ECHO

This high-impact organization’s mission is to help those working internationally with the poor to be more effective in designing and implementing improved agricultural techniques and solutions.  

(Updated October 2018)

ECHO’s research work focuses on developing both agricultural techniques and resources that actually work, providing climate appropriate, culturally relevant solutions that bring improved agricultural yields to some of the toughest environments on earth.  Their extensive knowledge base, experienced technical support, and seed bank resources have helped community leaders, missionaries, and international development workers in 180 countries to bring sustainable, improved nutrition and economic opportunity to the rural poor.

ECHO’s model has proven to be incredibly effective for a number of reasons.  In their research, they have relied extensively on the knowledge and experience of indigenous farmers from all over the globe.  Rather than approaching their work as “teaching” farming, they empower for better results.  Since much of their research/development/training is driven by problem solving requests from workers in the field, they are able to empower development workers and subsistence farmers for better results in specific conditions.  In turn, these solutions can then be spread to similar environments, and modified to suit differences in others.  This organization’s impact is very highly leveraged in that the best practices, solutions, technologies, and resources they develop are disseminated by others – the international development agencies and workers on the ground around the world.

Because of this incredible leverage, ECHO is one of our very favorite organizations.  If you like the idea of building capacity in those who work to empower the rural poor, then supporting this organization may be one of the most effective investments you can make.

Primary Sector:  Hunger/Agriculture (training/resourcing)

Organization Size:  Medium — programs are supported by cash contributions totaling $3,000,000 to $20,000,000 annually

What we do:  https://www.echonet.org/what-we-do

AnnualReport: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/516da119e4b00686219e2473/t/5a008f1f084665a14429d89e/1509986088472/AR17+Final_SM.pdf  (see especially “focused training” and “focused resourcing” sections)

Financial Statements:  https://www.echonet.org/financial-info

Contact Information:  visit https://www.echonet.org/, contact https://www.echonet.org/contact/