URC’s successful implementation of USAID’s Keneya Nieta Activity in Mali under volatile security conditions was recognized by the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) with the Vanguard Award, a part of the organization’s Global Impact Awards.
The award recognizes companies with overall outstanding achievement in stability, contingency, disaster, or recovery operations.
“Despite very real, often very dangerous working and living conditions, our team in Mali continues to deliver the goals and objectives identified by USAID that are necessary to improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of Malian villagers,” said Earl Gast, URC president. “I am honored to represent them and our people around the world working under similar threats to personal and professional security.”
Keneya Nieta directly supports USAID’s countering violent extremism (CVE)/preventing violent extremism (PVE) strategy by connecting vulnerable communities to critical services – specifically, to health care. Working in 4,000 villages across the regions of Mopti, Segou, and Sikasso, URC is improving community health in close partnership with community health platforms, reaching more than 7 million people with critical health care in 2023. This was achieved without loss of life.
Working at the community-level has not been easy, with more than 140 villages targeted by Keneya Nieta considered non-secure or at higher risk due to the presence of hostile armed groups. Local leaders have been threatened and community members displaced, and military operations are ongoing in many villages.
Despite these challenges, URC continues to make progress. Local financial management and health planning improved with increasing awareness about village solidarity funds, resulting in nearly $700,000 in funds raised. These funds cover 90% of operating villages and have supported 26,343 pregnant women and 207,907 children to access essential care services to date. More than 357,500 people were reached through family planning (FP) outreach, resulting in over 40,000 new users of FP services.
USAID/Mali is proud to have URC as a partner. With USAID’s Keneya Nieta Activity, they are succeeding in balancing the imperative to safeguard personnel and beneficiaries with the need to focus on results. Beyond saving the lives of thousands of malnourished children, our partnership has been vital for sustaining coordination across health sector stakeholders (the community, the ministry, NGOs, and other international development partners) in some of the most security-challenged areas of Mali. Well done to the entire team!
Mission Director Oghale Oddo, USAID/MaLI
URC was the only international development company that received the Vanguard Award this year.
In URC’s nearly 60-year history implementing global health and development projects, it has successfully initiated, maintained, and adapted operations in fragile and conflict settings to ensure delivery of quality health care for all, including marginalized populations.
“ISOA would like to congratulate URC for its ISOA Global Impact Vanguard Award,” said Howie Lind, president and executive director of ISOA. “This project demonstrates how URC has successfully initiated, maintained and adapted operations in fragile conflict settings to ensure delivery of quality health care.”
