We’re excited to share Investing in People, Strengthening Communities, IREX’s latest annual impact report (PDF, 1.2 MB). This year’s report includes five case studies that highlight IREX’s efforts to empower youth, cultivate leaders, strengthen institutions, and extend access to quality education and information.

The report’s summaries underscore a core belief that guides our work: We invest in people who in turn create positive change in their communities.

Despite the implications of a devastating global pandemic, IREX continued its efforts for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world in which individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive.

The report’s case studies offer a glimpse into our work and its positive impact on individuals and their communities:

• In the Republic of Congo, Vanessa Metou founded a youth development organization that strengthened the leadership skills of 2,000 young people after she participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
• In Iraq, career development centers that we supported at all 47 public universities in the country increased employment according to an independent evaluation. The work is a result of the U.S.–Iraq Higher Education Partnerships Program, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
• In Ukraine, Sergiy Khudyi and more than 12,100 other Ukrainian citizens connected with local leaders to improve governance through USAID’s Policy for Ukraine Local Self-Governance program.
• In Sri Lanka, freelance journalist Sara Pathirana worked with peers from diverse backgrounds to raise the profile of marginalized groups and increase social cohesion. She strengthened her skills through USAID’s Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka program.
• In Tunisia, Houssem trained youth in his community to build critical thinking skills so they can recognize disinformation and hate speech. Houssem worked through USAID’s Ma3an: For Resilient Communities program.

With an annual portfolio of $87 million and over 500 staff, IREX’s work impacted nearly 15 million people in more than 110 countries.