Our Counterparts

Counterpart works on behalf of the social sector – individuals, organizations, and networks around the world who are committed to creating social good. They are our counterparts – those striving for more open and participatory government, healthy communities, access to education, natural resource protection and climate resiliency, and improved livelihoods.

No matter what sector, or what country, we are committed to moving the marginalized to full participation in civic life. Only through inclusion will the full potential of a society be realized.

Women & Girls
Youth
Indigenous People
LGBTI
People With Disabilities

No country can fully realize its potential if women and girls are left behind. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are human rights that lie at the heart of development. Counterpart integrates gender equality in all program activities, and ensures gender equality in our hiring practices and in the selection of partners and grantees.

Our emerging leaders programs are designed to improve women’s opportunities to take on new roles in their own communities and countries. Programs include capacity building for civil society organizations serving women and girls.

Related Impacts

2021 — 2026

RESILIENT GOVERNANCE IN NIGER

Challenge Since returning to democratic rule in 2011, the Government of Niger has taken important steps to curb corruption, increase transparency, and push for decentralization. …

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McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Mauritania

CHALLENGE While 75% of the population in Mauritania depends on subsistence agriculture and pastoralism, the country has been facing drought exacerbated by climate change which …

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2018 — 2021

Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Project in Senegal

CHALLENGE In Senegal, the agricultural sector employs approximately 70% of the working population, yet in 2017 its contribution to total GDP was just over 16%. …

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2018 — 2022

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Project in Senegal

   CHALLENGE A large portion of Senegalese citizens rely on agriculture and pastoralism for their livelihood. Unfortunately, a persistent drought in 2017 severely impacted crop …

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2017 — 2022

Rights and Dignity Project

Challenge Since the end of its civil war in 1992, El Salvador has worked to establish and maintain systems that protect and promote the human …

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Innovation for Change

Challenge Innovation for Change (I4C) was established as a response to widespread and worsening trends affecting civil society, including increasing restrictions on civic space and …

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The future of any country depends on the leadership qualities of those just emerging – the youth. And yet in too many areas of the world, youth struggle to have their interests heard – despite making up the majority of a country’s population. Our programs strive to put youth in the center of civic life – as full participants, equipped with the confidence, resources and capacity to be productive citizens and future leaders.

Related Impacts

2020 — 2025

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program in Mozambique

CHALLENGE Located in southeastern Africa, Mozambique is a low-income, food-deficit country with a largely rural population of 31 million.  In 2015, the country reached its …

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McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Mauritania

CHALLENGE While 75% of the population in Mauritania depends on subsistence agriculture and pastoralism, the country has been facing drought exacerbated by climate change which …

Read More

2018 — 2021

Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Project in Senegal

CHALLENGE In Senegal, the agricultural sector employs approximately 70% of the working population, yet in 2017 its contribution to total GDP was just over 16%. …

Read More

2018 — 2022

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Project in Senegal

   CHALLENGE A large portion of Senegalese citizens rely on agriculture and pastoralism for their livelihood. Unfortunately, a persistent drought in 2017 severely impacted crop …

Read More

Innovation for Change

Challenge Innovation for Change (I4C) was established as a response to widespread and worsening trends affecting civil society, including increasing restrictions on civic space and …

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Participación Cívica in Guatemala

Government corruption in Guatemala has long been identified as a significant barrier…

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Indigenous peoples are often excluded from the assets and opportunities in their own communities that could improve their livelihoods. Our programs ensure that indigenous peoples are brought into the civic space as equals. As a result, they become powerful agents for creating solutions to address high rates of rates of poverty, malnutrition and unemployment. By building the innate problem-solving skills within these communities, we help indigenous leaders emerge to take up their rightful roles in developing solutions that are sustainable and just.

Related Impacts

2018 — 2021

Local and Regional Food Aid Procurement Project in Senegal

CHALLENGE In Senegal, the agricultural sector employs approximately 70% of the working population, yet in 2017 its contribution to total GDP was just over 16%. …

Read More

2018 — 2022

McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Project in Senegal

   CHALLENGE A large portion of Senegalese citizens rely on agriculture and pastoralism for their livelihood. Unfortunately, a persistent drought in 2017 severely impacted crop …

Read More

Innovation for Change

Challenge Innovation for Change (I4C) was established as a response to widespread and worsening trends affecting civil society, including increasing restrictions on civic space and …

Read More

Mai Munisipiu in Timor-Leste

We build the capacity of local government and legal institutions to help them better respond to citizens’ needs.

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Congo Demokrasia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Counterpart is supporting and strengthening civil society organizations who are working to increase voter participation and peaceful civic engagement.

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Fisheries and Marine Conservation in the Dominican Republic

High unemployment and underemployment are serious challenges in the Dominican Republic.

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LGBTI rights are a human rights issue, and critical to building inclusive, sustainable communities.

We work so that all citizens regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity are equally empowered to secure better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. We partner with organizations, leaders and communities to protect and secure the rights of LGBTI individuals to have full access to community resources and opportunities.

People with disabilities must be full partners in the social and economic sectors of their countries, and yet there are often environmental and social barriers that limit equal participation in society. As a result, people with disabilities often have the highest poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy rates and the least access to services. We help improve the effectiveness of organizations – including disabled persons organizations (DPOs) and networks working to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the same services, protections, and social opportunities that all other citizens receive. We help leaders with disabilities step out of the shadows and lead.

OUR IMPACT

Together with our local partners, we are improving health and nutrition, expanding access to education, strengthening climate resiliency, enhancing people’s livelihoods, and ensuring communities are governed more inclusively. In each project, we track our goals, monitor the progress, and evaluate impact.

Exploring Currently

Who

Citizens around the world who are working to improve their lives.

 

What

Working alongside local partners to address challenges and opportunities.

 

Where

In more than 20 countries around the world.

 

How

By developing leaders, strengthening organizations and building networks.

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