About us

The history dates back to the early 80s when a group of volunteers on a solidarity and development mission travelled across the world. Upon their arrival, they learned about the culture and the socio-economic dynamics of the people.

In that period, the country had just ended the colonial rule and the people lived in extreme poverty.

Volunteers from the north joined forces with the people of Guinea Bissau in action. The first brigade of Norwegian and people from Guinea Bissau worked in hygiene and sanitation. Building Blair Latrines in public places in the suburbs of Bissau, at the Bôr health centre, Ilheu de Rei, Undme, and double latrines in primary schools. Mobilised cleaning actions in schools and health centres.

In 1981 volunteers from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, increased their scope of actions with the people of Guinea Bissau.

Construction of primary school “ADPP Bòr”, Ilhei de Rei, Fulacunda in Quinara. Construction of Vocational school on Victory Road in Empada and the primary school Confidence in One's Strength in Buduco Empada.

In 1983, an adult literacy campaign was launched in the Tombali and Quinara regions.

Several adults in communities of Catio, Bedanda in the Tombali region and the Empada sector in the Quinara region became literate.

In 1985, technical training began in a three-year intensive course: agriculture, mechanics and carpentry.

In 1987, ADPP-GB decided to move from the southern provinces of Guinea-Bissau to the northern province of Oio, Bissorã sector. A commercial cashew plantation was established during some years of intense work. ADPP-GB managed to establish around 750 hectares of well-selected and technically well-established cashew orchards, employing and training around 900 men and women in land preparation, nurseries and planting.

In 1988, ADPP-GB started Clothes & Shoes for emergencies and some sales to generate small income for social projects.

In 1991, ADPP-GB started the Child Aid program in response to the prediction by UNICEF, according to which millions of children would die of hunger and preventable diseases during the next decade. ADPP-GB created pre-schools and the 10 lines in the comprehensive Child Aid community program.

In 1992 ADPP-GB registered as a Guinea NGO.

In 1997, the ADPP Vocational School, Bissorã were constructed and began training in Agriculture, Construction and Commerce.

In 1998, ADPP-GB was one of the civil society organisations not to close its doors. ADPP-GB supported the country's refugees by distributing food, and clothes to the communities, mainly in Gabu, Bafata and Oio regions.

From that time ADPP-GB has increased its activities together with partners, the government and people of Guinea Bissau.

Mission and vision

Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo Guiné-Bissau (ADPP-GB) is a local Bissau-Guinean Non-Governmental Organization. The mission of ADPP-GB is to support the people in general and the most needy communities in Guinea-Bissau through economic, social and cultural development projects, with the aim of increasing the well-being of the people through their active participation.

Our approach is to promote solidarity among people by establishing a foundation and creating the organisational framework so that many people get access to participate actively in the development of the country and create their future.

Human Rights and Gender Equality, economic and social empowerment of people, environmental sustainability and awareness of current world issues are cross-cutting themes to all ADPP-GB programmes. ADPP-GB believes that every person has the same right to the best possible life, meaning people need to join forces, agree to move forward and support each other in creating an environment where all have a good life, and each person contributes and is part of the local and global community.

ADPP-GB implements projects in 4 main programmes:

  1. Education
  2. Agriculture & Environment
  3. Health
  4. Economy and Entrepreneurship 

Human diversity is essential for development and therefore inclusion is key for creating a world where everyone is actively involved in shaping the future.

 

2023 – Moving forward in unison with the power of the neediest people in Guinea-Bissau, creating the future of our common vision.

In the name of the Board of ADPP-GB, I send this greeting of gratitude to all people and communities, our employees, partners and supporters, and the Governmental entities with whom we shared efforts for results achieved during the year 2023.

The gratitude also reaches out to the support from the Humana People to People Federation.

The past year has seen accelerating consequences of inequalities between the richest and poorest people and nations, effects of Global Warming and Climate Change, for which needed counteractions are clear and applicable, but missing necessary effort to make them happen, and an unbearable arms race, burning resources, which should have been used for the better of the human being.

To counteract and change that together with people in Guinea-Bissau is the reason for our being and daily efforts.

We strongly believe that the understanding of the need and the power to create change resides within the communities themselves, and our role is to be a facilitator, supporter, and advocate for their inevitable and bumpy journey.

I wish that the activities, efforts, achievements and people presented on the following pages, shall bear the evidence for the saying, “dare to visualise, dare to start and fight, dare to fail and dare to try again and succeed”.

Among the results:

  • 42 students-teachers to become at the Teacher Training College on the way to graduation in January 2024, reaching a total of 285 since the start of the school, and 28 new students enrolled representing the vision of another kind of teacher. The overall female participation of nearly 50% continues to be a hallmark.
  • 156 students graduated at the Vocational School in Bissorã in vocational courses such as agriculture, basic electricity, solar energy, plumbing, construction and basic computer knowledge, ready to contribute to the communities, applying the acquired skills; among these 60 graduated from the entrepreneurship program, where they built their understanding and capacity of doing business. The total number of graduates at the Vocational school since 1997 thus reached 2.434.
  • In the Culture Program 128 people trained to become performing musicians.
  • 105 people from different regions upgraded their existing business skills during courses of 15 days duration in the field.
  • 2.000 farmers in the regions of Oio and Cacheu continued their training in vegetable production and nutrition understanding and produced approximately 488 tons of vegetables.
  • 1.311 farmers in Quinará region started their training in production and common organisation.
  • The field staff in the health and healthy living projects reached 29.855 people and tested 11.196 for HIV.
  • The field staff in the Sexual and Reproductive Health project reach 24.133 with their information campaigns.
  • The people in the Fundraising Clothes & Shoes project sorted approximately 693 tons of clothes and shoes for selling on the local markets for 1.000 customers.
  • On aggregate, the staff of ADPP-GB project reached during the year approximately 234.500 people in Guinea Bissau with their activities.
  • Throughout the year worked with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, Green Climate Fund and Guinea Bissau National Authorities to prepare for the start in 2024 of an important Climate Adaptation Project.

Asger Nyrup, Board Chair

Humana People to People Federation

ADPP-GB is a member of the federation for associations connected to the international Humana People to People movement. It comprises 29 independent national member associations.

Our common agenda is to protect the planet, build communities and support people by connecting them with others in transformative programmes, unleashing their potential for positive change and action.

The federation supports the members in delivering critical on-the-ground programmes across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. This support includes programme development, project management and operations, financial management support and help to promote our common agenda and gain influence through important relationships and partnerships.

The activities of the Humana People to People movement are aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda. Together with the people in the communities and our numerous partners, we continue to stand by countries as they strive to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, creating lasting positive change in the process.

Accountability and transparency

In 2021 ADPP-GB was officially certified for governance policies and procedures through the SGS NGO Benchmarking Standard.

This comprises an audit of best practices across policies and procedures and the organisation’s compliance with these standards in 12 defined areas. ADPP-GB continued to improve the policies and procedures in 2023.

ADPP-GB is registered as a local Guinea-Bissau organisation. Grant Thornton has audited our accounts. In 2023 ADPP-GB spent 3.270.048€ on development projects.

Income raised through partnership contributed with 54%, Humana People to People partners 40% and ADPP-GB generated through own income with 6%.

Expenses: Education 47%, Agriculture 18%, Health 35%.

SGS Verified

 

ADPP Guinea-Bissau Partners

ADPP-GB are proud of the diverse range of National and International partners who support our social and human development. Partnerships offer a relationship that helps the projects to prosper. The funding partner provides funding for the project, ADPP-GB provides ideas, energy, experience and resources to make things happen.

We would like to thank all our partners for their continued support and commitment to working with people and pursuing much-needed development for positive change.

Our Partners

ADPP Guiné-Bissau Partners in 2023

 

MULTILATERAL FUNDING

  • European Union
  • African Development Bank
  • United Nations Population Fund
  • UNAIDS
  • UNDP
  • ECOWAS / GIZ
  • IFAD / REDE
  • World Health Organisation

 

BILATERAL FUNDING

  • Instituto Camões, I.P.
  • US Department of Defence (DoD) HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme
  • Ministério da Saúde Publica (HIV/TB programme Global Fund)
  • ACP-EU

 

FUNDS FROM NGOS AND FOUNDATIONS

  • Schneider Electric Foundation
  • Coalition Plus (Rede Losófona)

 

HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE

  • Fundación Pueblo para Pueblo, Spain
  • Humana People to People Baltic
  • Associação Humana Portugal
  • Ulandshjælp fra Folk til Folk - Humana People to People
  • U-landshjelp fra Folk til Folk, Norge
  • Federation Humana People to People

 

IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS

  • GAT Portugal
  • ENGIM
  • RENAP Guinea Bissau
  • Aguibef
  • ESSOR
  • CIDA & Alternag
  • Ende Sante
  • PLAN International
  • Guinea-Bissau Health Network
  • Enabel
  • Swiss AID
  • CNAPN

 

COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE GUINEAN STATE

  • Ministério da Agricultura e Desenvolvimento Rural
  • Ministério da Educação Nacional, Ensino Superior e Investigação Científica
  • Ministério da Saúde Publica
  • Ministério do Ambiente, Biodiversidade e Ação Climática
  • Ministério da Mulher, Família e Solidariedade Social
  • Secretária de Estado de Plano e Integração Regional
  • Secretária de Estado da Cooperação Internacional
  • Secretária de Estado do Orçamento e Assuntos Fiscais
  • Secretaria de Estado das Comunidades
  • Secretariado Nacional de Luta Contra Sida (SNLS)
  • Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Educação (INDE)