Case studies narrating effective community-led solutions to development challenges in seven countries have been released, Counterpart International announced.

The eight case studies – which focus on Afghanistan, Armenia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Turkmenistan and Vietnam – highlight a mix of strategies and techniques from ecotourism to business education that enabled communities to take the lead in their own development. (Versions may be downloaded at www.counterpart.org/our-work/casestudies.)

“As a catalyst for change, Counterpart’s role in the development process is to ensure that individuals and organizations have the knowledge, resources and confidence to continuously improve their communities,” says Counterpart President and CEO Joan Parker.

Each 650-word case study explains the challenges communities faced, shows how Counterpart worked with local organizations, governments and residents to address them and reveals the programs’ final outcomes.

For example, a three-year national effort in Afghanistan took on momentous goals: To build the skills of local organizations so they could encourage marginalized groups (including women, youth and handicapped) to participate in the country’s civic and electoral life. The challenges were equally daunting: Afghanistan’s potential voting population at that time was 72 percent illiterate and 77 percent lived in rural, often remote areas.

More than 70 civil society organizations were recruited, trained and supported in order to meet these goals. Together, they reached more than 3.3 million people. An independent study at the end of the project revealed exceptionally positive results.

(To read this specific case study, please visit: www.counterpart.org/images/uploads/Face-to-Face%20Civic%20Education%20in%20Afghanistan%20Turns%20Citizens%20into%20Voters%20Case%20Study.pdf)

Meanwhile, two separate case studies on Guatemala explore how economically poor communities were able to leverage the richness of their surroundings and many of their artistic skills in order to improve the lives of residents.

“The common denominator in all of Counterpart’s work is the way we engage communities and strengthen local organizations to manage and lead the development process,” says Parker.

Additional case studies are scheduled for release this year.

About Counterpart International

Counterpart International is a global development organization that works in partnership to empower people, communities and institutions to drive and sustain their own development.

Counterpart is currently working in 23 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Honduras.

For nearly 50 years, Counterpart has been working in partnership with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, food security, nutrition, health, humanitarian assistance and strengthening civil society.

For more information, visit: www.Counterpart.org.

Counterpart International

Counterpart International

Counterpart International is a global nonprofit with programs in more than 25 countries. For partners, both private and public, we provide capacity building to local partners to improve program results and corporate social responsibility investments. For CSR leaders committed to supporting the achievement of Agenda 2030, Counterpart’s current programs involve 15 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with most of our programs addressing multiple SDGs. Our programs are built upon successful collaborations with both civil society and government partners.

Our work is multi-sectoral and grounded in the belief that local partners are best able to solve local problems. In 2015, we launched the Social Sector Accelerator, a member of the Counterpart Network, and a separate business unit that works with clients to ensure a strong return on social investments. For 50 years, Counterpart has been helping people improve their lives and build more durable futures, community by community.

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