2017-10-31T14:47:25-05:00 2016-12-31 521392008 GELMAN ROSENBERG & FREEDMAN 4550 MONTGOMERY AVE SUITE 650N BETHESDA MD 208142930 990 2016-01-01 980118876 TOSTAN INC TOST 2022991156 PO BOX 51987 WASHINGTON DC 20091 ELENA BONOMETTI CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2022991156 2017-10-31 1 ANDREAS ALEXANDROU CPA P01330558 3019519090 75.103.231.202 2017-10-31 15:47:18 ED P 24E2B1EDDFB7997E904F8C8AA54720A5F314F67A 8ED488898585AAEEC76628CD5B5A6628BA20994B 2016 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z X ELENA BONOMETTI PO BOX 51987 WASHINGTON DC 20091 8510458 0 X WWW.TOSTAN.ORG X 1991 DE SEE PART III, LINE 1. 8 7 11 13 0 0 8843234 8171418 0 0 9744 414 -130223 -18937 8722755 8152895 130529 141374 0 0 3762983 4335622 0 28050 394135 4069228 4314517 7962740 8819563 760015 -666668 10681052 9444598 147435 101895 10533617 9342703 X TO EMPOWER AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TO BRING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POSITIVE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION BASED ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. 0 0 7000422 141374 -35294 TOSTAN PROVIDES A HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED PARTICIPATORY EDUCATION PROGRAM TO AFRICANS WHO HAVE LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO FORMAL SCHOOLING. TOSTAN WORKS IN MOSTLY RURAL REGIONS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY GOALS RELATED TO HEALTH AND HYGIENE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH ITS HOLISTIC 30-MONTH COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (CEP), TOSTAN DIRECTLY EDUCATES THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS IN DOZENS OF LOCAL LANGUAGES EACH YEAR. TOSTAN'S PROGRAMS INDIRECTLY AFFECT MILLIONS OF AFRICANS THROUGH THE INNOVATIVE USE OF EXTENDED COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO SPREAD COMMUNITY-LED SOCIAL CHANGE. TOSTAN'S LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL STAFF IS SUPPORTED BY TOSTAN'S INTERNATIONAL OFFICE IN DAKAR, SENEGAL AND THE US OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, DC. (SEE SCHEDULE O) 7000422 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X 10 0 1 11 1 0 1 ML MR GV PU SG GA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 8 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AL CA GA MD MA NJ NM NY TN VA X X MALICK TOUNKARA 2022991156 VDN ET ROUTE DE AEROPORT BP DAKARYOUFF SG MOLLY MELCHING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & TREASURER 40.00 X X 105600 0 8837 CHEIKH MBACKE CHAIRPERSON 15.00 X X 0 0 0 JENNIFER HEDRICK TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 JIM GREENBAUM DIRECTOR 8.00 X 0 0 0 GAIL KANEB DIRECTOR 20.00 X 0 0 0 ANNE CHARLOTTE RINQUIST DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NEIL FORD DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KELLY BAXTER DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALEXANDER DAVEY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40.00 X 110000 0 6636 GANNON GILESPIE SECRETARY 40.00 X 80000 0 5612 295600 0 21085 2 0 0 0 RAISING CHANGE LLC 98 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE FLORENCE MA 01062 FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT 280500 1 241393 7930025 1045062 8171418 414 414 322269 357563 -35294 -35294 -35294 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 16357 16357 16357 8152895 -35294 0 16771 141374 141374 316686 252452 49022 15212 3747966 2958014 630899 159053 81356 64202 13734 3420 96973 76500 16538 3935 92641 73142 15421 4078 16712 10055 5055 1602 65539 39432 19825 6282 28050 28050 785256 466198 257972 61086 225098 199031 18944 7123 966921 763770 127571 75580 310576 284481 21919 4176 119294 119294 COMMUNITY MEET/TRAINING 1825119 1671771 128810 24538 OTHER FEES 2 2 8819563 7000422 1425006 394135 4269872 2084863 49726 61230 5586063 6432817 58564 128153 16841 37901 1476881 831291 681469 645590 6388 46151 12129 7893 10681052 9444598 147435 101895 147435 101895 X 1106489 1415037 9427128 7927666 10533617 9342703 10681052 9444598 X -666668 125 -524371 X 0 1 X 1 0 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 271433 271433 451750 311532 140218 455100 313842 141258 298598 205917 92681 645590 X 8153020 125 125 8152895 0 8152895 8819563 0 8819563 0 8819563 PART X, LINE 2: FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, TOSTAN HAS DOCUMENTED ITS CONSIDERATION OF FASB ASC 740-10, INCOME TAXES, THAT PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR REPORTING UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES AND HAS DETERMINED THAT NO MATERIAL UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS QUALIFY FOR EITHER RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 SCHEDULE E, PART I, LINE 3 TOSTAN HAS A RACIALLY NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY IN PLACE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATION ONLY WORKS IN AFRICA, THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES IS AFRICAN, AS ARE 99% OF ITS EMPLOYEES. ADDITIONNALY, THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION EFFORTS WITHIN COMMUNITIES ARE ON-GOING AND THERE IS NOT SPECIFIC SOLICITATION OR REGISTRATION PERIOD. SCHEDULE E, PART I, LINE 6 DURING 2016, TOSTAN RECEIVED $241,393 OF NON-U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. 1 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 6 564 PROGRAM SERVICE ACTIVITIES COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS 5899080 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 141374 6 564 0 0 6 564 6040454 0 6040454 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA PROGRAM SUPPORT 141374 WIRE 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 2: TOSTAN AND THE GRANTEE SIGN A CONTRACT THAT DEFINES THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, THE BUDGET AND THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE. IN ADDITION, THE GRANTEE IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE DETAILED EXPENSE REPORTS TO TOSTAN. X X X X X X 1 RAISING CHANGE LLC 98 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE FLORENCE MA 01062 0 0 280500 -280500 280500 -280500 X 6 1045062 FMV 0 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED IS REPORTED IN THIS COLUMN. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A IN 2016, TOSTAN OPERATED IN 6 COUNTRIES AND HAD THE FOLLOWING REACH ACROSS ALL MAJOR PROGRAMS: GUINEA: TOSTAN WORKED WITH 60 COMMUNITIES, WITH A TOTAL OF 2,024 PARTICIPANTS. GUINEA-BISSAU: TOSTAN WORKED WITH 60 COMMUNITIES, WITH A TOTAL OF 3,759 PARTICIPANTS. MALI: TOSTAN WORKED WITH 40 COMMUNITIES, WITH A TOTAL OF 2,501 PARTICIPANTS. MAURITANIA: TOSTAN WORKED WITH 30 COMMUNITIES, WITH A TOTAL OF 1,941 PARTICIPANTS. SENEGAL: TOSTAN WORKED WITH 397 COMMUNITIES, WITH A TOTAL OF 5,729 PARTICIPANTS. THE GAMBIA: TOSTAN WORKED WITH 40 COMMUNITIES, WITH A TOTAL OF 3,505 PARTICIPANTS. TOTAL NUMBER OF TOSTAN PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN 2016 IN THE 6 COUNTRIES: 19,459 TOTAL NUMBER OF AFRICAN COMMUNITIES IN TOSTAN'S MAJOR PROGRAMS IN 2016: 627 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (CEP): OUR UNIQUE THREE-YEAR PROGRAM EMPOWERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SIX WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO LEAD THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT. THE CEP IS A NON-FORMAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, BASED ON HUMAN RIGHTS, AND IS IMPLEMENTED IN MORE THAN A DOZEN LOCAL LANGUAGES. IT COMBINES MODERN EDUCATION TECHNIQUES WITH TRADITIONAL AFRICAN ORAL TEACHING METHODS AND IS UNDERPINNED BY A RESPECTFUL APPROACH TO LOCAL BELIEFS AND CULTURE. IMPACT AREAS: OUR WORK USES A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT, AND OUR IMPACTS ARE FOUND ACROSS FIVE KEY AREAS: GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. EACH IMPACT AREA IS ELABORATED UPON BELOW: GOVERNANCE: CEP PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, LEADERSHIP, DECISION-MAKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING. EACH COMMUNITY DEMOCRATICALLY SELECTS 17 MEMBERS TO FORM A COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CMC) AND RECEIVES TRAINING IN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE COMMITTEES CONSTITUTE A STRONG LEADERSHIP PRESENCE IN TOSTAN COMMUNITIES, CONTRIBUTING TO THE GROWTH OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRACY. THEY WORK TO INCREASE DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION BY ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN AT BIRTH, TO VOTE AND RUN FOR OFFICE AS WELL AS PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS. THE PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN IN CMCS IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED, AND IN 2016, 100% OF CMCS IN GUINEA, GUINEA-BISSAU, MALI, MAURITANIA AND SENEGAL HAD A MAJORITY OF FEMALE MEMBERS. THESE WOMEN EMERGE AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, ACTIVISTS, AND ROLE MODELS, SHOWING YOUNG GIRLS AND BOYS ALIKE THAT WOMEN CAN SUCCEED IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AND WORK ALONGSIDE MEN AS EQUALS. EDUCATION: CMCS ORGANIZED DURING THE CEP LEAD INITIATIVES THAT ENSURE GIRLS AND BOYS ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL. WHEN A FAMILY IS CONSIDERING REMOVING THEIR CHILD FROM SCHOOL, CMC MEMBERS MEET WITH THEM TO DISCUSS OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. CHILD/FORCED MARRIAGE IS ONE PRACTICE THAT IS A KEY FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHETHER A GIRL WILL STAY IN SCHOOL. FOLLOWING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN OUR HOLISTIC PROGRAM, HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRIES IN WHICH WE WORK PLEDGED TO ABANDON CHILD/FORCED MARRIAGE IN 2016, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO OVER 8,000 AS A RESULT, THOUSANDS OF GIRLS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN SCHOOL FOR LONGER, RATHER THAN BE MARRIED AT A YOUNG AGE. IN THE FINAL MODULE OF THE CEP, THE AAWDE, PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO READ AND WRITE IN THEIR LOCAL LANGUAGES, AS WELL AS BASIC MATH SKILLS. LEARNING HOW TO SEND AND RECEIVE SMS TEXT MESSAGES THROUGH THE MOBILE PHONES FOR LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENT (MPLD) MODULE, DESCRIBED BELOW, ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS TO PRACTICE AND SHARE THEIR NEWLY ACQUIRED LITERACY SKILLS. 2016 ALSO SAW THE DECEMBER LAUNCH OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF THAT WILL IN 2017-2018 CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF OUR REINFORCEMENT OF PARENTAL PRACTICES (RPP) MODULE, ORIGINALLY FUNDED BY THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION. THIS MODULE BUILDS ON KNOWLEDGE GAINED DURING THE CEP TO ENABLE PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH SUPPORTS CHILDREN'S EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING IN ORDER TO BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE. HEALTH: DURING THE CEP, PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHT TO HEALTH AND THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE, ABOUT HYGIENE AND HOW DISEASES ARE SPREAD AND PREVENTED. THEY ALSO DISCUSS THE HEALTH RISKS OF HARMFUL PRACTICES SUCH AS FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING (FGC) AND CHILD/FORCED MARRIAGE. THE CEP ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE THEY GAIN ABOUT HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS WITH THEIR SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND COMMUNITIES OFTEN LAUNCH SPECIFIC INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE CHILD AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN THEIR VILLAGES. COMMUNITIES RAISE AWARENESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS WELL AS TAKING ACTION TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HYGIENE AND PREVENTING DISEASES SUCH AS MALARIA. ENVIRONMENT: OUR CEP EQUIPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO FIND CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS. DURING THE CEP, PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW DISEASES ARE TRANSMITTED AND HOW THIS IS LINKED TO UNHYGIENIC PRACTICES THAT CAN POLLUTE THE ENVIRONMENT. OUR RESPECTFUL AND NON-JUDGMENTAL APPROACH PROMOTES COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. AS A RESULT, COMMUNITIES LEAD INITIATIVES TO MAKE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS MORE HYGIENIC IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH. COMMUNITIES ALSO USE THEIR PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS TO IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS. ECONOMIC GROWTH: THE FINAL PHASE OF THE CEP, THE AAWDE, INCLUDES CLASS SESSIONS ON BASIC LITERACY, MATH, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGETING SKILLS THAT HELP PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY PLAN AND LAUNCH SMALL BUSINESSES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE SMALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO CMCS. THE CMCS OFTEN USE THESE GRANTS TO ESTABLISH A ROTATING MICROCREDIT FUND THAT HELPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, WITH THE INVESTMENT THEY NEED TO START SMALL BUSINESSES, INVEST IN AGRICULTURE, OR TAKE ON OTHER INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES. THE CMC ALSO ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SAVE AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES: IN ADDITION, OUR WORK ADDRESSES FOUR CROSS-CUTTING THEMES, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. THESE ISSUES ARE CHILD PROTECTION, THE REINFORCEMENT OF PARENTAL PRACTICES, THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS, AND FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING (FGC). WE BELIEVE THAT THESE CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES REQUIRE HOLISTIC AND HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED SOLUTIONS, AND OUR PROGRAM AIMS TO STRENGTHEN POSITIVE SOCIAL NORMS WHILE ADDRESSING THOSE WHICH LEAD TO HARMFUL PRACTICES. FGC: THE HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED CEP ALLOWS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS ABOUT FGC AND LEAD THEIR OWN MOVEMENTS FOR CHANGE. IN THE CEP CLASS SESSIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHT TO HEALTH AND THE RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE. THEY ALSO DISCUSS THE RESPONSIBILITIES THEY SHARE TO PROTECT THESE RIGHTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IN SESSIONS ON HEALTH, THEY LEARN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL, IMMEDIATE, AND LONG-TERM HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES OF THE PRACTICE AND DISCUSS WAYS TO PREVENT THESE HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A RATHER THAN BLAMING OR CRITICIZING, WE ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE AROUND THESE AND OTHER PRACTICES THAT COMMUNITIES FEEL HINDER THEIR VISION FOR THEIR COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT. PARTICIPANTS AND COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CMC) MEMBERS SPEAK WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AS WELL AS TRAVEL TO OTHER COMMUNITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, MANY COMMUNITIES DECIDE TO END FGC TOGETHER, SOME WITHOUT HAVING DIRECTLY PARTICIPATED IN OUR CLASSES. CHILD PROTECTION: THROUGH OUR CEP MODULE ON CHILD PROTECTION, CMCS ARE TRAINED TO ADDRESS THE DEEP SOCIAL NORMS AND PRACTICES THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECT CHILDREN. THE CHILD PROTECTION MODULE TRAINING IS FOR CMC MEMBERS IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE CEP. THE MODULE HELPS BUILD CONSENSUS AROUND HUMAN RIGHTS AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WHILE BUILDING AWARENESS OF THE VARIOUS MORAL, SOCIAL, AND LEGAL NORMS THAT AFFECT CHILDREN. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON IMMEDIATE RELIEF, THE MODULE HELPS COMMUNITIES ADDRESS THE DEEP SOCIAL NORMS AND PRACTICES THAT ARE AT THE SOURCE OF THESE ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN. IT EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND INTRODUCES IDEAS FOR HOW COMMUNITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN. THE CHILD PROTECTION MODULE STRENGTHENS THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND PREVENT VIOLATIONS OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS BY REINFORCING THE CAPACITIES OF COMMUNITIES AND THEIR SURROUNDING VILLAGES TO IDENTIFY AT-RISK CHILDREN, REINFORCING THE CAPACITIES OF COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT THE TRAFFICKING OR MIGRATION OF CHILDREN TO URBAN CENTERS, REINFORCING THE CAPACITIES OF COMMUNITIES TO HELP CHILDREN IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS SUCH AS SEXUAL ABUSE, INCEST, FORCED MARRIAGE AND FGC, AND FOSTERING THE CREATION OF DYNAMIC AND FUNCTIONAL COMMISSIONS FOR CHILD PROTECTION IN ALL COMMUNITIES. ALL COMMUNITIES WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE CEP, SPECIFICALLY THE CMCS, ARE TRAINED IN THE CHILD PROTECTION MODULE. AFTER THE TRAINING, CMCS ESTABLISH COMMISSIONS FOR CHILD PROTECTION (CCPS), WHICH LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND TRANSFORMING EXISTING SOCIAL NORMS THAT SUSTAIN HARMFUL PRACTICES. THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN REGISTERED AT BIRTH BY CMCS, IMPROVING THEIR ACCESS TO SCHOOL AND LEGAL RECOGNITION. IN ADDITION TO LEADING THESE COMMUNITY-WIDE PROJECTS, CMCS ALSO INTERVENE DIRECTLY IN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE. TOSTAN IS ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INGO LA RENCONTRE AFRICAINE POUR LA DEFENSE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME (RADDHO) FOR THE CHILD PROTECTION PROJECT, REINFORCING HIGHER-LEVEL ADVOCACY FOR KORANIC SCHOOL REFORM WITH GRASSROOTS SOCIAL MOBILIZATION WORK. THROUGH THE PROJECT 73 KORANIC SCHOOLS WITH 3,060 CHILDREN TOTAL HAVE ENDED CHILD BEGGING IN 2016. 274 KORANIC SCHOOLS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 4,012 CHILDREN HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED BEGGING. 87 COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN VISITED BY MARABOUTS FROM PROJECT AREAS ENCOURAGING THEIR COUNTERPARTS TO END CHILD BEGGING, AND TOSTAN STAFF HAS INTERVENED IN 21 CASES OF CHILD BEGGAR ABUSE. EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, WE DEVELOPED THE REINFORCEMENT OF PARENTAL PRACTICES (RPP) MODULE. THE RPP MODULE CONDUCTED A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROGRAM IN 2012 AHEAD OF ITS LAUNCH IN MARCH 2013 AND IN 2014 WAS INTRODUCED IN 110 COMMUNITIES IN SENEGAL. THE MODULE AIMS TO REINFORCE KNOWLEDGE GAINED IN THE CEP THAT ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT. AS A RESULT, THE MODULE WILL HELP IMPROVE CHILDREN'S EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING, ALLOWING THEM TO PERFORM BETTER AND STAY IN SCHOOL. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CERTAIN SOCIAL NORMS AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES IN SENEGAL CAN HINDER THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BELIEF THAT INFANTS MUST BE PROTECTED FROM DANGEROUS SPIRITS: TO PROTECT THEM CERTAIN PARENTS AVOID LOOKING NEWBORN BABIES IN THE EYE AND SPEAKING REGULARLY AND DIRECTLY TO THEM. HOWEVER, RECENT DISCOVERIES ABOUT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN YOUNG CHILDREN HAVE SHOWN IMPORTANCE OF STIMULATING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. DURING THE RPP MODULE, FACILITATORS SHARE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIMPLE TECHNIQUES THAT ENRICH INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN AND ARE ALL LINKED TO CHILDREN'S BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS TO EDUCATION AND HEALTH. THESE TECHNIQUES INCLUDE SPEAKING TO THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN USING A RICH AND COMPLEX VOCABULARY, ASKING THEIR CHILDREN QUESTIONS AND HELPING THEM RESPOND, PLAYFULLY COPYING THEIR CHILDREN, TELLING THEM STORIES, AND DESCRIBING OBJECTS IN DETAIL TO THEM. PRIMARY CAREGIVERS IN EACH COMMUNITY ARE TRAINED TO TEACH OTHERS THE SAME SKILLS AFTER TOSTAN LEAVES. THIS MODULE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY IMPLEMENTED IN WOLOF, PULAAR, AND MANDINKA COMMUNITIES IN S N GAL, AND A NEW PROJECT LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2016 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF SENEGAL WILL BRING THIS MODULE TO A RANGE OF NEW COMMUNITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON DECENTRALIZED GOVERNANCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH DECENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT SERVICES. EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS: WOMEN AND GIRLS MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF OUR CEP PARTICIPANTS. DURING OUR PROGRAM, WOMEN DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE, AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, SHOWING HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO THEIR COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO WORK TO ENGAGE MEN AND BOYS IN THE CEP, ENCOURAGING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS. MEN AND WOMEN WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AND DEVELOP NEW SOCIAL NORMS AROUND RESPECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL. WE ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN 2016, 100% OF CMCS IN GUINEA-BISSAU, GUINEA, MALI, SENEGAL, MAURITANIA AND THE GAMBIA HAD A MAJORITY OF FEMALE MEMBERS. CMCS: AS PART OF THE CEP, EACH PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY DEMOCRATICALLY SELECTS A CMC TO COORDINATE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. EACH CMC HAS 17 MEMBERS, NINE OF WHOM MUST BE WOMEN. EACH COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, CHILD PROTECTION, EDUCATION, INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES, AND SOCIAL MOBILIZATION, WHICH CONTINUE TO LEAD DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED DEVELOPMENT LONG AFTER THE PROGRAM HAS FINISHED. ORGANIZED DIFFUSION: THROUGH ORGANIZED DIFFUSION, THE IMPACT OF THE TOSTAN PROGRAM IS MULTIPLIED. EACH CLASS MEMBER COMMITS TO SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH AT LEAST ONE PERSON WITHIN THEIR FAMILY AND WIDER COMMUNITY, PERMITTING NEW IDEAS TO BE SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. EACH PARTNER COMMUNITY ADOPTS ANOTHER COMMUNITY WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK, OPENING DIALOGUE AND ALLOWING NEIGHBORING OR INTRAMARRYING COMMUNITIES TO MAKE DECISIONS AS ONE GROUP. OUR WORK OFTEN STRETCHES ACROSS COUNTRY BORDERS TO CREATE IMPACTS ON A REGIONAL SCALE, SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT TO ABANDON FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING (FGC) AND CHILD/FORCED MARRIAGE. TOSTAN ALSO HAS DEDICATED SOCIAL MOBILIZATION TEAMS THAT VISIT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NEVER PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM TO REINFORCE INFORMATION SHARED THROUGH ORGANIZED DIFFUSION ACTIVITIES ON FGC, HEALTH AND RELIGION, ALLOWING COMMUNITIES TO ASK QUESTIONS AND BEGIN TO EXPLORE THESE ISSUES IN GREATER DEPTH AND ACROSS AGE AND GENDER DIVISIONS. IN 2016. SOCIAL MOBILIZATION TEAMS VISITED 192 COMMUNITIES AND REACHED 14,055 PEOPLE. THROUGH THE FISTULA PROJECT, TOSTAN IS WORKING WITH THE SENEGALESE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO IDENTIFY FISTULA-AFFECTED WOMEN, FACILITATE THEIR TREATMENT AND RAISE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN BE FULLY REINTEGRATED. IN 2016, 879 COMMUNITIES WERE VISITED BY SOCIAL MOBILIZATION AGENTS FOR AWARENESS-RAISING EVENTS WITH 32,461 PEOPLE. 7 INTER-VILLAGE MEETING WERE HELD WITH 278 PARTICIPANTS. 106 WOMEN POTENTIALLY LIVING WITH FISTULA WERE IDENTIFIED, WITH 54 CASES CONFIRMED AND 27 WOMEN UNDERGOING SURGERY. 46 WOMEN BENEFITTED FROM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR TREATMENT AND REINTEGRATION. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A COMMUNITY GRANTS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS ARE SMALL GRANTS, USUALLY BETWEEN $300 AND $1,000, PROVIDED TO CMCS TO HELP FUND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS WELL AS TO ESTABLISH CMC-RUN MICROCREDIT FUNDS. THE ROTATING MICROCREDIT FUNDS SET UP BY THE CMCS HELP VILLAGERS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, OBTAIN THE INVESTMENT THEY NEED TO START SMALL BUSINESSES, INVEST IN AGRICULTURE, OR TAKE ON OTHER INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES. THE CMCS OPERATE THE MICROCREDIT FUND BASED ON A GROUP-LENDING, REVOLVING-FUNDS SYSTEM. THE CMC WORKS TOGETHER TO SET THE INTEREST RATE AND THE LENGTH OF THE LOANS THEY WILL GRANT. STRONG COMMUNITY TIES HELP ENCOURAGE A HIGH REPAYMENT RATE. THE INTEREST FROM THESE FUNDS IS THEN USED TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF LOANS AVAILABLE, UNDERTAKE COMMUNITY PROJECTS, OR ESTABLISH A SOLIDARITY FUND FOR CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL NEEDS. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS GIVE CMCS AND INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE LITERACY, NUMERACY, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE THEY GAINED DURING THE CEP INTO PRACTICE. THE GRANTS PROVIDE A WAY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES, ALLOWING THEM TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND SUSTAINABLY INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES NETWORK (ECN): THE ECN HAS BEEN SET UP TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ON DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. THROUGH THE ECN, WE CONNECT TRAINED CMCS WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS, MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES, AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS SO THEY CAN ACCESS RESOURCES AND FUNDING TO CONTINUE THEIR COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. THE ECN ALSO ASSISTS CMCS TO FORM FEDERATIONS AND WORK TOGETHER ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CEP. IN 2016 TOSTAN HAD ECN PARTNERSHIPS WITH 80 COMMUNITIES. MOBILE PHONE FOR LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENT (MPLD) MODULE: THE MODULE FOCUSES ON USING MOBILE PHONE TECHNOLOGY, SPECIFICALLY SMS TEXT MESSAGING, AS A TOOL TO REINFORCE LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS, AND IS NOW AN INTEGRATED PART OF THE CEP. MOBILE PHONES AND THEIR NETWORKS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE PREVALENT IN THE COMMUNITIES WITH WHICH WE PARTNER. WE FOUND THAT USING MOBILE PHONE TECHNOLOGY IS A RELEVANT AND INNOVATIVE WAY TO REINFORCE LITERACY AND NUMERACY SKILLS LEARNED IN THE CEP. TOSTAN FACILITATORS TEACH PARTICIPANTS THE PRACTICAL USES OF STANDARD MOBILE PHONE FUNCTIONS AND HOW SMS TEXTING CAN BE USED AS A TOOL TO PRACTICE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS. THE MOBILE PHONES ARE USED TO REINFORCE LITERACY, ORGANIZATION, AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS, AS WELL AS TO BUILD CONSENSUS AROUND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. SMS TEXTING BECOMES A SUSTAINABLE AND RELEVANT OPTION FOR REINFORCING LITERACY AND NUMERACY AS ACCESS TO MOBILE PHONE TECHNOLOGY INCREASES. MOBILE PHONES AND SMS TEXT MESSAGING CAN BE USED AS A TOOL TO ACCELERATE POSITIVE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION. THEY CONNECT WOMEN WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES; AMPLIFY THE VOICE AND INFLUENCE OF YOUTH AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS IN A COMMUNITY'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS; ORGANIZING ADVOCACY WORK; AND ACCELERATE LARGE-SCALE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS. THE PEACE AND SECURITY PROJECT: THE PEACE AND SECURITY PROJECT WORKS TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THE GRASSROOTS STRATEGY OF COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT FOUND IN THE CEP TO IMPROVE PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE WEST AFRICAN REGION. IT FOCUSES ON BUILDING WAYS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS THAT LIMIT AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP THROUGH COLLABORATION AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LEVEL. THE PEACE AND SECURITY PROJECT FIRST STRENGTHENS PEACE-BUILDING AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL BY REINFORCING THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE SKILLS LEARNED IN THE CEP. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS AS WELL AS THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF COMMUNITY AND FAMILIAL CONFLICTS. THE PROJECT ALSO WORKS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR FOSTERING PEACE AND SECURITY ACROSS SOCIAL NETWORKS THROUGH RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION. THE PEACE AND SECURITY PROJECT RESEARCHED THE FUNCTION AND NATURE OF MAJOR SOCIAL NETWORKS IN SENEGAL, GAMBIA AND GUINEA-BISSAU, AND IDENTIFIED PERSONS OF INFLUENCE IN TERMS OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN PULAAR, MANDINKA, AND DIOLA COMMUNITIES. IT ALSO WORKS TO CONNECT GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES AND THEIR SOCIAL NETWORKS WITH REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. WITH THIS INCREASED COLLABORATION, REGIONS AND NATIONS AS A WHOLE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF THEIR AREA AND CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS. THE PEACE AND SECURITY PROJECT CONDUCTED PRELIMINARY RESEARCH IN 2012, WAS FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN MARCH 2013 IN 60 COMMUNITIES SPREAD ACROSS GUINEA-BISSAU, SENEGAL AND THE GAMBIA. 2015 SAW THE OPENING OF 60 NEW PEACE AND SECURITY CENTERS IN SENEGAL, THE GAMBIA AND GUINEA BISSAU, THIS PROGRAM CONTINUED IN 2016 WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF 3,025 INDIVIDUALS (THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHOM WERE WOMEN). THE PROGRAM ALSO SAW THE CONTINUED FUNCTIONING OF 60 PEACE COMMITTEES COMPOSED OF WOMEN AND MEN IN THE THREE COUNTRIES WHERE THE PROJECT IS TAKING PLACE, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEACE COMMITTEES TO 120. THESE PEACE COMMITTEES IN TURN: - DEVELOPED ACTION PLANS AS PART OF THEIR CONFLICT PREVENTION TASKS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL; - CARRIED OUT AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN SECURITY; - RESOLVED A DIVERSE RANGE OF CONFLICTS (RELATING TO MARRIAGE, CROSS-COMMUNITY CONFLICT, PROPERTY CONFLICT, ETC) THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN THE THREE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES, ESTABLISHED DURING THE CEP, THEMSELVES CARRIED OUT HUNDREDS OF ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS RAISING ACTIVITIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN SECURITY AND PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION. THE SOLAR POWER! PROJECT: THE SOLAR POWER! PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2009 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BAREFOOT COLLEGE IN INDIA, AND IT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF LIMITED ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY BY EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS AFRICA WITH THE SKILLS TO PROVIDE LOW-COST AND SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITY FOR THEMSELVES. MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH WHICH WE PARTNER ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THEIR COUNTRY'S ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. WITHOUT ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS' PRODUCTIVITY IS LIMITED BY THE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT. THROUGH THE SOLAR POWER! PROJECT, WE SPONSOR WOMEN FROM RURAL AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TO ATTEND THE BAREFOOT COLLEGE IN INDIA, WHERE THEY COMPLETE A SIX-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM IN SOLAR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING. THE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN, AND REPAIR SOLAR PANELS. BACK IN THEIR HOME VILLAGES, EACH SOLAR ENGINEER INSTALLS ONE SOLAR UNIT IN AT LEAST 50 HOMES, PROVIDING EACH FAMILY WITH A FIXED LAMP, A BRIGHT SOLAR LANTERN, AN LED FLASHLIGHT, AND A PLUG FOR CHARGING MOBILE PHONES. EACH PARTICIPANT ALSO TRAINS WOMEN FROM NEIGHBORING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN SOLAR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, SPREADING THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDING EACH ENGINEER WITH A MEANS OF INCOME. THE SOLAR POWER! PROJECT PROVIDES RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO A CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE, ALLOWING FOR GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE PROJECT ALSO ALLOWS WOMEN TO EMERGE AS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THEIR TRAINING, THEY BUILD A MARKETABLE SKILL SET AND THE ABILITY TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHERS. IN 2016 TOSTAN CONTINUED TO WORK TO SUPPORT PREVIOUS TRAINEES AND TO FIND WAYS TO CREATE NEW TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS. THE PRISON PROJECT: AIMS TO HELP DETAINEES REINTEGRATE BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE CEP. PARTICIPATION BUILDS THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUIPS THEM WITH PRACTICAL SKILLS TO START INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO FACILITATE FAMILY MEDITATIONS TO HELP INTEGRATE FORMER DETAINEES BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES UPON RELEASE. AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT ADDRESSING PRISON CONDITIONS IN AFRICA ALLOWS PRISONS TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND NGOS LIKE TOSTAN TO PROVIDE REHABILITATION SERVICES. THESE SERVICES ENCOURAGE SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION OF PRISONERS INTO SOCIETY UPON THEIR RELEASE. AS PART OF THE MODIFIED VERSION OF THE CEP WE IMPLEMENT IN PRISONS, FACILITATORS LEAD CLASS DISCUSSIONS ON TOPICS INCLUDING HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, HYGIENE, HEALTH, AND LITERACY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE FAMILY MEDIATION AND SKILL TRAININGS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES. UPON RELEASE, PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO START-UP FUNDS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES. THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SKILLS TRAININGS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF THE PRISONERS WHO ARE STILL IMPRISONED MAKE THESE FUNDS POSSIBLE. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A THE PRISON PROJECT (PP) CURRENTLY WORKS IN SIX SENEGALESE PRISONS. IN 2016: - 635 DETAINEES PARTICIPATED IN 481 CEP SESSIONS ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, PROBLEM SOLVING, HEALTH AND HYGIENE, AND PRACTICAL SKILLS IN LITERACY, NUMERACY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES. - 278 DETAINEES TRAINED ON ISSUES RELATED TO VIOLENCE AND 473 FEMALE DETAINEES ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ISSUES - TOSTAN SUPERVISORS HELD AN ADDITIONAL 89 AWARENESS-RAISING SESSIONS TO REINFORCE CLASS CONTENT AND DEAL WITH SPECIFIC ISSUES RELEVANT TO EACH PRISON, SUCH AS INFECTIOUS DISEASE TRANSMISSION - 360 INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS WERE LED BY DETAINEES INCLUDING CELL CLEANING DAYS; SPORTS COMPETITIONS; COOKING; AND CLASSES TEACHING WOLOF, FRENCH AND ENGLISH AND THE INTERPRETATION OF RELIGIOUS TEXTS. - TOSTAN STAFF FACILITATED A TOTAL OF 535 IN-PERSON MEDIATIONS AND 6093 TELEPHONE MEDIATIONS. - PROJECT STAFF MADE 24 VISITS TO CHILDREN OF DETAINEES WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED IN ALTERNATIVE CARE TO MONITOR THEIR WELLBEING. 466 DETAINEES WERE SUPPORTED DURING PAROLE HEARINGS. - 568 DETAINEES WERE TRAINED IN INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS POULTRY FARMING, FABRIC DYEING, SHOE AND BAG MAKING, MARKET GARDENING, AND FRUIT AND CEREAL PROCESSING. THE TOSTAN TRAINING CENTER (TTC): THE TTC WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SENEGAL TO LEARN ABOUT TOSTAN'S MODEL. WITH ROLES AS DIVERSE AS NGO LEADERS, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND ACADEMICS, THEY COME TOGETHER TO LEARN AND EXCHANGE ON TOSTAN'S PROGRAM CONTENT, HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH, PARTICIPATORY METHODOLOGY AND ORGANIZED DIFFUSION STRATEGY. PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE THE THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF HOLISTIC COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT, VISIT VILLAGES THAT HAVE ENDED FGC AND CHILD MARRIAGE AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, AND DISCUSS EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR CHANGING DEEPLY ENTRENCHED SOCIAL NORMS WITH STAFF WORKING IN THE FIELD. THEY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN HUMAN RIGHTS SESSIONS DRAWN FROM THE TOSTAN PROGRAM AND COVER IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED FROM OVER 26 YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATION. IN 2016, 83 PEOPLE FROM 28 COUNTRIES ATTENDED TOSTAN TRAININGS, INCLUDING 20 YOUNG RELIGIOUS LEADERS. RECOGNITION: TOSTAN CONTINUED TO RECEIVE HIGH-LEVEL RECOGNITION FOR ITS WORK IN 2016. THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAMS WERE FEATURED IN MANY NEWS ARTICLES IN LEADING NEWS AND ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS AND PARTICIPATED IN A WIDE RANGE OF CONFERENCES AT LOCAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL. 2016 AND BEYOND: FUTURE PERSPECTIVES. LAUNCHED IN 2010, TOSTAN'S STRATEGIC PLAN 2010-2015 GUIDED THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK FOR SIX YEARS. BUILDING UPON THE MID-TERM ASSESSMENT COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 2012 (AVAILABLE IN OUR 2012 ANNUAL REPORT), TOSTAN IN 2015 ASSESSED ITS PROGRESS. DURING THIS REVIEW, WE CONFIRMED THAT WE HAD SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A NEW COLLABORATIVE FUNDING MODEL IN OUR GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN THREE YEARS CAMPAIGN, WE SAW MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR LOGISTICS CAPACITIES, WE REDESIGNED OUR BRANDING AND LAUNCHED A BRAND NEW WEBSITE. CRUCIALLY, WE ALSO DEVELOPED EXCITING NEW PROGRAMS AND INTEGRATED OTHERS INTO THE FULL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. THE REVIEW REVEALED THAT WHILE MOST OF OUR INTERNAL OPERATIONAL GOALS WERE MET, SOME OPPORTUNITIES REMAINED, STILL OTHERS HAD FALLEN OUT OF DATE. FINALLY, THE ORGANIZATION SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER DESIGN ITS NEXT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, TO ADAPT AND ADJUST IN REAL TIME AS REALITIES CHANGE. THESE CRITICAL AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT WILL BE MAJOR FACTORS IN SHAPING OUR NEXT STRATEGIC PERIOD. IN 2016 TOSTAN VALIDATED THIS NEW APPROACH IN THE FORM OF ITS STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT PLAN 2016-2022. LAUNCHED OFFICIALLY IN SEPTEMBER 2016, IT HAS A CENTRAL STRATEGIC FOCUS OF DEMONSTRATING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF EMPOWERING EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY LED DEVELOPMENT. IT ARTICULATES THREE PROGRAMMING PLATFORMS, THE CEP, THE POST-CEP, AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS A SET OF INTERNAL STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND A PROCESS FOR DEFINING AND FOLLOWING KEY PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES. FORM 990, PART I LINE 5 AND PART V, LINE 2A: THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HAS ADDITIONAL STAFF OF 805 LOCATED IN AFRICA. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 WAS PREPARED BY THE OUTSIDE ACCOUNTANTS. A DRAFT OF THE RETURN WAS REVIEWED BY SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE FINAL FORM 990 WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BEFORE FILING WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO ANNUALLY SUBMIT ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN WRITING. NEW HIRES WILL BE ASKED IF THERE IS A CONFLICT AND NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY AND BOARD YEARLY. IF A CONFLICT ARISES, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINE WHETHER THE CONFLICT EXISTS AND, IF SO, THE BOARD VOTES TO AUTHORIZE OR REJECT THE TRANSACTION OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION DEEMED NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE CONFLICT AND PROTECT TOSTAN'S BEST INTERESTS. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A DUTY TO DISCLOSE ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINES WHETHER A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS AND, IF SO THE BOARD VOTES TO AUTHORIZE OR REJECT THE TRANSACTION OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION DEEMED NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE CONFLICT AND PROTECT TOSTAN'S BEST INTERESTS. VOTES WILL BE BY A MAJORITY VOTE, WITHOUT COUNTING THE VOTE OF ANY INTERESTED DIRECTOR, EVEN IF THE DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS ARE LESS THAN A QUORUM PROVIDED THAT AT LEAST ONE CONSENTING DIRECTOR IS DISINTERESTED. AN INTERESTED BOARD MEMBER, OFFICER, OR STAFF MEMBER WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION OR DEBATE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR OF ANY COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE IN WHICH THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION IS A CONTRACT, TRANSACTION, OR SITUATION IN WHICH THERE MAY BE A PERCEIVED OR ACTUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. HOWEVER, THEY MAY BE PRESENT TO PROVIDE CLARIFYING INFORMATION IN SUCH A DISCUSSION OR DEBATE UNLESS OBJECTED TO BY ANY PRESENT BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANYONE IN A POSITION TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING TOSTAN'S RESOURCES (I.E., TRANSACTIONS SUCH AS PURCHASES CONTRACTS) - WHO ALSO STANDS TO BENEFIT FROM THAT DECISION - HAS A DUTY TO DISCLOSE THAT CONFLICT AS SOON AS IT ARISES (OR BECOMES APPARENT); S/HE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY FINAL DECISIONS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE BOARD COMMITTEE REVIEWS COMPARABLE SALARIES BEFORE MAKING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SENIOR STAFF SALARIES. THE PROCESS IS DOCUMENTED. A REVIEW WAS LAST CONDUCTED IN JUNE 2013. THE BOARD COMMITTEE ALSO REVIEWS COMPARABLE SALARIES BEFORE MAKING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE KEY EMPLOYEES SALARIES. THE PROCESS IS DOCUMENTED. TOSTAN'S COMPENSATION POLICY IS TO PAY AT THE 25TH PERCENTILE OF THE MARKET FOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND TOWARDS THE 75TH PERCENTILE FOR AROUND 900 AFRICAN STAFF MEMBERS IN THE FIELD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: REFUND OF RESTRICTED FUNDS TO DONORS -160,531. EXCHANGE RATE LOSS -363,840.