2012-09-25
Earlier this week an independent assessment of World Vision’s commitments to the UN’s Every Woman Every Child strategy to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health was released. The review showed that the organisation was making positive progress towards fulfilling its commitments.
The review, conducted by Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP, was carried out in recognition of the importance of accountability and transparency to members of the public, governments and stakeholders and focused on two key aspects, World Vision’s alignment to the Every Woman Every Child strategy and total financial contributions made to date.
On 20th September 2010 World Vision pledged its support to the UN Secretary Generals strategy and joined a collection of governments, multilaterals, business and civil society in the goal to save the lives of 16 million women and children by 2015. As part of their contribution World Vision committed to spend US$1.5 billion in order to help achieve the strategy.
The review found that World Vision has made much progress towards delivering on these promises and is on track to meet its full financial commitment.
Throughout the report the reviewers highlight a number of key areas where World Vision had made significant progress. In particular it recognises World Vision’s work to link the plans carried out by in country offices to the aims of the Every Woman Every Child strategy – this includes investing in the realignment of programmes and making big commitments like providing support for at least 100,000 Community Health Workers.
World Vision was also praised for its work around social accountability and particularly identified the use of a range of different frameworks which are adding value to work with communities and governments. However the report did stress that it’s vital that momentum on accountability is not lost.
Finally the report also highlighted World Vision’s investment in advocacy for women and children’s health, it highlights in particular the Child Health Now campaign which – three years in – is present in 38 offices and continuing to grow in both size and influence with national, regional and global political agendas.
