Africa Development Promise

In early 2020, I landed an internship with ADP as a jaded sustainable development major wondering if it was possible for US based organizations to work collaboratively with developing communities across the globe. ADP was a breath of fresh air. By keeping HQ staff minimal and building an in-country team of experts from the local communities, the organization sets itself up for incredible success in terms of positive impact. I was consistently impressed with ADP's dedication to working directly with local community leaders and governments to effect the most sustainable and collaborative change possible. The organization is always willing to self-critique/evaluate, and possesses a humility that will be extremely important as US based organizations move forward with development practice. The leadership team is made up of passionate, capable, and experienced women and men that have a clear and sincere dedication to the organization's mission to improve the lives and livelihoods of rural women in East Africa. In my mind, ADP's principles and practices are excellent models of what the international development community should be aiming for in the 21st century, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of it!

When the second lockdown occured, I was rendered unemployed for the next two months so because of this I joined this nonprofit organisation where I joined as a student in the street business school, here I learnt alot in the field of managing business. This built my confidence as far as doing business is concerned and not only me but also the women i studied with, we were able to make a strong team where we helped each other and eventually started a savings group that will comprise all business classes that will ever come. I cant fully express my sincere gratitude to ADP because it has contributed alot in empowering women in this area as they can all now handle all problems they were having in their businesses
We sincerely appreciate ADP for the great work done in us.

I first got to know ADP in 2020 when they came to assess a Community-Based Organization that I was part of. I strongly believe that African communities can be transformed through commercial agriculture and was excited to partner with an organization that has that mission at its core. So, when ADP was recruiting this year, I immediately applied.
Serving rural women has given me a sense of personal fulfilment. Working with a team of enthusiastic professionals is nothing short of exhilarating. Driven by an intense commitment towards improving rural women's livelihoods, within the ADP family, we are constantly challenging one another to do better by being better.
When I see the radiance in the faces of the women we are supporting, and also hear the desperation in the voices of many more who are seeking support, I cannot help but be humbled. Anyone who has been blessed to see this contrast will bear witness with me that every cent channeled through ADP is creating a positive impact in the lives of the direct beneficiaries. So that's a big thank you to all the donors.
In Uganda we have a saying, Gakyali Mabaga (meaning, "so much has been done, but much more is yet to be done").

My name is Eric, I remember due to Covid 19 pandemic, I lost my job since July 2020, my family’s living condition was not good.
Since January 2021 I started working in Africa development Promise as Agriculture cooperative officer and things started becoming good in the way my wife ,son and daughter started enjoying a new page of happiness; I started earning a living for my family, paid remained school fees for my masters program and implemented my house renovation project .From that time, I have had the exceptional chance to work for an organization that has been motivated by the focus on the development of a rural woman farmer and building the capacity of its team. I was satisfied to provide my contribution in improving the lives and livelihoods of rural women farmers grouped in cooperatives growing fruits and vegetables through implementation of ADP mission. I was interested by the fact that farmers are not only receiving theoretical trainings from ADP but also supported to access infrastructures including greenhouses, water for irrigation, irrigation infrastructure and accessories, offices, inputs, kitchen gardens and technical support thus helped them to increase income, access health insurance, pay school fees for their children, run different businesses, rejuvenation of their houses and eliminate children malnutrition; all of this has encouraged me to closely continue working and sharing knowledge with them with the reason of achieving ADP’s mission.
I was enjoying to work for ADP supporting these courageous women, I found them having high level of confidence, decision makers,problem solver, open minded, brave ,not conservative that makes everyone wishing to work with them.
When I was delivering business management training to women beneficiaries of ADP,I was glad to see some of them committed to improving the management of their business while other determined to initiate new business .
The partnership of ADP and its partners attracted me as it provided me the opportunities to expand knowledge through different trainings from them.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for ADP and their founding Executive Director Monica LaBiche Brown. ADP is the type of organization that makes for the ideal thought partner and collaborator. Into Your Hands Africa has had the privilege of partnering with ADP for the past six years across various initiatives, including in-country staff trainings, the development of a women's training curriculum, and our current project of scaling individual and cooperative businesses across both organizations. They're professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. ADP's impact on rural women speaks for itself. We consider ourselves lucky to have a partner like ADP and look forward to many more years of collaboration!

ADP is truly impacting lives! Many groups and organizations talk the talk but ADP is walking the walk. On a recent trip to Rwanda and Uganda with ADP I got to see first hand what an impact they are making. They are actually serving people. ADP is providing the resources, tools and expertise to help people currently but also teach them in the ways that keep them growing and thriving. ADP has provided a wide range of opportunities for individuals and communities to grow within their communities and gain opportunities outside their communities and through out the world.

I am glad to be part of ADP as a junior Board member. My interest in ADP stemmed from the ongoing activities with women led cooperatives in Uganda where ADP is assisting the women get financial literacy, add value to the goods they produce, and help them get their goods to market with the overall goal of getting more women out of poverty. Personally, I think activities that empower women or the girl child are vital to alleviating poverty at a household level in underserved communities.

It has been an honour to support the ADP program in Uganda over the last few years to set up solar powered motorised water pumping stations for irrigation.
Working with marginalised groups can be a challenging pain staking process that requires patience. Sometimes a cooperative member loses a relative and the whole group is off for a few days delaying project implementation. Other times, its a political rally or a wedding In the community that puts off the days work. As you work with the members of the cooperative, sometimes you simply feel like giving up.
Experiencing challenges on ADP projects has helped me to further appreciate the contextual challenges in development work.

Africa Development Promise is an incredible organization that promotes economic independence and female empowerment, and I am so grateful to be able to work on their team! As a non-profit, they are focused on ensuring that they provide the necessary tools and support needed in rural farming communities that will help the female populations there thrive, and have made an incredible impact in the short six years that they have been operating. From working with greenhouses to solar water distribution systems, and now working on computer literacy, Africa Development Promise is making serious change. Additionally, their Girls with Dreams program has jumpstarted these confidence and independence practices for young women in the rural communities in which they are involved, and demonstrating to these girls what they are capable of and what they can achieve through team building and confidence exercises. It is wonderful to see an organization like ADP make such positive change, and it is clear that this is only just the beginning for them!

When I joined Africa Development Promise, I was not expecting the level of welcome and mentorship that I have since received. I absolutely love what ADP does and the commitment shown to the women being empowered through the organization. The strategy ADP uses to move women from subsistence farming to profit-based farming is such an inclusive and sustainable method of development. I am proud and honored to be part of a team that works so hard with the women we support!

I have been volunteering for ADP for several years now. The focus on the empowerment of women in developing countries and helping farming communities, along with the deep non-profit expertise of the founder and Executive Director , Monica, attracted me to volunteer for ADP. I have had a chance to work on getting irrigation infrastructure for a cooperative and see how it impacts the livelihood of its members. I am hoping to visit the field work in a year or so. It has been a great experience to be involved in a deep level with a small profit that is making an impact and learn from the field.

I worked with Africa Development Promise as a videographer. My goal was to capture video footage of their programs in Rwanda & Uganda, but it was also a learning experience where I learned a lot about the history and culture in each country. I was able to see first hand how resources from ADP help agricultural cooperatives in the region. I traveled with members of their board, so I was also able to see the passion that each of them had for their nonprofit projects. I met their in country staff, who were all equally passionate about this community work.

Having worked with nonprofits for the last 9 years, it was great to see an organization working at the ground level of a problem - where you could see the changes in the community and talk to the people impacted by their work! Following this organization was a wonderful experience!

If only every nonprofit took such an empathetic and effective approach to working with people to lift incomes and capacities, we could end poverty. One of the things that amazes me is that Africa Development Promise works to make the ideas and initiatives of women succeed by adding the technical capacity and some small resources. As a bang for the buck, it is among the few non-profits that can take the careful and sustainable path to community development. It is well worth our support!

As intern in ADP , it invest in women to advance in sustainable business and economic independence in rural East African Community where it helps women cooperatives in RWANDA and UGANDA, in Rwanda especially in Bugesera district, it helps cooperatives of Horticulture by providing greenhouses, inputs, irrigation facilities and training to help them in commercial farming later than subsistence agriculture, in Uganda it helps women cooperatives in mushroom spawn production and marketing. out of that ADP is not limited on women only where any cooperative with women and men get support in agriculture. ADP wants to expand as far as possible to help woman in capacity building that why it needs you in contribution to woman creativity, innovation and hard work

I traveled with the founder/CEO to Rwanda and Uganda. It was a personal, up close view of Africa Development Promise's commitment to economic empowerment of women.

Africa Development promise is a nonprofit Organization, working with rural farmer grouped into cooperatives, because we believe that collective action helps in many ways and one individual cannot bear to take the risk alone, on my own experience since the time I stated working with this non profit, it is helping rural farmers to improve the living condition and the target is to help those rural farmers to become economical self sufficient, regarding on how this NGO is doing now, it will achieve it goal, and help more farmers. for what ADP did for farmers, by providing them greenhouses, give them water pump, offering training for capacity building and more support. I can say that ADP is needed to change life of many in Africa.

Africa Development Promise (ADP) support women farmers representing agricultural cooperatives across Uganda and Rwanda. ADP's focus is to better these women's and their families economy and thereby increase their standard of living. ADP provides technical assistance and training, access to inputs, and support to broaden their networks. The cooperatives that are currently supported will become demonstration projects serving as “field-schools” for joint learning and building/sharing experience. As cooperatives grow and offer beneficial services to their members, they will attract more people to join the cooperatives thus having a positive ripple effect in the local economy.
In the short period ADP has operated they have seen significant positive changes and attracted longterm funders and and partners.
Great leader and in-country staff are rewarded with the trust from the cooperatives.

This nonprofit organization is truly changing the lives of women in Rwanda and Uganda. The impacts are far-reaching and lasting. Women are not only trained on how to be resourceful, they are also given the tools to venture into areas that they would ordinarily not have been able to but for the empowerment they receive from Africa Development Promise. I have had a personal contact with the woman who steers this ship; her passion for the development of women in rural Uganda and Rwanda is commendable. ADP turns these rural women to bread-winners, empower them to build a strong resilience in their struggle build their families and their communities. I highly recommend this nonprofit!

Edith

ADP works with women-led agricultural cooperatives in Rwanda and Uganda, helping them to transition to a better life for women and their families. By building sustainable, profitable agri based businesses. ADP practice the cooperative-enterprise model supported by the East African governments - which has proven to benefit individual members and the greater community. ADP has shown that they are actually making a big difference in the life of the communities, by working through the people they are helping and ADP is collaborating with other organizations and local governments to achieve the desired results. They have in very short time established a trust and an important presence in East Africa.

It has been a pleasure to serve on the Board of Africa Development Promise and see first hand the work and impact the organization has had on our cooperative partners in Rwanda and Uganda in such a short period of time. The cooperative members have been inspired to add additional business ventures as they have strengthened their knowledge in entrepreneurship. I look forward to the expansion of our cooperative partners and the impact they will make in their communities.

I've worked with Africa Development Promise for years and know how dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable and full of integrity they are. I love their work, their mission and their outstanding understanding of how to make international development meaningful, sustainable and impactful. Nice work!

I am so impressed by African Development Promise - in terms of the governance and organisational arrangements that underpin it, and the impact that it achieves and has a vision to continue to achieve in the future. I am very proud to be part of this organisation.

I count myself as very fortunate to have participated with the Africa Exchange Tour to Rwanda and Uganda in March, 2017. I was able to see first hand what ADP has accomplished since 2011 working with women in poverty residing in Rwanda and Uganda to improve their standard of living. The support, training and guidance provided by ADP was clearly apparent as we visited the cooperatives and listened to women talk about what a blessing ADP has been in their lives because they realize THEIR potential. Because of their increased economic status they are able to pay school tuition, buy school uniforms for their children, to get personal items that heretofore had been thought of as frivolous and in general add to the family income and by extension the local community. The best feature of ADP, however, is the training participants receive in personal finance management along with empowering members by promoting self-help and self responsibility.
In a conversation with Monica LaBiche Brown, Founder and Director of ADP, I asked her how and why ADP came about. She responded that this work had always been her dream, it is her passion. The evidence of her dream and passion is admirable!

This INGO's helped women living under agriculture activities especially Horticulture ( Rwanda And Uganda ), to move from subsistence agriculture to market oriented through providing Infrastructures and Training needed to cooperatives leaders and Members.

These ADP services contribute to the personal development of each member( improving standard of living) and increase national economy through promoting Agricultural diversification export.

I have worked in international development for more than 25 years. I have watched as Monica and her team have built Africa Development Promise in these past couple of years. The results that have been produced are outstanding because they start where the people are. Women farmers in Rwanda and Uganda have launched cooperatives but struggled to gain growth and success. Africa Development Promise stepped in beside them and enabled them to own greenhouses and even land. These gals provide support and strength for each other as they have grown their business. They have confidence in the future and walk together through the tough times.

I was initially interested in volunteering with Africa Development Promise due to its mission being about empowerment and not charity. In addition, the experience of the Executive Director in the non-profit world meant that it was being built on a solid foundation. Now, almost two years later, I have had the opportunity to visit the cooperatives in Rwanda and Uganda twice and see first hand the great progress they have made. By providing the appropriate training and building the necessary networks, Africa Development Promise has made a real difference in these women's lives and set them up for continued success.

I have known the founders of Africa Development Promise for many years so was immediately interested in their mission and projects. I've had a heart for Africa since working in southern Africa in 1971. I am convinced that the best way to help people is to teach them how to help themselves rather than just giving them money and/or things. Financial co-ops solidly fit into the model of teaching people to help themselves. Africa Development uses very solid Cooperative Values and Principals to form and guide these co-ops. They have a powerhouse Board of Directors with invaluable experience for furthering their mission.

As reported in field visits by visiting donors in Africa Development Promise’s (ADP) regular newsletters, ADP seems to be having a positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of African women who would otherwise be unable to sustain a living.

ADP is working with and has worked in close collaboration with villagers in Rwanda and Uganda, Ambassadors, academic institutions such as Regis University, other NGOs and well connected individuals with similar interests, the City of Denver, and other organizations like Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to utilize and apply existing knowledge and leverage resources that provide training and enable the women in the villages to establish the cooperatives, grow produce, feed their families, increase production, and gain a stronger sense of community. ADP has also organized many fund raising events and been interviewed by several NEWS sources to increase awareness of their cause as well as raise money for the cooperatives. The women are eager to learn, and ADP’s help in building a training center for these women was crucial to the success of the cooperatives and farming. By working in a cooperative instead of individually farming, the women have benefitted from economies of scale to ultimately increase their production so there is enough to provide food for their families and still have enough left to sell for extra income as well as to reinvest and grow the cooperatives. Most impressive are the tomato and mushroom farms that have grown tremendously in terms of yield and technological and agricultural advances and still managed to decrease overall production costs while increasing operational efficiency.

As a donor, I was pleasantly surprised to see an annual financial audit of ADP, an act of transparency that goes above and beyond U.S. legal audit requirements. The amount of in-kind contributions is a strong indication of the drive, enthusiasm, and initiative of the ADP Executive Director and other board members who truly believe in their mission and go the extra mile to accomplish it.

I have been very fortunate to work with Africa Development Promise this last year. The organization is very focused in its goal for women in Rwanda and Uganda to be economically independent. I really love the fact that it's holistic approach allows the organization to be sustainable. The local and Denver team are awesome and have the interest of the women's cooperative in mind in every decision that is taken. Africa Development Promise is in for a change and working tirelessly towards that!

As a monthly donor to Africa Development Promise, I am honored and privileged to watch Monica Brown nurture the organization from conception to fruition of becoming a non-profit organization that is making a difference in the lives of women from East Africa. I look forward to her monthly newsletter that highlights the accomplishments of Africa Development progress, which includes: women actively producing income to provide for their families, improving their community and most importantly, empowering them to create their own wealth. It is so impressive to know that she initially helped 100 people to improve their quality of life and now that number has surpassed over 500 people. What I know for sure is that Africa Development Promise is progressing to improve and make a difference in the survival of not one person, one community but the world.

Africa Development Promise is a phenomenal organization. I have seen first hand the life transformations that are going on with the women co-ops in Rwanda. The ladies have now, tasted success and empowerment. They are now growing, buying more land and looking to buy more green houses to support themselves and their families. The impact this has on the women, their families, their children and their communities can not be put into words. It has to be seen.

I interned with Africa Development Promise the entire time I was in graduate school. Studying nonprofit management, I've learned a lot about how nonprofits should be run - and it was gratifying to see such a young nonprofit embodying all of the best practices I learned about. Africa Development Promise is forward-thinking, with an experienced Executive Director who has unyielding commitment to empowering rural female entrepreneurs. I expect even greater things as it grows, and plan to support it regularly.

As a Foundation Manager, we are proud and excited for our growing partnership with Africa Development Promise. In 2014, the Foundation provided ADP with its first major grant which helped establish the Rwanda women's farming cooperative and enabled ADP to attract additional donors and partners. Since that time, the Foundation has grown its commitment to ADP with annual grant funding and long-term plans to support growth and capacity building through financial and technical support. The Foundation team has met with ADP Founder and Board Chair, and travelled to Rwanda for a site visit to meet with the in-country team and the cooperative members. We continue to be impressed with ADP’s strong, dedicated leadership and are committed to grow our partnership with this impressive organization.

I am Engineer TUYISENGE EGIDE,from Rwanda, I knew Africa Development Promise Since last year and up to now i appreciated the clear and smart vision and mission towards African female and youth sustainable development.

Their works do not only create jobs for many people but also inspire and transform the local people into self employer and entrepreneurs with a team work spirit.

I have see them helping villages to grow into living centers, supporting rural female to build the own source of income throu agricultural infrastructure support, capacity building, financial assistance and even helping them to access the market.

The amazing work they are doing the village called Nyamata within Bugesera District of Rwanda which is often a dry land is impressive since the leader of Africa development promise arrived there, now the farming cooperatives keep cultivating all the seasons due to innovative techniques of modern agriculture applied to this region. and the live is changing daily with continuous access to finance.

Now rural women at Nyamata have changed their mind and they are improving day to day as well as their families because ADP has increased their income generating facilities.

Africa Development Promise is an excellent and efficient organization. The organization's focus on women's cooperatives in East Africa, empowers community members and activates the economic potential of each of the cooperative members.

I have known the Founder of ADP personally for many years and can attest to her great commitment, passion and leadership of this organization. ADP's cooperative model is making impact for women in Rwanda and Uganda and has the potential to reach so many more. Agriculture is an essential industry in Sub-Saharan Africa and is in need of further evolution in the sector. ADP has an unique model to reach women and provide further opportunity and economic independence which will make make further advancements in the sector.

Africa Development Promise is making a difference not only in the lives of the women in Rwanda, the team at Africa Development Promise is collaboratively contributing to other organizations helping the living condition of women in USA and other countries.

Africa Development Promise is a very organized and qualified NGO and perfect for raising the voices of women everywhere!!

I was an intern for Africa Development Promise this past spring. I have nothing but positive things to say about the organization and ED Monica LaBiche Brown. The approach ADP takes to "creating paths toward economic independence" is holistic and inclusive, with an emphasis on sustainability. I learned so much from how a NGO can and SHOULD be run by Monica and other interns! She works hard and puts all of her love into the organization and you can feel it!

Impressive NGO with fast results!
Africa Development Promise (ADP) is bringing economic Independence to families in East Africa through empowerment of the women. The successful way ADP has chosen is through agriculture cooperatives. This is also endorsed by the East African leaders.
ADP provide a holistic approach with hands on agricultural education and business training, capacity building, value chain development and more.
ADP is a young organization with seasoned leaders. Check out this video report: http://youtu.be/SteditJye5U

I have known the founder of ADP for many years. She is truly making a difference in the lives of people in Rwanda and Uganda. She surrounds herself with experienced people in the world of cooperatives and has already helped thousands of people. I always knew this nonprofit would hit the top of my list for donations as it truly helps people help themselves. I am also a volunteer.

ADP is still in its infancy, but it has hit the ground running! I have been thrilled to see this tiny shop have such impact on farmers in Rwanda just since it launched. A lot of credit goes to the its very strategic and savvy ED, Monica Brown. She knows her stuff and she knows how to get the right people around her to get things done -- this is why Africa Development Promise is my own personal "charity of choice"!

Africa Development Promise is an amazing organization making an impact in Rwanda and beyond. Focusing on women in agriculture is greatly needed in sub-Saharan Africa and ADP's program is helping women learn to improve farming and business skills. In turn, ADP is partnering with these women to increase their earning potential and expand their options. As a donor, I highly recommend this organization.

Africa Development Promise is a role model for all NGOs and INGOs in the international development sector. ADP is one of the most successful development organizations I have had the privilege of studying along side. I've had the joy of working with ED Monica LaBiche Brown, in-country Directors Sherina Munyana and Vincent Musoni, and Board Member Jean Nicholson in various capacities. Their passion, knowledge, experience, and intellect is vital to the organization's success; what stands out the most is their ability to work cross silos: government, business, and agriculture in order to effectively address issues of gender disparity, economic opportunity, and sustainability of many things: the environment, empowerment, and human capacity. Thanks to ADP for all you do.

This summer I had an amazing experience volunteering with African Development Promise. I had 5 weeks in Rwanda training women in essential financial management skills. The enthusiasm and energy that this group of women showed me was incredible. They have the ambitions to drive themselves out of poverty provided they get a little hand in building and training their capacities. This is why I mainly Interned for African Development Promise because of their philosophy of teaching those they help how to catch the fish instead of providing the fish. It was a pleasure working and learning from the best. Good job folks at ADF.

Africa Development Promise is a great nonprofit organization that is doing amazing work and positively changing the lives of the women of Uganda and Rwanda. It's an honor to be associated with the Africa Development Promise and help support their work.

This spring, I had the opportunity to travel to Rwanda with Monica LaBiche Brown, the founder of Africa Development Promise. There, I met with local members of the cooperative that Africa Development Promise supported. It was an incredible experience. Africa Development Promise is doing great things! I have gained a love for Monica, and a deep trust for her. She is motivated by a sincere desire to help others, and she is getting it done.