Creative Associates International

Last week, our Early Career Employee Resource Group (CrECER) enjoyed a day at the farm with Creative’s Founder and Board Chair Charito Kruvant. Relishing the crisp autumn air, the team bonded through pottery and fall activities. Charito shared her experiences and passion, inspiring our young leaders and fostering a sense of community. It was a day filled with learning, laughter and team spirit, planting the seeds for future growth.

Earlier this month, Creative joined regional and global experts at the Central American Donors Forum in Antigua, Guatemala, to discuss the most pressing issues facing Central America. This year’s theme, “transformational partnerships,” highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing shared challenges. Creative's Sara B. and Cecilia Basso wrote about their biggest takeaways from the event, including the vital role of Indigenous communities in defending democracy and new initiatives to combat corruption. https://lnkd.in/gHUrSHKv

From Puerto Cortés, Honduras, to Cinkassé, Togo, young leaders are stepping up to address local challenges and drive lasting change. 🌍 Rosa Isabel Melgar, Azizi Sedou, Leticia Torres, Rakiya Ali, and Sara Khader are at the forefront of community transformation, leveraging leadership, social cohesion and innovative projects to build resilient futures. By investing in youth and fostering their potential, stronger, more sustainable communities are being created. These inspiring young leaders exemplify the power of local action and the impact of dedicated youth engagement. Read more: https://bit.ly/3NL7RQs 📸: Jim Huylebroek

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Mwabu folks in Zambia earlier this year and they are doing some fantastic work at a systems level to find ways for technology to make education more effective and efficient for all learners. At Creative Associates International we are always looking for ways to highlight the good work of our local partners and this is a great example. Keep up the good work Mwabu Zambia!

Congratulations to Sule Tayiru, Executive Director of SAVE-Ghana and a grantee of OTI’s Littorals Regional Initiative (LRI), on being awarded the Secretary of State's Award for Global Anti-Racism Champions for his work on behalf of vulnerable groups like Ghana’s Fulbe ethnic minority, who continue to experience systemic discrimination and violence. Read more at the link below about Sule’s impactful work with LRI, which has led to reforms at the local level to address structural policy issues that prevent the Fulbe from accessing equitable rights. OTI is proud to partner with local changemakers like Sule to ensure marginalized communities have access to essential services and basic human rights. https://lnkd.in/ejhjYKdG

It was great connecting with so many people at #DevexWorld! Always good to see Sarah Bramley. If you want to keep up with what we’re doing over at Creative Associates International be sure to follow us here on LinkedIn.

Last day of the #MarketSystemsSymposium. This discussion on adaptive management, featuring former DAI colleague, Gwendolyn Tweed, was extremely insightful and applicable to Creative Associates International already robust approach to adaptive management. In particular, it was interesting to learn about innovative ways to utilize grants under contract for greater systems change.

Mayors in northern Benin are leading efforts to combat violent extremism and rebuild social cohesion. With support from USAID’s Littorals Regional Initiative, local leaders like Medawa Oumarou, First Deputy Mayor of Karimama, are advocating for greater support from national authorities. These collaborations have led to improved infrastructure, enhanced security, and strengthened community ties across the region. Their efforts provide a model for proactive leadership in addressing extremism. Read more: https://bit.ly/3UkYjzf

Uzbekistan is working towards having 51 percent of schools adopt inclusive education models by 2025 so that all children, regardless of ability, can learn together. These efforts are paving the way for a more equitable future for students across the country. Through USAID’s All Children Succeeding activity, in collaboration with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, teachers are receiving essential training to implement inclusive models. Senior Technical Advisor Jamie Bowen explores how USAID's All Children Succeeding activity and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education are collaborating to ensure teachers have the tools and knowledge needed to lead more inclusive classrooms. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fcaRAS

We are thrilled to share that Dintie Tayiru Sule, Executive Director of SAVE-Ghana — a Littorals Regional Initiative partner — has been honored with the Global Anti-Racism Champions Award by the U.S. State Department! Sule has worked tirelessly to promote the inclusion of marginalized groups like the Fulbe in Ghana's Upper West Region. Through SAVE-Ghana’s efforts, Sule has driven reforms like the reduction of cattle tax rates, increased participatory access to local governance and mediation efforts between Fulbe and non-Fulbe communities. SAVE-Ghana’s collaboration with LRI has also led to a broader impact, including reduced farmer-herder conflicts and a shift in the U.S. approach to supporting disadvantaged populations in Ghana. Sule’s dedication continues to influence local and international efforts toward greater inclusivity. USAID - Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Read more: https://bit.ly/3BTgANT 📸: Chuck Kennedy for the U.S. Department of State