InterAction

2004 Annual Report

Academy for Educational Development l ACDI/VOCA l Action Against Hunger USA l ActionAid International USA l Adventist Development and Relief
Agency International (ADRA) l The Advocacy Institute l African Medical & Research Foundation l AME-SADA l Africare l Aga Khan Foundation USA l
Aid to Artisans l Air Serv International l American Friends Service Committee l American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee l American Jewish World
Service l American Near East Refugee Aid l American Red Cross International Services (ARC) l American Refugee Committee l AmeriCares l America’s
Development Foundation (ADF) l Amigos de las Américas l Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team l Baptist World Alliance l B’nai B’rith International l
Bread for the World l Bread for the World Institute l Brother’s Brother Foundation l CARE l Catholic Medical Mission Board l Catholic Relief Services
l Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) l Center for International Health and Cooperation (CIHC) l Centre for Development and Popula-
tion Activities (CEDPA) l Children International l Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) l Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) l Church
World Service l Citizens Development Corps l Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs l Communications Consortium Media Center l Concern America
l CONCERN Worldwide U.S., Inc. l Congressional Hunger Center l Counterpart International l Direct Relief International l Doctors of the World l
Enersol Associates l Episcopal Relief & Development l Ethiopian Community Development Council l FINCA International l Floresta l Food For The
Hungry l Freedom From Hunger l Friends of Liberia l Gifts In Kind International l Global Health Council l Global Links l Global Resource Services l
GOAL USA l Habitat for Humanity International l Health Volunteers Overseas l Heart to Heart International l Heartland Alliance l Hebrew Immigrant
Aid Society l Heifer International l Helen Keller International l Help The Afghan Children l Holt International Children’s Services l The Hunger Project l
IFES l INMED Partnerships for Children l Institute for Sustainable Communities l Institute of Cultural Affairs l Interchurch Medical Assistance l Interna-
tional Aid, Inc. l International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) l International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) l International Crisis Group
(ICG) l International Institute of Rural Reconstruction l International Medical Corps l International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) l International
Reading Association l International Relief & Development l International Relief Teams l International Rescue Committee (IRC) l International Research
and Exchanges Board (IREX) l International Volunteers in Urology l International Women’s Health Coalition l International Youth Foundation l Interplast
l Intervida Foundation USA l Jesuit Refugee Services USA l Katalysis Bootstrap Fund l Korean American Sharing Movement l Latter-day Saint Charities
l Life for Relief and Development l Lutheran World Relief l MAP International l Medical Care Development l Mercy Corps l Mercy USA for Aid and
Development l Minnesota International Health Volunteers l Mobility International USA l National Association of Social Workers l National Council of
Negro Women l National Peace Corps Association l Near East Foundation l Northwest Medical Teams l Operation USA l Opportunity International l
Oxfam America l Pact l Partners for Development l Partners of the Americas l Pathfinder International l Physicians for Human Rights l Physicians For
Peace l Plan USA l Planning Assistance l Population Action International l Population Communication l Population Connection l Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance and Hunger Program l Project HOPE l ProLiteracy Worldwide l Quixote Center/Quest for Peace l Refugees International l Relief Interna-
tional l RESULTS l Salvation Army World Service Office l Save the Children l SHARE Foundation l Solar Cookers International l Stop Hunger Now l
Support Group to Democracy l The Synergos Institute l Trickle Up Program l Unitarian Universalist Service Committee l United Jewish Communities
l United Methodist Committee on Relief l United Way International l USA for UNHCR l U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants l U.S. Com-
mittee for UNDP l U.S. Fund for UNICEF l Winrock International l Women for Women International l Women’s EDGE l Women’s Environment and
Development Organization l World Concern l World Conference on Religion and Peace l World Education l World Emergency Relief l World Hope
International l World Learning l World Rehabilitation Fund l World Relief l World Resources Institute (WRI) l World Vision l YMCA of the USA
About InterAction
InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). With 160 members operating in every developing
country, we work to overcome poverty, exclusion, and suffering by advancing social justice and
basic dignity for all.
...a force
InterAction is greater than the sum of its parts, a force multiplier that gives each member the
multiplier that
collective power of all members to speak and act on issues of common concern. InterAction
convenes and coordinates its members so in unison they can influence policy and debate on
gives each
issues affecting tens of millions of people worldwide and improve their own practices. member the
Formed in 1984, and based in Washington, D.C. with a staff of forty, InterAction includes
members headquartered in twenty-five states. Both faith-based and secular, these organizations
collective power
foster economic and social development; provide relief to those affected by disaster and war;
assist refugees and internally displaced persons; advance human rights; support gender equality;
of all members
protect the environment; address population concerns; and press for more equitable, just, and
effective public policies.
to speak and
Reflecting both the generosity of the American people and their strong support for international act on issues
development and humanitarian assistance, our members receive more than $3 billion in
annual contributions from private donors. Neither InterAction nor its members bears lightly of common
the responsibility of the trust the American people place in us. As such, members ascribe to
InterAction’s Private Voluntary Organization Standards that help assure accountability in the critical concern...
areas of financial management, fundraising, governance, and program performance.
Cover photo: Karl Grobl
Chair’s Message
Dear InterAction: The last thing I wanted to do as your chair was to lead a search committee to replace
this CEO. But Mary’s decision put that into motion and I asked five CEOs of InterAction
In these pages, including in CEO Mary McClymont’s letter, you will read a long list of ac- agencies to join me in the search:
complishments that has constituted the bulk of InterAction’s work over the past year. I
think you will agree that it is a daunting list and you will discern our collective impact. Ken Bacon, Refugees International
Geeta Rao Gupta, International Center for Research on Women
But, of course, the central work of InterAction is that which is done year in and year out Charlie MacCormack, Save the Children
by each of our 160 members. Each member organization contributes vitally and essen- Linda Pfeiffer, INMED
tially to help make the world more humane, more inclusive and more just. Aggregated, John Schultz, Christian Children’s Fund
these organizations join to make InterAction the largest private compilation of humani-
tarian assistance work in the world. We all know that there would not be any aggrega- All were exceptional, each one faithful from the beginning of the job to its end. The search
tion but for that which is achieved one organization at a time as each of our members attracted an abundance of exceptional candidates and prospects. Your search committee
strives to meet its ambitious worked very hard deciding which one among them was best suited to lead us. The quality
respective mission. of the candidates made this a tough task; of course, the best possible scenario is choosing
one person from an exceptional field of choices. In the end, the search committee brought
With this acknowledgment a unanimous choice to the board of directors on February 28. The board, after asking all the
to all who do the real work right questions, readily concurred with the search committee and a day later Dr. Moham-
about which we fairly and mad Akhter agreed to become our next CEO. Dr. Akhter joined InterAction officially on
reasonably boast, let me tell May 2 and, as you read this report, he is in place and on the job. I feel as if we have achieved
you a little about what has a rare undertaking: smooth succession, in this case from one star to another. Dr. Akhter
been my recent preoccupa- served two terms as the CEO of the American Public Health Association. He served for
tion as your current chair. As three years as commissioner of health in the District of Columbia. In short, he has worked
you know, Mary McClymont, within government, led a membership organization, succeeded as a fundraiser and worked
our wonderful president and with a board as a CEO. He, his wife and their daughter all lived and worked for several
CEO, informed the board of years providing medical care in his native Pakistan. Most important, his values suit his new
her decision to step down at role and his passion for international humanitarian work is readily apparent to those who
our September board meet- know and have worked with him.
ing. Just as she has on every other topic since she took on the job, she prepared us well and
gave us the luxury of several months’ notice. I hope you will make it your business to get to know him soon. InterAction should be
positioned to tackle an agenda that is apt to get even more complicated in the months and
First, I want to write a few words about Mary and her tenure at InterAction. If anyone years ahead. Mohammad Akhter, with a lot of help that I know he will solicit, will help
strove for perfection in her conduct as a leader of an organization, it was Mary. She would InterAction meet those challenges.
insist that I not claim that she achieved perfection, but I will tell you that she had her eyes
on it as her goal. She assembled and led a superb staff who respect and admire her for her Thank you, Mary. Welcome, Dr. Akhter. And, thank you to all who contributed ideas, names
skills, her work ethic and her principles. The board of directors, likewise, has been both led and encouragement during the search process. If a seamless transition can be achieved, per-
and served by Mary in what I can only describe as the perfect combination of both. haps we have accomplished it.

Thanking Mary is easy, and I do so emphatically. Describing her countless contributions Sincerely,
to InterAction is tougher and would take much more space than I have been given here.
Please know that we have been lucky to have her at the helm. Daniel E. Pellegrom, Chair
2

I write this just prior to stepping down as the president and
CEO of InterAction, where I have been privileged to serve
for a truly rich and rewarding four years. Leaving InterAction
has been a difficult decision, given the special opportunity I
have had to work on issues of such critical importance, with
people whose commitment and dedication I so respect.
I came to InterAction because I sincerely believe in our
powerful mission to overcome poverty, exclusion and suf-
fering by advancing social justice and basic dignity for all.
What could be more important than seeking to make our
own small contributions towards easing the suffering and
oppression that billions experience every day?
In that spirit, I hope you agree that together—our staff, board and membership at InterAc-
tion—have accomplished a great deal in renewing the alliance in recent years by bringing it
higher profile and stronger voice; creating new programs, while honing the focus of ongoing
initiatives; increasing our resources; realigning our organizational governance; and refurbish-
ing our internal systems. We enjoy very good financial and programmatic health and I am
proud to pass on InterAction’s stewardship to our new CEO, Dr. Mohammad Akhter.
Our governance changes almost three years ago brought a new board of directors that is
able to bring meaningful focus to issues of concern and effectively govern the organization.
I owe a special thanks for the service of our two board chairs during my tenure—Nancy
Aossey, who provided never failing support, counsel and leadership in the early years; and
to Dan Pellegrom, who readily took on the challenge over two years ago of inspiring and
guiding our newly created board in a most challenging time.
As I reflect on the past year, our agenda was as full and ambitious as ever. We formally in-
corporated advancement of the Millennium Development Goals as an overall long-term
objective into our advocacy and education campaign, the Global Partnership for Effective
Assistance. We worked in numerous ways with the administration and Congress to
secure passage of the Millennium Challenge Account and to increase the core humani-
tarian and development assistance accounts. Our membership now is seizing on several
key events during 2005 when global attention will focus on fighting poverty, hunger and
disease, and on achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We joined forces with
other campaigns and partners at home and abroad to build constituencies in support of
our goals and to urge President Bush and other world leaders to take bold steps, meeting
and building on their promises for overseas assistance. We also have worked with our
board and membership to create two new initiatives on trade policy and on debt relief to
complement our advocacy on effective assistance to fight poverty.
President’s Note
We face an increasingly complex terrain around security, humanitarian space and civil-
military relations in the face of terrorism and the governmental response to it around
the world. Even as our humanitarian groups must continue to grapple with the need to
protect their independence and impartiality, we must recognize and address the various
factors that make this increasingly difficult—the blurring of the lines between military and
civilian relief functions on the ground and grave threats to staff security. Besides helping
our members step up their staff security efforts, we worked together to analyze and adapt
our approaches, and are taking advantage of every opportunity to engage our civilian and
military leaders to secure policy changes that respect our commitment to humanitarian
principles and do not undermine our humanitarian work.
An external environment and debates in various quarters increasingly challenge the unique
role, independence and accountability of the nongovernmental organization sector. In
2004, we continued to counter those critiques by responding effectively to governmental
regulations and policies that failed to recognize our independence or the critical role of
NGOs in relief and development. We further strengthened our efforts to assess and
improve our own programmatic effectiveness and accountability by honing and scaling up
our work on areas such as InterAction’s standards, and on evaluation.
InterAction’s work on standards was particularly relevant to the external environment.
Compliance to private voluntary organization standards was strengthened through two
pilot efforts. For the past five years, our members with child sponsorship programs have
undergone a rigorous audit of their programs by an outside firm, which by next year
should result in accreditation. Building on the child sponsorship initiative, 20 members
launched a process for enhanced self-regulation, called Self-Certification-Plus, which adds
new rigor and uniformity to compliance with InterAction standards.
Among the many humanitarian crises our alliance has addressed in 2004, Sudan’s Darfur
region, resulting in 1.5 million displaced people and 200,000 refugees in Chad, captured
the avid attention of our members and of the international community. I traveled to
Darfur to witness the crisis. Our public advocacy effort through the media and with the
administration continues.
With our new leader, the expertise of our superb staff, the sound oversight of our board
of directors, and the hearty engagement of our membership, I know that InterAction will
continue on full force, each year stronger than the last. I leave InterAction with a pro-
found admiration for our members who pursue this honorable calling with such passion
and commitment, and deep gratitude for our allies and friends who work with us to bring
a better life to people in need around the world.
Mary E. McClymont
3
Humanitarian Policy &
Practice
...provides member
organizations with a
framework for
consultation,
coordination and
advocacy on behalf of
people forcibly
displaced or
otherwise affected by
conflict, natural
disasters and
oppression...
Responding to Humanitarian Crises
The Committee on Humanitarian Policy and Practice provides member or-
ganizations with a framework for consultation, coordination and advocacy on behalf
of people forcibly displaced or otherwise affected by conflict, natural disasters and
oppression. It addresses issues relating to the protection and assistance needs of refu-
gees and internally displaced persons, as well as operations, security and coordination
in disaster response.
In 2004, the Humanitarian Policy and Practice unit and its committee members:
• Pressed the administration, Congress and the United Nations to provide
relief to Sudanese forced to flee their homes in the country’s western Darfur
region by what the State Department and Congress both labeled genocide.
Worked with members deploying to the region to overcome obstacles to their ac-
cess. Fought successfully for a supplemental appropriation. Encouraged financial and
material support for African Union ceasefire monitors and their protection force. In-
terAction President Mary McClymont undertook a mission to Darfur in October dur-
ing which she met with members operating in the area as well as with senior United
Nations, U.S. government and Sudanese officials.
• Saw pressure on the administration to expand the presence of NATO
troops in Afghanistan succeed and some military disengagement from activi-
ties that blurred the lines between them and NGOs. However, increased attacks
on humanitarians limited their operations in some parts of the country. Meanwhile,
targeting of aid workers in Iraq resulted in the withdrawal of most international staff.
Pressed the U.N. system to respond more adequately to the protection and assis-
tance needs of internally displaced persons given the evident failure of the institution’s
collaborative approach. Initiated procedures to track and account for the $1.l billion
the American private sector contributed to InterAction members for their relief and
recovery programs in countries affected by the tsunami.
Photo: John Stephens
Refugees and Migration
The Protection Working Group published “Making Protection a Priority: Integrating Protection
and Humanitarian Assistance” and produced a tool to assist members in building data collection
during humanitarian emergencies entitled: Data Collection in Humanitarian Response: A Guide
for Incorporating Protection. Group members focused particular attention in their advocacy and
programs on gender-based violence in several ongoing crises, including Darfur and Liberia.
InterAction delegations to three sets of meetings in Geneva were fielded by the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees’ Partnerships Working Group. There they met with senior UN-
HCR officials to discuss and advocate on issues of concern to the membership. The work-
ing group also surveyed UNHCR implementing partners and identified gaps in the agency’s
grants management process that are the basis for ongoing discussions with UNHCR staff.
Disaster Response
The Civil-Military Task Force hammered out a consensus position for discussions with se-
nior U.S. military leaders in an effort to reach a better understanding of how humanitarian
and military personnel will relate to each other while the military is engaged in combat or
in occupation of foreign territory.
The unit’s security coordinator conducted security assessments in Darfur, Chad and Liberia
and formulated with members of the Security Working Group an initial draft of minimal
operating security standards for InterAction members. Working with members’ lawyers,
InterAction persuaded USAID to replace counterterrorism certification language to which
members objected with an acceptable formulation. Unit staff and members collaborated
with other philanthropic organizations on developing alternative language to the U.S. Trea-
sury’s anti-terrorism financing guidelines.
The Transition, Conflict and Peace Working Group established a quarterly series of USAID/Inter-
Action conflict early warning meetings aimed at improving early warning and identifying windows
of opportunity in crisis-prone countries for early action to help avoid or prevent a resurgence of
violence. The TCP also participated in a series of feedback sessions to provide USAID with input
in drafting sector-specific toolkits intended to help USAID mission staff and external partners
identify and address linkages between conflict dynamics and particular sectors.
5
The Committee on Development Policy and Practice facilitates dialogue, com-
munication and action at program and policy levels on priority development concerns
of InterAction members and their Southern partners in reducing poverty and promoting
equitable and effective development.
In 2004, the Committee on Development Policy and Practice unit and its members:
• Convened over a several month period a series of meetings with high-level
World Bank and Treasury Department officials on the IDA-14 replenishment.
These engagements and discussions within InterAction’s World Bank working group led
to an InterAction letter to Treasury Secretary John Snow on the eve of the G-7 finance
ministers meeting outlining InterAction’s position on IDA and debt. In the letter, InterAc-
tion discussed the progress that has been made through debt relief but noted that many
poor countries still spend more on debt service than on health and education combined,
pointing to the need for debt cancellation and increased grant financing. Though the G-7
finance ministers failed to agree on 100 percent debt cancellation, it is anticipated that the
issue of debt will be taken up in 2005. InterAction will continue to advocate debt cancel-
lation and will publish a position paper on debt early in the new year. During the course
of the IDA-14 replenishment negotiations, InterAction submitted detailed comments on
the draft text reflecting members’ commitments to growth beneficial to the poor and
urging, among other things, increased transparency and participatory development on
the part of the World Bank. In what may be an unprecedented outcome, many of these
comments were reflected in the World Bank’s replenishment text.
• Organized a well-attended session at the annual meetings of the World Bank
and IMF at which the evaluation offices of both institutions presented findings
from their independent assessments of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
(PSRP) process. The event addressed the next steps for the PRSP, including how the
recommendations would be implemented in future assistance programs and also the
relevance of the findings to other country-owned processes such as those envisioned in
the Millennium Challenge Account. During the annual meetings, InterAction members
held a working meeting with World Bank President James Wolfensohn and InterAction
hosted a session to launch the 2004 edition of The Reality of Aid, the only North-South
international nongovernmental initiative focusing on analysis and lobbying for poverty
eradication in international aid.
6
• Initiated InterAction’s work on trade policy by building on regional devel-
opments being addressed by the Inter-American Development Bank working
group and by InterAction’s support of the Millennium Development Goals. Dur-
ing the year, a trade task force was formed and several meetings, educational events, and
an InterAction Forum session were held to highlight the nexus between development
and trade policies. The unit and task force have begun to craft positions on discrete
aspects of the trade agenda relevant to InterAction members and a policy paper on trade
capacity-building assistance was produced. This paper and others will provide the basis
for advocacy on trade policy aimed at U.S. policy and eventually multilateral institutions.
• Scaled up work relating to HIV/AIDS including advocacy aimed at the Office of
the Global AIDS Coordinator and at improving member practices. Co-hosted with
the Horizons Project a series of research-based learning sessions and co-facilitated with the
International Red Cross a review of a proposed code of practice for NGOs responding to
the HIV/AIDS crisis. As a result of InterAction’s efforts, OGAC has established a civil society
liaison office.
• Formed a new working group on evaluation and program effectiveness to en-
hance InterAction members’ abilities to use evaluation to articulate, demonstrate
and improve the effectiveness of their projects, programs and organizations. The
working group comprises InterAction member CEOs, program and policy coordinators and
evaluation specialists and has worked to develop a common position on “U.S. NGO-relevant”
evaluation principles and practices in response to pressures from various global constituencies.
An evaluation learning series designed as practical discussions on important topics related to
effectiveness was launched. In the coming year, the working group will start to communicate
and advocate with key stakeholders on evaluation for program effectiveness.
• Monitored USAID management reforms against a 12- point advocacy agen-
da of the USAID Management Reform working group. Progress was made in
nine of the identified areas including new agency policies or guidance on the choice of
appropriate delivery mechanisms. InterAction members continued their participation in
the agency’s quarterly partner day meetings which are a result of InterAction advocacy,
held a session on member operational and management concerns at a global meeting of
USAID contracts officers, established a Web database on USAID operations, and began
to monitor proposed changes in USAID’s branding requirements.
Photo: Cristina Alaman
Development Policy &
Practice
...facilitates dialogue,
communication and
action at program and
policy levels on
priority development
concerns of
InterAction members
and their Southern
partners in reducing
poverty and
promoting equitable
and effective
development...
Gender & Diversity
...promoting gender
equality and diversity
in the international
development and
humanitarian
assistance
community...
The Gender and Diversity Unit houses InterAction’s Commission on the Advance-
ment of Women and Diversity Initiative.
The CAW was created in 1992 by InterAction’s executive committee and is mandated to
promote gender equality in the policy and practice of InterAction members and interna-
tional development and humanitarian assistance organizations.
Formed in 2002, the Diversity Initiative encourages and aids member agencies to take ef-
fective action to increase the representation of people of color on their staffs and boards,
as well as to adopt inclusive policies and practices that will enable them to reap the full
benefits of a multicultural workforce.
In 2004, the Gender and Diversity Unit with InterAction members:
• Convened two Gender Audit training courses in the United States and Asia
for participants from 7 InterAction member agencies, including Lutheran World
Relief, Mobility International, Solar Cookers International, 9 Heifer International country
offices, 13 Plan International country offices, as well as 5 other including Asian NGOs,
U.N. agencies, and USAID’s Kenya mission. The CAW’s Gender Audit Facilitator’s Train-
ing Course enables participants to carry out an organizational self-assessment and action
planning process in their own organizations.
• Produced Gender Mainstreaming in Action: Innovative Successful Innova-
tions from Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with the International Institute
for Rural Reconstruction, an InterAction member based in the Philippines. The
publication is a collection of 18 case stories highlighting innovative practices from 17 orga-
nizations in 10 countries. Cast in simple language and illustrations, the collection features
practical experiences in gender mainstreaming at the grassroots, program and institutional
levels and concise lessons and recommendations.
• Developed the Gender Audit Facilitator’s Guide, an interactive multimedia
CD-Rom. The CD-Rom features a cutting-edge analytical framework, examples from a
real development organization, effective Gender Audit facilitation skills, and ready to use
templates for all phases of the Gender Audit process.
Photo: Syed Ziaul Habib Roobon
• Carried out an innovative field study with five InterAction members in four
African countries examining the relationship between gender mainstreaming
and development effectiveness at the community level. From May to July, a con-
sultant carried out field research on community-level impact with CARE-Niger, Catholic
Relief Services-Kenya, Heifer Project International-Zambia, Lutheran World Relief-Kenya
and World Vision-Ghana.
• Continued building the Diversity Working Group into a forum that allows for in-
depth discussions around diversity and the opportunity to leverage the knowledge
and expertise that is found within the InterAction membership. The working group
includes 155 members who represent 85 InterAction member organizations.
• Convened InterAction’s first diversity conference, “Global Diversity: Ensur-
ing Effectiveness through Inclusion” in October. Over 80 participants attended
the two-day event, from over 40 nongovernmental organizations, government agencies
and educational groups. Exemplary keynote speakers, an extensive choice of high-quality
workshops and networking opportunities provided participants with the opportunity to
broaden their capabilities for advancing diversity and to make connections with colleagues
doing similar work.
• Offered a range of technical services for diversity to InterAction members,
including conference calls with experts on key issues, an online interactive com-
munity, and workshops on building inclusive organizations and on CEO leader-
ship for diversity.
9
The Public Policy Committee aims to educate policymakers, opinion leaders, the media
and the public on international development, refugee and relief programs and policies. The
committee works to coordinate member organizations to influence policies and appropria-
tions in order to maximize effectiveness of advocacy and outreach to the Congress and the
administration. The committee’s principle objective is the realization of the objectives set out
in InterAction’s advocacy campaign, the Global Partnership for Effective Assistance.
In 2004, InterAction’s Public Policy unit and its committee members:
• Distributed InterAction’s 2004 calendar and a letter introducing InterAction
to all congressional offices. Organized Advocacy Day in conjunction with the InterAc-
tion Forum 2004 which drew a record crowd of nearly 140 participants who met with
approximately 55 congressional offices and culminated in a reception on Capitol Hill in
which over 40 congressional staff joined members of Congress and hundreds of Forum-
goers to celebrate InterAction’s 20th birthday.
• Provided ongoing budget analysis and information on the fiscal year 2005
international affairs budget. Met with key congressional and administration staff to
press for, at a minimum, President Bush’s request on the international affairs budget, to
highlight the need for higher funding levels for seven key development and humanitarian
assistance accounts and full funding for the MCA and HIV/AIDS initiatives. Advocacy ef-
forts included a coordinated grassroots mobilization around the FY 2005 budget using the
Humanitarian Action Network, InterAction’s online advocacy tool.
• Continued last year’s work on the Millennium Challenge Account by expanding
the MCA working group’s focus to the issues surrounding implementation of the
new initiative. Through the working group, InterAction solicited and compiled feedback
from initial Millennium Challenge Corporation teams to selected MCA countries, submitted
comments to the Millennium Challenge Corporation on MCA fiscal year 2005 eligibility
criteria as well as met regularly with officials from the Government Accountability Office,
U.S. Agency for International Development, the Office of Management and Budget and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation on implementation issues. The working group also had
meetings with congressional staff on MCA-related issues and offered questions for the con-
firmation hearing for Paul Applegarth as CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
10
• In coordination with the Humanitarian Policy and Practice Unit, the Public
Policy Unit led advocacy efforts to include emergency humanitarian and secu-
rity assistance for Sudan in the ’05 defense appropriations bill and in the ’05
foreign operations appropriations bill. Also in coordination with the HPPU, the
Public Policy Unit organized briefings for members of Congress and staff on Latin America,
Liberia, Haiti, and other issues related to conflict and post-conflict assistance.
• Organized four congressional staff briefings aimed at informing congressional
staff and members of Congress about issues related to international humanitar-
ian and development assistance. The briefings were on the FY 2005 international
affairs budget request, protection of refugees and the internally displaced, basic education,
and on integration of gender into development programs.
• Organized two town hall meetings to raise awareness and support among the
U.S. public for humanitarian and development assistance. In May, held a town hall
meeting on child survival issues, entitled “Development through the Eyes of a Child: U.S.
International Assistance Programs and the World’s Children,” in conjunction with the Yale
University Chapter of the Student Campaign for Child Survival. The event featured Carol
Bellamy, director of UNICEF, Sam Gejdenson, former U.S. representative from Connecticut’s
2nd district, and Adam Taylor, executive director of Global Justice. The next town hall meeting
was held in October in Seattle on the Millennium Challenge Account in conjunction with the
Initiative for Global Development and the University of Washington’s Daniel J. Evans School
of Public Affairs. The event, “Fighting Global Poverty In the New Millennium,” featured Paul
Applegarth, chief executive of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ambassador Amidou
Lamine Ba of Senegal, and Richard Stearns, president and chief executive of World Vision.
• Launched a new working group on outreach and communications. This work
is headed by a new staff person, Jennifer Kurz, associate for mobilization and outreach,
and helps coordinate members’ grassroots efforts as well as builds InterAction members’
capacities for public outreach.
• Began preparations for a 2005 campaign on the Millennium Development
Goals by becoming an active participant in the ONE Campaign in the United
States and the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. InterAction involvement in
these two complementary campaigns aims to provide information and facilitate the par-
ticipation of InterAction members.
Photo: Najibullah Musafer
 Public Policy

...aims to educate
policymakers, opinion
leaders, the media
and the public on
international develop-
ment, refugee and
relief programs and
policies...
 American Council for Voluntary International Action
Statements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets for the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

2004 2003
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash $ 350,677 $ 469,646
Investments 2,236,555 2,293,033
Accounts receivable 82,887 21,317
U.S. government grants receivable 46,440 42,365
Prepaid expenses 60,913 25,555

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 2,777,472 2,851,916

FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

Furniture and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and
amortization of $59,015 and 52,966 for 2004 and 2003, respectively 11,837 3,310

OTHER ASSETS
Security deposits 18,694 18,694

TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,808,003 $ 2,873,920

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $ 20,598 $ 666
Accrued employee benefits 335,963 233,322
Deferred membership dues 94,172 86,294
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 450,733 320,282

NET ASSETS
Unrestricted 1,651,140 1,507,170
Temporarily restricted 706,130 1,046,468

TOTAL NET ASSETS 2,357,270 2,553,638

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $ 2,808,003 $ 2,873,920

12
 American Council for Voluntary International Action
Statements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets for the Years Ended December 2004 and 2003

2004 2003
TEMPORARILY TEMPORARILY
UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED TOTAL
REVENUE
Grants from U.S. government $ 1,409,228 $ - $ 1,409,228 $ 1,246,832 $ - $ 1,246,832
Foundation awards - 1,440,553 1,440,553 - 1,856,440 1,856,440
Member contributions 189,062 - 189,062 62,811 - 62,811
Membership dues 1,402,019 - 1,402,019 1,413,074 - 1,413,074
Publications 314, 924 - 314, 924 265,923 - 265,923
Forum, meetings, and workshops 138,877 - 138,877 121,474 - 121,474
Interest and investment income 36,346 289 36,635 74,587 928 75,515
Other income 12,979 - 12,979 25,625 - 25,625
Net assets released from
restrictions 1,781,180 (1,781,180) - 1,667,232 (1,667,232) -
TOTAL REVENUE 5,284,615 (340,338) 4,944,277 4,877,558 190,136 5,067,694
EXPENSES
Program services:
Member services $ 1,079,709 $ - $ 1,079,709 $ 991,041 $ - $ 991,041
Federal & non-federal awards 3,190,408 - 3,190,408 2,914,064 - 2,914,064
Legislative activities 168,306 - 168,306 160,362 - 160,362
TOTAL PROGRAM SERVICES 4,438,423 - 4,438,423 4,065,467 - 4,065,467
Support services:
General and administrative 681,956 - 681,956 601,522 - 601,522
Fundraising 54,918 - 54,918 61,712 - 61,712
TOTAL SUPPORT SERVICES 736,874 - 736,874 663,234 - 663,234
TOTAL EXPENSES 5,175,297 - 5,175,297 4,728,701 - 4,728,701
Changes in net assets before other item 109,318 (340,338) (231,020) 148,857 190,136 338,993
OTHER ITEM
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments 34,652 - 34,652 (7,784) - (7,784)
Changes in net assets 143,970 (340,338) (196,368) 141,073 190,136 331,209
Net assets, beginning of year 1,507,170 1,046,468 2,553,638 1,366,097 856,332 2,222,429
NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR $ 1,651,140 $ 706,130 $ 2,357,270 $ 1,507,170 $ 1,046,468 $ 2,553,638

13
2004 InterAction Photo Contest Winners
InterAction’s annual photo contest was created to raise awareness about the work of our members, by bringing together powerful
images that show the benefits of assistance that works, in support of InterAction’s multi-year Global Partnership for Effective Assis-
tance campaign. The campaign aims to save lives and build self-sufficiency by increasing development and humanitarian assistance,
improving aid effectiveness, and building international partnerships. The following are the 2004 photo contest winners.

Cambodian School
Photo by Karl Grobl
Category: Basic Education

Water Magic
Photo by Nicky Lewin for CARE
Grand Prize Winner! Category: Disaster Response and
Fields of Gold Rice Harvest Refugees
Photo by Jeffrey Austin/ZUMA Press
Category: Reducing Hunger

14
 Women’s Literacy in Guatemala
Photo by Lynn Curtis for ProLiteracy Worldwide
Category: Women and Girls

Hermelil
Photo by Claire Thomas, Freedom from Hunger
Measuring Health Category: Jobs/Skills Peace Process – The Hands of Youth
Photo by David Snyder, Catholic Relief Photo by Jeffrey Austin/ZUMA Press
Services Category: Peace and Democracy
Category: Health Care

View all of the 2004 photo contest submissions at:

www.interaction.org/media/photo2004
15
InterAction Board Members
Chair Julius Coles Sarah Newhall
Daniel E. Pellegrom Africare Pact
Pathfinder International
Chris Dunford Raymond Offenheiser
Vice Chair Freedom from Hunger Oxfam America
Geeta Rao Gupta
International Center for Research on Women Neal Keny-Guyer Linda Pfeiffer
Mercy Corps INMED
Treasurer
John Schultz Lee Hamilton William Reese
Christian Children’s Fund Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars International Youth Foundation

Board of Directors Lelei Lelaulu Leonard Rubenstein

Nancy A. Aossey Counterpart International Physicians for Human Rights
International Medical Corps
Lavinia Limon George Rupp
Ken Bacon Immigration & Refugee Services of America International Rescue Committee
Refugees International
Charles MacCormack Ritu Sharma
David Beckmann Save the Children Women’s Edge
Bread for the World
John McCullough Milo Stanojevich
Sekyu Chang Church World Service CARE
Korean American Sharing Movement
Ruth Messinger Sandra Swan
Amy Coen American Jewish World Service Episcopal Relief and Development
Population Action International
Steve Moseley
Academy for Educational Development (as of 12/04)
16
 InterAction Staff
Office of the President Ellen Tompsett Carrie Abner Communications
Receptionist/Mailroom Clerk Program Associate, Migration and Refugee
Mary E. McClymont Affairs Sid Balman, Jr.
President & CEO Gaurav Kapoor Director
Receptionist Elizabeth Bellardo
Robyn Shepherd Program Associate Kirsten Hongisto
Executive Assistant Allen Abtahi Publications Manager
MIS Consultant Development Policy & Practice
Beth Newman Nicole Foley
Special Projects Associate Public Policy John Zarafonetis Web & Graphic Design Manager
Director
Office of the Vice President Nisha K. Desai Nicole Duciaume
Director Sylvain Browa Publications Associate
Ken Giunta Program Manager, Africa Liaison Project Initiative
Vice President Smita Baruah Kimberly Abbott
Senior Legislative Associate Patricia MacWilliams Communications and Media Manager
Martha Clarke Program Manager, Development Policy &
Coordinator, Resource Development Erin Tunney Practice Gender & Diversity
Associate for Advocacy and Outreach
Cassandra Kennedy Vince McElhinny Suzanne Kindervatter
Senior Program Associate Jennifer Kurz Program Manager, Inter-American Develop- Director
Associate for Outreach & Mobilization ment Bank-Civil Society Initiative
Finance & Administration Patricia Morris
Humanitarian Policy & Practice Sarah Jane Hise Deputy Director
Rishi R. Bhatia Senior Program Associate, Development Policy
CFO & Director of Administration James K. Bishop & Practice Dawn Cooper
Director Diversity Manager
Devinder Jaitly Seth Nickinson
Accountant Mary E. Pack Senior Program Associate, Inter-American Julie Montgomery
Director, Migration and Refugee Affairs Development Bank-Civil Society Initiative Senior Communications Associate
Karthi Luneburg
Administrative Manager Shawn Bardwell Leonid Sapozhnikov Nitara Nivatvongs
Security Coordinator Program Associate, World Bank-Civil Society Program Associate
Mariam Ehsanyar Initiative
Junior Accountant Gottlieb Duwan
Senior Program Associate
Sandra de Costa
Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeping Assistant Linda Poteat
Senior Program Manager (as of 12/04)
1717 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Suite 701
Washington, D.C. 20036

Email: ia@interaction.org
Web: www.interaction.org
Phone: (202) 667-8227