Interact Worldwide - PlanUK Partnership FAQ
INTERACT WORLDWIDE HAS MERGED WITH CHILDREN’S CHARITY PLAN UK
1st October 2009
SEXUAL and reproductive health charity Interact Worldwide and international children’s charity Plan UK have agreed to merge.
For more than 30 years Interact has worked in Africa, Asia and Latin America to reduce poverty by supporting better sexual and reproductive health work.
Interact’s work in family planning and maternal health, as well as other sexual and reproductive health work, and responses to HIV and AIDS has benefited thousands of girls, young women and other vulnerable groups.
This merger will allow Interact access to a greater number of communities in some of the poorest regions, while Plan UK will add a new expertise to its growing portfolio of programmatic work.
Plan has been working with children their families and communities for over 70 years.
Plan CEO Marie Staunton says: “This merger will benefit our work with young people at risk of early pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
“Pregnancy is a leading cause of death of girls from 15 -19. Years of experience has shown Plan that enabling girls to marry later and have smaller families is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty.
“The spread of HIV and AIDS has placed great strain on many of the communities we work with. The answer is enabling poor people to have access to the sexual and reproductive services they need.”
Aside from the work on the frontline Plan UK and Interact will also work together to lobby governments and policy makers in the UK and abroad so that more of the world's poorest people get access to the supplies and advice they need to stay healthy.
Jenny Borden, CEO of Interact Worldwide, said: “This merger will mean that we can continue to do our vital work in the field of sexual and reproductive health and HIV and AIDS work.
“We often work with people and communities right on the margins of society who cannot get the help they so desperately need from anywhere else.
“For example in Pakistan, as in other countries in which we work, Interact is working closely with the government on their HIV and AIDS policy, participating as a major partner in national consultations for marginalised groups.
“It is leading the way in development of public, private and community partnerships for work on sexual and reproductive health.”
MORE INFORMATION:
A Letter to Our Supporters by President Emeritus Ms Dilys Cossey OBE
Frequently Asked Questions: Interact Worldwide and Plan UK merger
Why the merger?
Why did Interact Worldwide choose Plan?
Interact Worldwide wanted a merger partner that would ensure their sexual and reproductive health and rights and their HIV/AIDS programmes had financial security and could reach more people. Plan and Interact are a good fit and complement each others’ strengths. Plan’s secure funding base and holistic, long-term approach to working with communities was a real attraction.
Who made the decision to merge with Plan?
Interact’s Board of Trustees made the decision to go into detailed merger discussions with Plan.
Sub-committees were set up from both Interact and Plan Boards of Trustees’ to assess the benefits and risks of a merger between the two organisations. A due diligence process was completed after which both sub-committees recommended their respective Boards proceeded with the merger.
Will Interact remain focused as a charity working with local partners and also engaged in advocacy work at all levels?
Yes. Plan prides itself on being a community organisation too. Interact implements all its programmes through local partners (who are involved in project design as well as execution) which helps keep them as relevant to local people as possible. Interact’s core partnership model and approach will not change as a result of the merger.
Does Plan, with its child-centred community development approach, really match Interacts work with sexual and reproductive health?
Yes, Plan’s programme approach has the rights of children and young people at its heart. It empowers children and youth to know, claim, exercise and enjoy their rights. This includes the right to a healthy start in life and to sexual and reproductive health, including HIV prevention, care and treatment. Plan’s work around the world will continue to help communities tackle problems such as teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and the stigmitisation and discrimination faced by children living with HIV. Interact’s specialist knowledge in this area will support Plan’s reproductive and sexual health education and services for children and youth, as well as challenging beliefs and attitudes which maintain unequal power relations between the sexes. Together Plan and Interact can advocate more effectively for better international, national and local government policies with regard to sexual health.
What happens to Interact’s programmes?
Interact’s programmes will continue unchanged. Additional logistical support will be available from Plan if necessary. Interact will continue to have its own Board of Trustees who will continue to set the strategy for new programmes of work. Interact will remain focussed on how it can have the most positive impact on the sexual and reproductive health of people in poorer countries.
Will they be moving offices?
Yes, but not in the short term. Plan and Interact will come together in one building when suitable premises are located. This will bring efficiencies and save on administration costs so more money can go to programme work.
Will my money still go directly to Interact’s work?
Yes. In fact, some administration costs will be saved through the merger and a higher proportion of funds raised will go directly to the projects.
What are the benefits to Plan?
Interact’s reputation and expertise in sexual and reproductive health programme work will hopefully over time improve the impact and quality of Plan’s programmes in this area. Interact’s excellent track record of facilitating positive change through advocacy at all levels will also hopefully be built upon.
Why couldn’t Interact continue on its own?
Because it doesn’t really have enough funds to cover its running costs and all of its programme costs. Interact have been very successful in securing funding from donors such as the European Union. Donors often stipulate that the organization needs to secure from other donors a certain amount of “match” funding. Interact found it difficult to attract enough funds to match some of these grants. By merging with Plan money can be saved on administration and donations from the public can now directly fund the programme work.
Is this just a takeover by Plan?
No, the charities have independent boards which are legally bound to set their strategy in the interest of their charity alone.
