Delivering impact that matters: our 2022 Annual Report

Our world is changing with great uncertainty and rapidity. Hundreds of millions of people still lack access to food, water and energy. In the face of these significant challenges, our work to reduce disparities and enable more equitable lives for all has become more crucial than ever.

We are determined to seize the opportunities to accelerate and scale impact, and through our Annual Report we document our progress each year.

In 2022, working alongside hundreds of partners, we measurably improved the lives of 6.2 million people through strengthening systems to deliver equitable outcomes, increased incomes, and more inclusive access to basic services. 

Transformative change

SNV's work in 2022 was guided by the goal of achieving systems change to deliver food security and adequate nutrition, increased water security, and improved access to affordable and sustainable energy for all.

For example:

• Tackling food safety concerns in the vegetable sector in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Kenya through facilitating the formation of Informal Change Alliances where private and public entities can meet with a focus on problem-solving and action.

• Improving energy access in Mozambique through our BRILHO programme to bring off-grid energy technologies to rural and peri-urban households, by providing technical assistance and impact-driven financing mechanisms for private companies, and supporting the development of a regulatory framework.

• Our contribution to the achievement of Bhutan becoming Open Defecation Free in 2022, through our work with the Ministry of Health to develop the systems and processes for a national approach to rural sanitation and hygiene.

CEO Simon O’Connell commented: 'Contributing to systems transformation is absolutely at the heart of what we do, as we face a world that is changing with great uncertainty and rapidity. Progress towards the SGDs is inadequate, with persistent inequalities deepening, making our mission and the acceleration and scaling of impacts we and our partners contribute to of increasingly vital importance.'

Scaling impacts

To tackle the complex issues faced, last year SNV launched a new strategy through to 2030, which, beyond project-level impact, focuses on structurally addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality, and at the same time, embraces collaborations that generate opportunities for scaling up impact.

Simon continued: 'I am convinced that more intentional, strategic partnerships are key to reaching the impact we strive for, notably our work during the year to deepen our collaboration with financial institutions. As a key pathway to scaling impact, we have escalated our efforts in strengthening the capacity of marginalised groups suffering the effects of inequity and poverty - particularly women and youth – through innovative financing instruments, an increased emphasis on digitalisation and generating sustainable employment opportunities’.

To find out more about the impacts of our work in 2022 together with our partners, and with the support of our donors, read our Annual Report here.