The THRIVE 2030 Forum was truly magnificent — the meeting, the community, the discussion, the location, the venue. Our hopes and expectations were met and exceeded.
World Vision donor partners gathered on August 23 and 24 in Tacoma, Washington, with our international programming and U.S.–based staff for the first in-person gathering since the Malawi Economic Forum of 2019. Rather than holding the forum abroad, international programming staff brought “the field realities” of THRIVE 2030 to 32 donor partners.
Over two days, we received an in-depth review of the THRIVE 2030 business plan goals, World Vision’s strategies to achieve those goals, and reports on how each component of the business plan is performing. We reviewed our fundraising and marketing plans and results. The forum was interactive, as we spent significant time in robust question-and-answer discussions.
The day before the Forum, 24 donors had the chance to take a day to experience the tone and tenor of the Biblical Empowered Worldview training. And each day Dr. Tim Dearborn treated us to a deep dive into Micah 6:8 (ESV). “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
One highlight for me was presenting and discussing the Synthesis Report on our first THRIVE programs from 2013 to 2022. The THRIVE 2030 Business Plan was based, in no small part, on what we learned from our original programming. The report we presented in Tacoma is discussed and attached below. The conclusions of the external evaluators are among the most positive I have ever heard.
One last piece: The venue was right on the Tacoma waterfront, a simply magnificent display of God’s artistry in creation. The rain and clouds were a good reminder why the people who live year-round in Tacoma enjoy summer sun and warmth whenever they can get it!
The THRIVE Synthesis Report
At the forum, World Vision presented a summary of the THRIVE Synthesis Report by Limestone Analytics. Using review material created by our external evaluators, TANGO, Limestone analyzed the original THRIVE programs that ran from 2013 through 2022.
The summary report was completed just in time for the forum — the printed versions distributed were literally hot off the press! The report we presented can be found by clicking HERE.
We should note that the report is a work in progress, as we are adding new graphs, charts, plus a “Value for Money” analysis, which is a way to measure the return on investment. We will keep you informed as the report is finalized.
It is worth noting that the evaluator from Limestone Analytics provided us with several extremely positive, and rarely provided, statements about the original THRIVE program:
“Has a larger benefit-to-cost ratio, which suggests that the program is not only worth it but likely worth prioritizing over many alternative development interventions.”
“Outperforms other agricultural interventions targeting smallholder farmers.” —compared to public sector projects they have evaluated.
“Positive impact is not only statistically significant but also substantial.”
We thank God for this high praise — and for the success of these programs that have equipped so many for life transformation!
Join us in prayer
Praise God that donor partners and staff traveled to and from Tacoma safely and that all our staff got visas for the forum with the exception of our Biblical Empowered Worldview expert, Kondwani Chapotera.
Praise God thatthe THRIVE 2030 Forum was a successful event.
Pray for the THRIVE 2030 team in Viet Nam as they deal with the destruction and damage caused by Typhoon Yagi. Our programming areas were directly hit, and we will keep you updated as we get more information. This is what we know now:
Typhoon Yagi, described as the strongest typhoon in the East Sea/South China Sea in the past 30 years, made landfall on September 7 in the coastal regions of northern Viet Nam.
In Viet Nam alone, economic damage is estimated to reach US $1.6 billion (Viet Nam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment). As of September 15, the typhoon and its aftermath caused damage to 231,851 houses, destroyed 270,830 hectares of crops, killed nearly 2.7 million livestock and chickens, and 1,921 are injured and 330 people have died or are missing (Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development).
The typhoon significantly damaged homes, crops, and infrastructure — including electricity poles, schools, and factories — in seven northern provinces and cities.
The livelihoods of many families have been severely disrupted.
Children face numerous challenges, including mental health struggles, disrupted education, and lack of access to clean water, sanitation, shelter, and food.
Thank you for uniting with us in prayer and for your faithful partnership!
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