CUFA’s 4 Es: Economic, Enterprise, Employment and Education
For more than 45 years, CUFA has been facilitating and assisting emerging community banks, savings groups and financial cooperatives across the Asia-Pacific region. We thank all our supporters for enabling this important work in the fight against poverty. You are central to our success.
CUFA’s work empowers people living in poverty to build their communities and participate in their local economies. At the heart of our work is the development of village savings and loans programs. Village banks allow people with no access to financial services to have a safe and secure place to save their money, and enables them to access loans.
Over the past few years, our projects have expanded to include financial literacy education for children and adults, support for development of micro-enterprises and social enterprises, and employment placement for the long-term under-employed. Most recently CUFA has run employment expos for people living in poverty in Phnom Penh and Poi Pet in Cambodia.
These programs give people a much needed hand up, not a hand out. At CUFA we are proud to work directly with communities to ensure their needs are central to every program we run.
Strong partnerships, effective outcomes
CUFA is recognised as a global leader in community bank development, and our evaluations show impact and effectiveness. We celebrate our partners and donors who have enabled this experience and expertise to reach into the poorest communities in our region.
Funding from the Australian Government and multi-laterals like the Asian Development Bank enables us to continue our life-saving work and recognises the important role that CUFA plays in development. CUFA, alongside other like-minded community organisations, are powerful agents of change, often working in places that are hard to reach such as remote, fragile or disaster-affected areas. The development work conducted by CUFA contributes to the depth and reach of Australia’s aid program and helps add a particular focus on supporting women, girls and people with a disability.
The ACFID Code of Conduct
CUFA is also fully accredited by the Australian Government through the Australian Aid program and is a signatory to the Australian Council for International Development’s Code of Conduct. ACFID’s Code ensures that signatories uphold ethical standards in the delivery of programs, financial management, protection of children and fundraising. The Code protects both the beneficiaries of development work and donors to projects, as it ensure best practice and accountability.
This year CUFA’s Deputy CEO, Rebecca MacFarling, is honoured to sit on the Code of Conduct Committee, working to enforce high standards of international development and transparency. The Code Committee is comprised of ten members, both elected and specialist appointments. It is charged with developing and administering the code, and promotion and education. In 2016 the Code was updated and its scope widened, and the focus is now education and implementation of the new Code.
CUFA at a Glance
- 88.5% of CUFA’s expenditure goes directly to its programs. 7.4% goes to fundraising and 4.1% to administration.
- For every dollar invested in CUFA’s programs, $8.07 of social return on investment is generated.
- More than 45 years’ experience working across the Asia Pacific.
- Signatory to the Australian Council for International Development’s Code of Conduct.
- Accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian Aid program.
- Winners in the NSW Business Chamber Awards in Business Ethics and Small Business categories, 2016.
- Finalists in the Telstra Business Awards, Charity Category, 2016.
How can you be involved?
There are many ways to partner with CUFA to make a lasting difference in our region:
- Through an annual investment in our work
- By participating in a Challenge program
- By supporting a Village Entrepreneur
- By joining the Investors’ Circle as an individual
- Through workplace giving
If you would like to discuss a partnership with CUFA, please get in touch with Deputy CEO, Rebecca MacFarling, at [email protected] or on 1300 490 467.
