A4c Project Proposal - 1198 Words

The proposal from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for their Agriculture for Basic Needs (A4N) project should not be funded. Although CRS includes meaningful participation mechanisms in program implementation and monitoring and evaluation (ME) procedures, certain critical aspects of the project remain unclear and this is too large of a risk for a grant of this size. Project Background CRS proposed a three-year, four-country project with a $15 million budget. A4N intends to combat food insecurity in rural communities in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua by implementing programs that address poor crop and livestock yields. This builds from previous complementary HGBF programming in the region, Mi Cuenca, which cultivated†¦show more content†¦Participatory Mechanisms Here, participation is defined as: the local population’s (targeted community) involvement, in addition to relevant local stakeholders, in the creation, content, and distribution of tools and resources to shape their lives and achieve their own goals. The program design has some mechanisms for participation, but the problems and objectives have largely been determined by CRS. CRS lists â€Å"shrinking plot size, unsustainable agricultural practices, poor soil, water shortages, increasing severe weather events, and rising costs for agricultural inputs† as key problems facing smallholder farm families. These key problems are seen as drivers of malnutrition and reduced resiliency and ability to cope with natural disasters at the household level, which weaken innovation, agricultural productivity and sustainable practices, access to financial services, market engagement, and the capacity of organizations at the community level. CRS expects that members of targeted communities can help develop objectives and goals to achieve CRS’s objectives through participation and therefore representation in the baseline assessment and also engagement in dialogue to develop community targets. During Year Zero, CRS’s baseline assessments in the target communities will determine needs, strategize and tailor programming, and develop target goals and indicators. After, A4N will foster community savings

Financial Outcomes Example

Essays on Financial Outcomes Essay Introduction Microsoft financially performs well in comparison with its previous year’s financial performance. Microsoft records revenue of $62.5 billion, comparatively increasing 7 percent more than the revenue of 2009; operating income increases by 18 percent to $24.1billion, diluted earnings per share grows by 30 percent to $2.10; simultaneously, the company has, through buybacks and dividends, given back almost 16 billion to shareholders in the year 2010 (Annual report, 2010). Optimistic potential outcomes Various optimistic potential outcomes can be expected from the financial performance of Microsoft. First, the company would remain financially stable and vibrant. As the financial history bears witness to the fact that the stable financial entities experiences more short and long term financial growth and increase in comparison with other companies who are less financially stable. This financial stability can be proven by the fact that in the same year of 2010, Microsoft becomes in a position to return almost $16 billion to its shareholders by buybacks and dividends. Additionally, the company enjoys a sufficient amount of funds. Microsoft is a technology-intensive company, which constantly needs a sufficient amount of funds to carry out its different business needs such as research and development and so on. In this regard, the stronger financial indicators clearly highlight the presence of funds utilizable to cater the business needs. Additionally, the positive and stronger financial performance brings positive credit ratings from the credit rating agencies such as Moody’s, and Fitch. These companies compile different financial measures to determine the credit rating of a company. As Microsoft has shown stronger performance in these years, its credit rating has considerably remained stable and positive. Thereby, on the basis of such financial results, Microsoft has become in a position to avail external short or long term credit not only from its current shareholders but also from the financial institutions as well. In fact, most of the financial institutions are considerably critical while screening applications for credit, or loans; and in order to approve them, they first ensure that whether the applicant company is financially stable. Without any doubt, the positive implications of stronger financial performance by Microsoft do not only benefit to the company, but also to the management and shareholders as well; as they would enjoy the same sort of growth that is availed by Microsoft in the coming days. References Annual Report of Microsoft, (2010), Shareholder letter. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar10/10k_sl_eng.html

Letters from an American Farmer free essay sample

We Are America America -? a land known for Its Ideals of freedom and new opportunities, a nation built under the Idea that every man and women Is created equal. However, the definition of what makes a person an American is entirely different from what it is that makes up America, itself. J. Hector SST. John Occurred, author of Letters from an American Farmer (1782), exposes what he believes makes an American. However, when compared to the standards of what makes an American in todays world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than It is today.The function of an American Is always evolving due to the Influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Occurred defined an American as someone of European descent with great ambition but as the times have changed, so has the definition of an American. J. Hector SST. John Occurred created his own definition of an American when he first came to America. We will write a custom essay sample on Letters from an American Farmer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After living here for some time he got a good sense of what it meant and/or took to be an American. Since most people entering the country during the 18th century came from Europe, Occurred thought this to be an Important attribute for being an American.He Is either an European, or the descendant of an European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country (De Occurred 262). He saw that those Europeans were coming to America because of how they were treated in their home countries, especially a lack of respect for their natural born rights. Due to religious persecution, many Europeans came to America, where they believed that they could practice whatever religion they pleased. [T]o the right, lives a Catholic who prays to God as he has been taught and believes In transubstantiation_. _ his belief, his prayers, offend nobody (Occurred 265). Americans believed in freedom of religion and did not find the reason in persecuting someone that was doing them no harm. An American was someone who was willing to let go of his or her old ways and start anew by leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices, and manners, receive[inning] new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds (Occurred 262). They were open to American Ideals, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech. America welcomed anyone who would ark hard to achieve their dreams and strive for their goals.Compared to the 18th century, people who enter the united States, today, are also looking to start anew; and are looking to work hard for their rights. America still believes in freedom and in being the land of opportunities even though time has changed some of Americas Orlando ideals. Nowadays, becoming an American Is not as simple as entering America and obtaining land. For example, there Is the process of applying for citizenship, something that has now become a big part of defining an American. Hundreds of thousands of people per year apply for citizenship, yet not many people are granted the opportunity to become one.Anonymous shared their story online and said, l never once thought immigration would affect me, until I realized that laws change and If you are Just a resident here You have no protection (Defining American). Immigrants feel citizens have more rights than people who are Just questions about the United States and what its founders had set as its ideals. Though, with patience, an immigrant can become an American within a few years. Of rouser, it isnt as quick of a process as it was then, but it still is something worth celebrating.Also because of advancements in technology and the creation of airplanes, Europeans are no longer the only group of people who come to this country in hopes of a better life. Id have to say an American is anyone born in the United States, Mexico, North, Central or South America (Defining American). America is a melting pot. There are many immigrants coming to America from Asia, Mexico, and Europe. America is filled with different cultures and traditions from all these efferent countries, but it is not as easy to enter the country as it was before. There was a time during the early 20th century when the government passed the Quota System, a document which limited the number of people entering the country. Even today there are still immigration laws that prevent everyone from entering. Americans in the 18th century are very different from Americans today though they still have similar beliefs. Americans have always been on the side of freedom, providing people with the chance to start a new life with new found hope, and has since been known as the land of opportunities.Even today there are many immigrants coming onto American soil in hopes of finding a promising Job. l define American not as a citizenship or form of paper, but a way of life and a mindset to embrace all the abundant opportunities America has to offer to all who believe in achieving their dreams by working harder and becoming better (Defining American Is Defining Yourself). This quote is similar to Crossovers thought that Americans [A]re all animated with the spir it of assn industry which is unfitted and unrestrained because each person works for himself (De Occurred 261). As Americans, we are all qualified to receive our rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the freedom to succeed. However, it is believed that these rights apply to all human beings, thus resulting in the immigration of people from other nations, because they want their natural rights to be acknowledged. There are many different definitions of what makes a person an American. The definition is always changing; whether its expanding or Just being tinkered with. Occurred had an idea of what makes an American, and compared to what would make an American today, he was to that far off.During the 18th century, what was considered a somewhat simpler time, an American could have been anybody. All a person needed to become an American was to arrive on American soil, believe in natural rights, have the ambition to work for his or her dream; and most commonly, be able to obtain land. Nowadays, to become an American, one must go through a process that will entitle them a citizen. A person could come from anywhere in the world, and to gain the title citizen would be what grants them the established natural rights of a human without them Ewing ignored or dismissed.