Mark Miebach

VP, External Relations Jessica Kruvant

VP, Education Patricia Tibbetts

VP, Economic Growth Eileen Hoffman

Sincerely,

VP, Communities in Transition Sharon Van Pelt

VP, Financial Analysis Urvashi Vyas

VP, Global Human Resources Ingrid Fitzgerald

20 Feature Stories

EDITORIAL STAFF

Senior Director, Communications Michael J. Zamba

20 // The Flow of Good Governance: Citizens improve water access with Syria’s FURAT III program 22 // Climate Smart: Innovative agricultural practices address climate challenges in West Africas

The Flow of Good Governance

Art Direction Amanda Smallwood

20 p.

Communications Manager Marta S. Maldonado

Senior Strategic Content Manager Ashley Williams

25 Creative Life A mission-driven community

Writer & Editor Pariesa Brody

26 // Creative Appoints New Vice President of Education for Development Division: Patricia Tibbetts 27 // Creative’s Summer Interns Bridge Academics and Impact 28 // Youth Leading the Way and Transforming Tomorrow 30 // Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Inside Creative’s Early Career Employee Resource Group, CrECER

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 ©2024.

Climate Smart

22 p.

26 p. Meet Tricia!

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

4445 Willard Avenue, Suite 400 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 +1 202.966.5804 Creative Associates International

Photos by Skip Brown (Leland Kruvant, Patricia Tibbets), FURAT III (The Flow of Good Governance) and Jim Huylebroek (Climate Smart)

CreativeAssociatesInternational.com | 5

Be a Change Maker

For current job opportunities, visit CreativeAssociatesInternational.com/Careers

We Won! Telly Award | Bronze | General-Explainer EL SALVADOR How Beauty is Confronting a Beast

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The 3-minute video showcases a unique approach in Santa Ana, El Salvador, using beauty salons to address gender-based violence. The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives supported the program through the Central America Regional Initiative.

6 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

Dispatches Updates from around our world

USAID's LEARN to Read Activity is improving early grade reading outcomes for students in Nigeria by supporting federal and state

governments in effectively leveraging their resources.

Photo by Erick Gibson

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Dispatches

updates from around our world

Sembrando Esperanza ’s analysis identified five composite intersectionality profiles with a high risk of social marginalization.

New intersectional analysis provides insights into identities and behaviors among at-risk Hondurans

Honduras // Sembrando Esperanza Intersectional Insights on Irregular Migration

A new intersectional analysis of at-risk Hon durans offers significant insights into factors influencing irregular migration, crime and violence. The study reveals that a person’s identity is closely tied to their neighborhood. “In present-day Honduras, cultural, ethnic and historical backgrounds are less related to com munity cohesion than by territorial factors, in cluding where individuals live, work and where their children play after school,” according to a comprehensive study for USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza (Planting Hope). “This finding em phasizes the importance of the neighborhood (colonias) … [with] increased feelings of safety and a sense of belonging.”

Robyn Braverman, the activity’s Chief of Party in Honduras, says this was a surprising result from the intersectionality analysis, a tool used to understand how various social identities interact to create unique experiences of dis crimination and privilege. “The fact that they have this very deep identity in their neighborhood shocked us all because my perception was they have this national sense of identity and pride,” she says. Sembrando Esperanza is a seven-year program using a human security approach to address threats, risks and vulnerabilities within individuals and communities that fuel crime

and irregular migration. The program cat egorizes at-risk populations and co-creates in terventions to reduce these factors, including family counseling, youth-led initiatives and private sector collaboration. Braverman says that the neighborhood connection has led them to rethink their local approach. “It made us focus more on neighborhood activities rather than bigger community-driven activities,” she says. Invisible gang boundaries and lack of trans portation and services make it challenging for youth to seek opportunities beyond their neighborhood. Data-driven programming in Honduras The intersectional analysis, conducted by Bixal for Sembrando Esperanza , supports their efforts in Honduras. “An intersectional analysis allows for a nuanced understanding of the complex factors that give rise to irregular migration, violence and crime among youth and families,” Braverman explains. The analysis explored how these identities in tersect and highlight the heightened margin

An intersectional analysis allows for a nuanced understanding of the complex factors that give rise to irregular migration, violence and crime among youth and families.” - Robin Braverman, Sembrando Esperanza Chief of Party “

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

8 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

Field Notes

Nigeria // LEARN to Read RUNNER UP: Thinking and Working Politically

m Education

The LEARN to Read activity in Nigeria was recognized as a runner-up in USAID’s first ever Thinking and Working Politically Case Competition, which showcases innovative approaches to political engagement in the international development sector. The competition highlights how navigating political contexts can support program goals and inform effective interventions. LEARN to Read was the only education program selected as a finalist in the competition, organized by the USAID Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance. A team from Cambridge Education—part of LEARN to Read’s consortium of implementing partners led by Creative—submitted “Leveraging Domestic Budget Resources to Incentivize Reading Reforms through Results-Based Financing.” The submission outlined how LEARN to Read has incentivized Nigerian states to implement essential reading reforms through results-based financing, where financial rewards are provided after agreed-upon outcomes are achieved. The LEARN to Read team and Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Commission Technical Committee designed the results-based financing pilot, allocating 400 million naira (approximately $347,000) to incentivize states' commitments to the country’s National Reading Framework. Early interest in the pilot has set the stage for scaling the initiative, promising more effective implementation of reading reforms, increased resources for schools and better-trained teachers. “As an education project, LEARN to Read is pleased to be recognized by the USAID Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance,” said Guy Bostock, Deputy Chief of Party for LEARN to Read. “Since the case study was written, the Nigerian government has demonstrated its commitment to results-based financing by doubling the number of states to be included in the pilot and the level of funding available to states that do produce results.” n

Jordan Technical Assistance Program USAID’s Jordan Technical Assistance Program held its first validation session to approve the Ministry of Education’s National Framework for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). The SEL Framework is the first institutionalized baseline of minimal operational standards for teachers, school administrators and counselors to support students’ psychosocial needs and social and emotional learning skills. Burkina Faso Inclusive Governance for Resilience Guibaré, in Burkina Faso’s Centre Nord region, has taken a step towards adopting a participatory budgeting approach after attending a training by USAID’s Inclusive Governance for Resilience program. Officials from various regions learned techniques to involve citizens in the budgeting process to enhance transparency in local governance. The participatory budgeting approach will create a platform for open dialogue and collaboration between citizens and local authorities in Guibaré. Vietnam Local Capacity Development From June to August, the Local Capacity Development (LCD) Activity held initial visits to its four pilot provinces with USAID and the Academy of Policy and Development. LCD introduced the project to provincial leaders, discussed project approval and helped provinces prioritize service delivery areas for future project support. Provincial leaders expressed strong support for LCD and committed to collaboration to accelerate the project approval process. LCD is working to engage local governments, the private sector and organizations to enhance linkages with the national government on local priority issues.

m Governance

alization experienced by youth, women and transgender people. The program is working with service providers to ensure they meet the needs of the populations identified in the study and provide inclusive counseling and trauma informed care. The analysis identified five composite intersectionality profiles with a high risk of social marginalization: males aged 11 to 18 who have dropped out of school; internally displaced young, single mothers; social activists (including LGBTQI+, Indigenous, environmental and democracy activists); internally displaced single, childless men ages 20 to 29; and young, childless women who have dropped out of school and are in low-paid work or unemployed. The study’s analysis was based on key informant interviews, focus group discussions and secondary data, including existing reports and Sembrando Esperanza documents. Data collection occurred in October 2023 and spanned municipalities including Comayagua, Puerto Cortés and Francisco Morazán (Distrito Central). USAID is sharing the study’s findings with

other implementers in Honduras. “The inter sectional analysis encourages service providers and professionals to delve into how people per ceive their world,” Braverman says. Sembrando Esperanza and its partners are already using the findings in activities in 10 municipalities. Applying the data to implementation Bixal’s report highlights that well-intentioned efforts to improve the lives of Hondurans may be limited by funding, training and institution al barriers. “Funding for nongovernmental organizations is inadequate or inaccessible, often limiting their ability to address community concerns and creating resource deserts,” Bixal wrote in its report. “The lack of coordination among NGOs and international organizations often leads to redundancy or incomplete projects.” The study concluded that age plays an import ant role in migration intentions, with key age windows from 20 to 29. Expanding opportuni ties for youth through entrepreneurship and vocational training, developing interest and access to secondary education, improving local leadership skills and improving youth access to governmental services could inspire young people to remain in Honduras. n

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Dispatches

updates from around our world

Creative’s programs support people around the world to create positive change in their families, communities and beyond. By investing in education, stability, social cohesion, businesses and the workforce, we are moving towards a brighter, more peaceful world. Explore the impact of four projects implemented by Creative and its partners in Africa and Central America. Our Impact

ETHIOPIA USAID | READ II Education Recovery Activity

6 years (2018-2024) | $76,895,236

READ II began as an early grade reading program but pivoted to respond to the pandemic and Northern Ethiopia Conflict by helping students, teachers and schools return to learning.

primary students reached in 4,998 primary schools and 7 regions 4 M+

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youth trained in art & advocacy, to participate in community decision-making

reading camps established 5,986

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women trained as legal promoters, supporting victims of gender-based violence 141

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formerly gang controlled public spaces rehabilitated

EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) | Central America Regional Initiative (CARI)

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3 years (2021-2024) | $54,638,384

volunteer community literacy leaders trained 11,656

CARI supports local partners to increase community resilience and foster a sense of rootedness and hope for the future in communities with high out-migration rates.

Photo by Erick Gibson

10 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

students participated in sports and recreation tournaments 1,300

SOMALIA USAID | Bar ama Baro

teaching and learning materials distributed 800,696

5 years (2019-2024) | $48,596,508

out-of-school students enrolled in accelerated basic education 117,067

BAB provided accelerated basic education to build foundational reading and math skills and create a path for students to re-enter the formal school system.

in private sector investment mobilized $489 M

in annual sales generated $683 M

WEST AFRICA USAID | West Africa Trade & Investment Hub

jobs created or sustained, 59% went to women 86,482

5 years (2019-2024) | $116,098,000

The Trade Hub partnered with West African companies to generate new private sector investment to create jobs, increase trade, protect natural resources and boost food security.

Photos by Jim Huylebroek

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Dispatches

updates from around our world

Children at the USAID Basic Education Activity STEAM Summer Adventure camp learned about energy and environmental stewardship through a hands-on activity making terrariums.

12 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

Program in focus A closer look at Creative’s work in action

Wearing lab coats and getting their hands dirty, children at the STEAM Summer Adventure camp in central Ramallah worked in groups to create their terrariums. They selected containers and lined them with soil to create the perfect environment for their plants, discussing what each one needs to thrive. As they arrange the small plants in the soil, the children discover the importance of ecosystems and sustainability, gaining a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship. The hands-on activity is just one of many planned throughout USAID’s Basic Education Activity (BEA) STEAM Summer Adventure camps. The camps, hosted around the West Bank, aim to spark creativity and curiosity in children through activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Serving children aged 4-13 through activities in horticulture, electricity, solar energy and recycling, the summer camps provide a platform to explore new concepts and build essential skills. Summer camp facilitators trained with Al Nayzak, a Palestinian science and technology organization partnered with BEA to host the camps. Their training ranged from basic pedagogical techniques to teaching social and emotional skills to help children share their feelings, hopes and worries openly. Over the next four years, BEA will strengthen primary and extracurricular education in the West Bank and Gaza. It targets marginalized communities by providing literacy, numeracy and social and emotional support for children, parents and teachers affected by the conflict. n “I love working with kids because I’m here to make an impact on them.” West Bank & Gaza Basic Education Activity - Eman Shoobneh, Summer Camp Facilitator

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

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Puerto Cortes, Honduras, has a long history of irregular migration and violence. Rosa Isabel Melgar, 19, stayed to take on the local challenges.

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

14 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

Building Futures

Youth transforming communities from the ground up

By Ashley Williams and Michael J. Zamba

Ethiopia’s two-year conflict displaced millions of people and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Leveraging education as a “life-sustaining” activity and adopting trauma informed practices, USAID’s READ II Education Recovery Activity pivoted to support students’ and educators’ healing process. Across the globe, young leaders are not just participants in their communities but the driving force behind transformative and sustained change. Through holistic programming, these youth are honing their technical, leadership and soft skills, empowering their peers and fostering resilient, inclusive communities that spur economic growth. We spoke to five people participating in Creative’s youth programming around the world to learn more about how they are building their futures together.

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building futures

Rosa Isabel Melgar, age 19, had an opportunity to leave her home in Puerto Cortés, Honduras, a Caribbean community with a long tradition of irregular migration to other countries. Years earlier, her mother made the journey north, and Melgar’s sister later followed. Melgar remained in the Barrio Medina com munity of Puerto Cortés and is stepping up for her neighborhood. “People leave their neighborhoods for various reasons, either involuntarily or voluntarily, because they say they want a better future,” Melgar says. “But they can build our future here.” Youth around the world face significant chal lenges related to unemployment, social frag mentation, lack of political and community en gagement, and limited economic opportunities. These issues are interconnected, with financial instability exacerbating social tensions and undermining community cohesion. However, holistic youth programming that centers youth as co-designers and partners offers a powerful solution by addressing these challenges. By building platforms that create economic opportunities, fostering social cohesion and nurturing leadership skills, these programs empower young people to become catalysts for positive change in their communities. Building youth leadership skills Positive Youth Development is an approach to supporting young people in reaching their full potential by engaging them directly, connect ing them with supportive adults and creating opportunities for them to build community. It aims to grow youth’s skills and belief in them selves while creating a safe, enabling environ ment where they can participate actively in the world around them. Melgar has been developing her leadership skills through the 1,500-strong youth program called Agentes de Cambio (Agents of Change), an initiative supported by USAID’s Sembrando Esperanza (Planting Hope) that works with a consortium of organizations in 25 target mu nicipalities. Agentes de Cambio is one of several community-focused activities the program supports to foster rootedness by placing youth at the center of identifying, developing and car rying out locally conceived and led activities.

Participating in Sembrando Esperanza ’s activities has been a turning point in my life. Through this activity, I discovered my leadership skills and the ability to positively influence my surroundings.” - Rosa Isabel Melgar, Agentes de Cambio Participant “

To harness young people’s potential, the program invests in engaging diverse youth, building leadership skills, creating networks of like-minded people and developing community projects. “Once we acquire skills, we bring them to our families to create more positive relationships at home,” explains Melgar, one of the 150 Agentes de Cambio in the coastal city of Puerto Cortes.

During co-creation sessions, youth collaborate with the larger community and civil society organizations to identify challenges—such as lack of economic opportunities or gang violence—and brainstorm innovative solutions to address them. “Participating in Sembrando Esperanza ’s activi ties has been a turning point in my life,” Melgar explains. “Through this activity, I discovered

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

16 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

Rosa Isabel Melgar (center) is one of 1,500 Agents of Change across Honduras working with USAID's Sembrando Esperanza program to build her leadership skills and spearhead community projects.

Attempts to resist or enforce these orders often resulted in violent confrontations between security agencies and youth. The frequent clashes concerned Sedou—he was often called on to intervene on behalf of the youth to resolve conflicts and saw first-hand how the situation negatively affected social cohesion. Since his return to Cinkassé after graduating with a degree in human resource management from the university in Lomé, Sedou became a respected youth leader in his community. “When friends tell me that what I'm doing is dangerous, the answer I often give them is that it's because I want to be useful to my communi ty. It's my passion,” Sedou says. In addition to his activism to calm tensions between youth and authorities, Sedou, who uses crutches, is passionate about ensuring that disabled people have equal opportunities and inclusion. “I noticed that people with disabilities were discriminated against, and so as one of the few disabled university graduates, I wanted to change that narrative,” Sedou says. Sedou’s activism secured him a spot as one of 120 youth representatives to receive training on preventing violent extremism, peacebuild ing, social cohesion and early warning, an

activity supported by the USAID/OTI Littorals Regional Initiative initiative facilitated by Timbuktu Institute and organized by Togo’s National Youth Council. After the first training, Sedou and 19 other promising youth leaders were chosen to par ticipate in an advanced advocacy and con flict-sensitive communication session. “We [the youth] are the majority,” Sedou says. “We are also the ones being recruited to play a role in these conflicts. So, it is important that the young people are informed and get more in volved so we can better preserve peace.” Sedou now goes from house to house to sensitize his peers and his community about the need for social cohesion, early warning and preventing violent extremism. Sedou and his peers from the training have en gaged more than 1,000 men, women and youth across Togo’s Savanes Region and continue to reach more residents. As a result of these engagements, the relationship between the au thorities and youth has improved, evidenced by increased collaboration on information sharing and security updates. “My dream is of Cinkassé where everyone is at peace, where there is this social cohesion, there are no prejudices based on ethnicities, social standing or disability,” Sedou says.

my leadership skills and the ability to positively influence my surroundings.” Developing local youth leaders like Melgar sets communities up to prosper and build resilience. When young people see viable opportunities in their neighborhoods, they are less likely to migrate in search of better prospects, ensur ing that their talents and innovations benefit their neighborhoods. This social and economic development approach helps build resilient, self-sustaining communities where future generations can thrive. Supporting youth-led social cohesion Weeks after Togo recorded its first case of COVID-19 in March 2020, Azizi Sedou noticed a deterioration in the relationship between youth and authorities in and around Cinkassé town in Togo’s Savanes region. Preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus—including the banning of mass gath erings and closing markets, businesses and borders—had started to take a toll on the eco nomic and social well-being of the population.

Azizi Sedou goes from house to house in his community in Togo to engage residents about the need for social cohesion and conflict prevention.

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

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building futures

While working as an extension agent to help Nigerian women get involved in agriculture, Rakiya Ali decided to start cultivating her own plot of land.

started a WhatsApp group to share informa tion about free classes, scholarships and other educational opportunities. “Starting a WhatsApp group may not seem like much, but the members who have joined have told me that they have benefited from various scholarships, calls for applications and free classes, such as free English courses,” Torres says. Creating online opportunities for youth to access information and participate in their communities makes them stronger, more engaged members of society. Engaging private sector partners to boost youth Rakiya Ali is an agronomist who rarely dirtied her hands. Instead, she focused on the scientif ic aspects of farming, seeds and other agricul tural inputs. It wasn’t until the 30-year-old had an opportu nity to provide hands-on technical support to women farmers in northern Nigeria that she decided to get her hands dirty. Literally. The USAID West Africa Trade & Investment Hub partnered with West African and U.S. companies to generate new private sector investment, create jobs, increase trade, protect natural resources and boost food security. The Trade Hub partnered with Ali’s employer, Premier Seeds, in Kaduna State, Nigeria, to boost women’s opportunities in agriculture, from the research lab to the fields to the market. The program needed women with technical expertise to engage other women in this conservative part of northern Nigeria and encourage them to try their hands at farming. Ali jumped at the opportunity. “You’d go to [women’s] houses, and their hus bands will tell you that a male cannot enter,” Ali says. “They call those houses ‘ bashiga .’ That loosely translates to mean ‘no entry.’ But as a woman, I can easily enter and interact freely with those women and try to pass the message and the knowledge of what the projects are about, what you’d like them to do and what the whole farming activity is about. The Trade Hub actually made that possible.” Working alongside scores of women tilling, planting and harvesting their small plots encouraged her to give farming a shot. “I loved what I saw,” she says. Following her own advice, Ali now cultivates

Creating opportunities online Youth are also mobilizing their peers and building opportunities and community in digital spaces. Twenty-year-old Leticia Torres is smart, speaks quickly and is naturally outgoing, which has led her to use these talents for social good. “Since I was very young, I have had this dream of getting involved in society, and that also implies being able to raise my voice for those who still cannot or perhaps could not do so,” says Torres, a Maya K’iche from an Indigenous community in Guatemala’s Western Highlands. Torres’ activism made it natural for her to join the Red de Voceros y Voceras Juveniles para la Paz (Youth Voices for Peace). With more than 225 members from 15 municipalities, the group receives training on conflict transforma tion, cyber-activism and the risks of irregular migration. With the support of USAID’s Tejiendo Paz (Peacebuilding Project)—which seeks local solutions to improve social cohesion, reduce conflict and address drivers of irregular migra tion— Voceros y Voceras Juveniles has sharp ened Torres’ advocacy skills and enabled her to become integrated into a larger network of like-minded youth who collaborate to contrib ute to society.

Youth activists Leticia Torres (left) and Cesar Morales are engaging their peers with support from USAID's Tejiendo Paz .

“I learned that I could express my vote, start motivating other young people to share their opinions and together we could start proposing solutions,” Torres says. “This has helped me a lot to support others in questioning the social reality and thinking about what we can propose or plan in society. I consider this a very import ant foundation for me to make an impact.” Voceros y Voceras Juveniles were trained to identify topics and work with local officials, such as addressing education in rural Guate mala, where school attendance and graduation levels are among the lowest in the country, particularly for Indigenous girls Torres and her chapter in San Andrés Sajcabajá

Photo by Jim Huylebroek (top); Benjamin Lezama (center)

18 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

See videos of youth in action!

soybeans and maize on two-and-a-half acres. “I am very proud of the work I’m doing,” she says, juggling her full-time job at Premier Seeds with part-time farming chores. “It’s really empowering to see other people like me, young and female, embracing agriculture. It’s not the whole stereotypical aspect of having to see anything that has to do with farming is just for men. Now, you see a lot of women embracing farming. You see a lot of people embracing agriculture as an agri-business. And you see it’s creating a lot of jobs.” Through the Trade Hub, Ali and other exten sion officers at Premier Seeds registered 786 farmers across seven states, of which 65 per cent are youth and 70 percent are women. Locally led, youth powered In a courtyard in central Ramallah, in the West Bank, Palestinian children tried their hands at different Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) activities such as robotics, horticulture, engineering and more as they envisioned their futures as scientists and community leaders. The demand for these skills in STEAM-oriented occupations is rising globally. For 21-year-old Sara Khader, this summer camp allowed her to engage bright, young minds as a facilitator. “I decided not to take a summer course at university so that I would be a facilitator at this camp,” says the rising senior studying me chanical engineering at Birzeit University. “I love working with children, and I thought this would be a great opportunity not only for me to teach but also to learn new things from these children.” The camp is organized by the Al Nayzak Organization, an NGO partnering with the USAID-funded Basic Education Activity in the West Bank and Gaza. Al Nayzak provided capacity-building training to facilitators like Sara to support children’s social and emotional skills through learning.

Sara Khader worked with students at the STEAM Summer Adventure camp to conceptualize, design and build isothermal houses that would stay hot or cold without electricity.

I love working with children, and I thought this would be a great opportunity not only for me to teach but also to learn new things from these children.” - Sara Khader, Summer Camp Facilitator, Basic Education Activity “

In addition to the camps, the Basic Education Activity will strengthen pre-primary education and remedial and extracurricular program ming at the primary level in the West Bank and Gaza, targeting marginalized communities by providing literacy, numeracy and social and emotional support for children, parents and teachers in the region. Khader is joined at the summer camp by other motivated facilitators, including engineering students, scientists and psychologists, who combine their talents to create a fun and edu cational summer camp. Khader is passionate about educating children about the wonders of sustainable energy and how to be environmentally conscious. Though the campers are first to sixth graders, Khader is showing them how to build an isothermal home in which the indoor temperature remains con stant despite the outside conditions. “I think environmental sustainability is very important, and it’s very important to expose children to it at a very young age,” she says.

“Unfortunately, Palestine isn’t exactly one of the leading countries addressing this kind of problem. So, we’re starting from a young age and teaching them these things so that in the future, they will become initiators and leaders in this kind of aspect of science.” The 21-year-old credits her parents for encouraging her to learn and grow, a mindset she wants to pass along to the summer camp participants. “I want them to become future leaders in their community and to take the initiative to solve problems,” Khader says. “Also, I want them to make new friends and to find themselves within this summer camp.” Investing in youth means creating oppor tunities for young people to thrive and lead initiatives in their communities, laying the groundwork for generations to come. n With reporting by Atiewin Mbillah-Lawson, Luis Villatoro, Pariesa Brody, Hugo Perez and Sara Barker

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

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The Flow of Good Governance

Citizens improve water access with Syria’s FURAT III program

By Mohamad Hamish

Recent improvements in water service in northeastern Syria are serving as examples of the importance of citizen engagement in the provision of essential public services. Khaled, a 49-year-old civil engineer, repeat edly voiced his concerns to municipal officials in Hajin city about the need to repair a break in the water line in his neighborhood. Recent improvements supported by the Facilitating Urban Recovery and Transition (FURAT III) program were a source of great relief, he says. “Finally turning on the tap and feeling that rush of water after days of waiting is like a breath of fresh air,” says Khaled, whose full name is not used for security reasons. “It’s amazing how something so simple can bring such relief and gratitude. It makes you appreci

ate the little things in life, that’s for sure.” Like other public infrastructure, water and wastewater systems in northeast Syria have been damaged by war and lack of resources. As the governorate of Deir Ezzor rebuilds, the age and deterioration of the water infrastructure have led to frequent water disruptions amid a historic drought, posing significant risks to the health and well-being of communities. With funding and support from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, the Facilitating Urban Recovery and Transition (FURAT III) program worked with the Deir Ezzor Civil Council to plan and undertake critical repairs with active citizen involvement. Local officials worked hand in hand with citizens to identify and report

malfunctions in the water network. In the first three months of 2024, crews reha bilitated 14 kilometers (almost nine miles) of the water network and provided vital mainte nance to 45 drinking water stations. Workers also brought back online two drinking water stations in Al-Harijiya and Al-Badia that had been out of service, benefiting 60,000 people. “I appreciate the town’s commitment to ensur ing our water supply remains safe and reliable,” Khaled says. The collaborative approach fostered a sense of ownership and empowerment among citizens, making them active partners in driving positive change. Project organizers says the municipal offi

Photo submitted by FURAT III

20 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

Left: A crew from the Deir Ezzor Civil Council's Al Furat Water Unit conducts repairs at a water station in the town of Kishkia in March 2024.

“

Finally turning on the tap and feeling that rush of water after days of waiting is like a breath of fresh air. It’s amazing how something so simple can bring such relief and gratitude.” - Khaled, Civil Engineer

By investing in water infrastructure main tenance, communities can mitigate internal displacement risks and bolster reintegration ef forts, fostering overall stability and well-being. Citizens mobilize to improve sewage management An improvement in wastewater service in the city of Qamishli in Al-Hasakah Governorate provides a striking example of citizen engage ment, as residents collaborated with the local municipality and FURAT III to co-fund a sewer improvement benefiting 300 residents. Residents of Jamaya neighborhood in Qamishli were dealing with significant problems related to the substandard sewage system, consisting of rudimentary makeshift sewers and open sewers. In October 2023, residents proposed a joint project between the community and the Qamishli municipality to extend a sewage pipeline. The municipality responded promptly. FURAT

III worked with the Municipal Council to re pair an excavator for the proposed work. Meanwhile, residents combined their funds to cover the costs of purchasing the pipes and the installation. This successful collaboration resulted in the creation of a 600-meter sewage line (almost 2,000 feet) benefiting around 60 households in Jamaya, almost 300 people, and greatly improving quality of life. “We faced issues like livestock deaths, odors and diseases due to the lack of a sewage sys tem,” says Ibrahim, a 49-year-old shepherd who lives in Jamaya. “Thanks to the support from the FURAT III program and the swift response from the Qamishli municipality, we now have a working sewage system in place be fore the winter, which enables us to tackle the sewage crisis and avoid further complications.” FURAT III is designed to support local gov ernance actors and citizens living outside the regime’s control in the northeastern region of Syria with an emphasis on women, youth and religious and ethnic minorities. Support from FURAT III supports local governance partners to better deliver essential services, improve responsiveness to community needs, address barriers to displaced persons’ reintegration and enhance stakeholder coordination. n

cials’ repairs represented significant progress, adding that efforts continue to reinstate more stations for stable and sustainable water supply in northeast Syria. U.S. officials noted that FURAT III is providing an opportunity for local authorities and tribal leaders to work together to meet the needs of Deir Ezzor residents. In addition to improving water service to residents in the short term, FURAT III also helps local governments manage continuous maintenance and water testing, thus ensur ing the reliability, efficiency and safety of the water supply over the long term. Facilitating consistent access to safe and clean water for communities safeguards public health, supports economic development and enhances community resilience.

Left: A resident of Jamaya neighborhood in Qamishli city watches as a sanitation crew of Al Jazeera Council extends the local sewer network in January 2024. Residents volunteered to share the cost of the project, which improved public health.

Photo submitted by FURAT III

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Women farmers at a Tomato Jos farm in Kaduna, Nigeria, harvest their crops, watered by drip irrigation.

Climate Smart

Innovative agricultural practices address climate challenges in West Africa

By Pariesa Brody

Photos by Jim Huylebroek

22 | Think Creative | Fall 2024

The boiler in Label d’Or’s climate-smart shea factory in Lomé, Togo, is powered by shea byproduct instead of fossil fuel.

West African producers harness climate-smart agricultural innovations, from indigenous practices to cutting-edge technology, to adapt to rising environmental shocks. West Africa experiences significant climate variability, marked by rising temperatures, un predictable rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events like droughts and floods. These conditions challenge the region’s agricultural sector, which relies on predictable weather patterns. From 2019 to 2024, USAID’s West Africa Trade & Investment Hub worked to boost regional food security and livelihoods through mar ket-based co-investment. In the face of esca lating climate challenges, Trade Hub partners in Senegal, Togo and Nigeria are pioneering efforts in climate-smart agriculture to foster resilience and environmental sustainability. Planting trees and reforestation Several grantees are planting trees to com bat climate change and enhance agricultural resilience. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change and sup porting biodiversity by providing habitats for different plants and animals. They also help prevent soil erosion, regulate the water cycle and improve air quality by filtering pollutants. In Nigeria, grain processor Adefunke Desh has encouraged its supplier farms to plant trees to protect their crops. “We’re recommending about 15 trees per hectare around the borders of farms,” says Ugochukwu Oguike, Chief Operating Officer of Adefunke Desh. “These trees serve as wind breakers, reducing the effects on plants during storms.” Label d’Or, a Trade Hub grantee in Togo that sells shea butter, depends on trees. The com pany sources nuts gathered and processed by local cooperatives and pioneered reforestation efforts in their supplier communities. The Diheza cooperative, located near So touboua, Togo, once relied on charcoal pro duction, leading to widespread deforestation. But since partnering with Label d’Or, they have begun replanting shea trees that promise both environmental benefits and economic opportunities. “The shea tree is symbolic,” says Gustav Bakoundah, CEO and founder of Label d’Or. “And in keeping with organic principles, it’s

Label d’Or’s climate-smart shea factory in Lomé, Togo, harnesses two-thirds of its energy from solar panels.

shortages in Nigeria have significantly impact ed agriculture, leading to desertification and land degradation. Adefunke Desh has encouraged its farmers to use cover crops to retain soil moisture during dry spells. Cover crops work like mulch to cover the soil's surface while increasing its nutrient content. “You don't see a lot of results in the first year, but by the second and the third year, you begin to discover that you require less and less fertil izer because the soil is getting richer in organic content,” says Oguike. Ehson Elijah, Smallholder Program Head at Tomato Jos in Kaduna, Nigeria, says drip irri gation systems have helped farmers maximize water use efficiency. “Drip irrigation also allows for fertigation [sup plying fertilizer to crops through an irrigation system], reducing nutrient erosion into aquatic ecosystems and minimizing fertilizer wastage,” he explains. This method ensures that every drop of water and ounce of fertilizer is used effectively, boosting productivity and sustain ability. In regions with erratic rainfall patterns and frequent droughts, like the north of Ghana, drought-resistant crops ensure food security and stable incomes for farmers. In Tamale, Ghana, AMAATI focuses on cul tivating and processing fonio, an indigenous,

always important to safeguard natural species like trees.” Members of the Diheza cooperative have de vised strategies to graft shea trees to reduce the time it takes for them to fruit. “Before, when you replanted one, it would take 15 years or 18 years to start getting fruit,” says Panawa Méhéza, the cooperative’s president. “Now, we replant, and we can graft them after three years. After eight years, they will start to produce.” Adapting to drought and desertification Effective water management is essential for adapting to climate change, particularly in regions experiencing water scarcity. Water

Photos by Jim Huylebroek

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climate smart

gases emitted into the atmosphere. Several of Trade Hub’s shea sector grantees have trans formed how they power their processes. In Tamale, Ghana, The Savannah Fruits Com pany (SFC) uses traditional methods to process hand-crafted shea butter. In the past, Ghana ian women have turned shea nuts into butter by hand using wood stoves. SFC provides its network of more than 21,000 women across West Africa with modernized equipment and stoves that increase efficiency while reducing the dependence on firewood. In an effort to reduce inhalation of airborne particulate matter among the women and eliminate the use of firewood, SFC taught these women to dry out shea byproducts and form them into briquettes as biomass fuel. These briquettes can be used instead of firewood, reducing deforestation and smoke emissions. “We do not have to deplete what we are enjoy ing today for the next generation,” says Gladys Atanga, Commercial Manager for Savannah Fruits Company. “So it’s all about keeping the environment green. At SFC, we are passionate about keeping our environment for the safety of the next generation to come.” In Togo, Label d’Or’s climate-smart shea factory was created with an emphasis on green energy. Solar panels and a mini power plant generate two-thirds of the factory’s electricity. Plus, transparent roof panels allow natural light to flood the workspace, reducing the need for artificial lighting. “It’s not just beneficial for the environment; it’s beneficial for us too, for the business, because we make economies of scale and because it goes along with today’s international demands,” says Bakoundah. Like SFC, Label d’Or also uses shea byproducts as fuel. The shea “cake” left after processing is used as a clean energy source in the factory’s boiler to create steam, eliminating the need for fossil fuels. The success of each of these environmental interventions by the Trade Hub’s partners un derscores the integral role of USAID support in fostering sustainability and climate adaptabili ty. Co-investment grants, technical assistance, and collaboration have made innovation possi ble, enabling the Trade Hub’s partners to break new ground in sustainable agriculture. n

A shea processor uses shea waste, instead of firewood, to fuel a roaster provided by The Savannah Fruits Company. Tamale, Ghana.

We do not have to deplete what we are enjoying today for the next generation. So it’s all about keeping the environment green.” - Gladys Atanga, Commercial Manager, Savannah Fruits Company “

drought-resistant cereal. Fonio’s resilience to sparse rainfall makes it a reliable crop in regions where climate variability threatens agricultural productivity. Unlike many other cereals, fonio requires no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, reducing both the environmental impact and the cost of cultivation. “The climate is one of the reasons why many crops are destroyed, especially in the northern part of this country, because of extreme heat and erratic rains,” says Salma Abdulai, AMAA TI’s CEO. “Fonio is able to withstand these bad weather conditions, whether there is flood or whether there is drought, and for that reason, when farmers are able to cultivate fonio, they become climate resilient and are able to make use of climate change-induced opportunities.” Moreover, fonio plays a crucial role in soil regeneration. Farmers can improve soil health by cultivating fonio on marginal lands and

transforming unused or degraded areas into productive farmland. “Fonio derives its nutrients six meters down the soil, so it doesn’t make use of topsoil,” Abdulai says. “Women around here don’t own land, and it’s difficult for them to access fertile lands for farming. When they get these poor soils, they will be able to cultivate fonio and then eventually regenerate the land for them to cultivate other crops, make more income and have better livelihoods.” AMAATI’s comprehensive approach includes training, plowing services, and distributing seeds to smallholder farmers, focusing on empowering women. Waste management and green energy Managing waste and harnessing alternative en ergy sources reduce the amount of greenhouse

Photo by Jim Huylebroek

24 | Think Creative | Fall 2024