Annual Report & Consolidated Financial Statements
INTERNEWS EUROPE 31 DECEMBER 2020
Company number: 07891107 Charity number: 1148404
Internews Europe Reference and administrative details For the year ended 31 December 2020
| Company number | 07891107 | |
|---|---|---|
| Charity number | 1148404 | |
| Registered office and | 43-51 New North Road, London, N1 6LU | |
| operational address | ||
| Trustees | Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the | |
| year and up to the date of this report were as follows: | ||
| Mr Mark Stephens CBE | Chair | |
| Mrs Daisy McAndrew | Vice-Chair | |
| Mrs Carolyn Hink | Treasurer | |
| Dr Saleyha Ahsan | ||
| Mr Yann Borgstedt | ||
| Mr Sach Chandaria | ||
| Mr Matt Chanoff | ||
| Mrs Kristina Henschen | ||
| Mr David Hoffman | ||
| Key Management | Ms Jodie Ginsberg | Chief Executive Officer (from 9 March 2020) |
| Personnel | ||
| Ms Rosie Parkyn | Acting Chief Executive Officer (to March 2020) | |
| and Global Director of Impact | ||
| Mrs Foluke Mogaji | Senior Director of Finance & Resources | |
| Ms Camilla Palazzini | Director of Development (resigned 16 October | |
| 2020) | ||
| Mrs Claire Palmer | Director of Philanthropy | |
| Mr Denis Kovalenko | Head of Grants, Contracts & Compliance (from 1 | |
| July 2020) | ||
| Bankers | Barclays Bank PLC | |
| 27 Soho Square | ||
| London | ||
| W1D 3QR | ||
| Solicitors | Bates, Wells and Braithwaite | |
| 10 Queen Street Place | ||
| London | ||
| EC4R 1BE | ||
| Auditor | Sayer Vincent LLP | |
| Chartered accountants and statutory auditors | ||
| Invicta House | ||
| 108-114 Golden Lane | ||
| London, EC1Y 0TL |
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Foreword
This year has been a year like no other in Internews’ experience. A global pandemic changed almost overnight the way businesses operated around the world, it directly impacted the lives of billions, and demonstrated like never before that information is literally lifesaving.
Internews Europe experienced its highest levels of growth in 2020, testament to the importance of accurate and trustworthy information during a crisis. We secured funding for our first ever European-funded projects in Latin America and the Caribbean and launched programmes to tackle COVID 19 mis- and disinformation in the African Great Lakes region and in Afghanistan, among others. We also continued to operate in countries where freedom of expression is highly restricted.
Mark Stephens CBE, Chair
Pivoting to remote work was challenging for all teams. Some projects were put on hold as adjustments were made to plans for in-person training to move to online formats. Our in-house global technology expertise enabled us to make that shift at remarkable speed and success and we are extremely proud at the initiative and resilience shown by our teams worldwide.
Our swift response to the crisis was also demonstrated in our launch of a Rapid Response Fund within weeks of the first lockdowns. Over the course of four months, we distributed $600,000 in small emergency grants to local media, civil society organisations and journalists in more than 60 countries. In total over $500,000 was paid out to local organisations and $90,000 to individuals, (primarily
Jodie Ginsberg, CEO
working as journalists). As traditional sources of revenue, such as advertising, dropped, these funds provided a lifeline for organisations that serve marginalised and excluded communities worldwide.
We established a network of global health advisors to support journalists to report on the pandemic and are pleased to have established the Health Journalism Network to bring together hundreds of local journalists and editors worldwide to share knowledge and expertise on reporting on health.
While health dominated the headlines, climate change remains the pressing issue of our time. Our Environment Journalism Network continued to mobilise its hundreds of members worldwide to meet the urgent task of communicating these stories. As we look to the UN Climate Change conference in November 2021, we expect these stories to have even greater prominence in the news agenda.
We also continued to work at the global level, as part of the Internews Alliance, to bring the insights and experiences of our partners in over 80 countries to the policy agenda on issues related to media freedom and freedom of expression, including online – where we have a wealth of expertise derived from years of work with local digital rights groups and activists.
Internews’ technology knowledge, combined with newly acquired media business consultancy – Newsgain – allows us to provide bespoke, flexible and rapid support to partner media outlets that addresses the specific risks they face and the contexts in which they operate. The ability to publish on digital platforms creates great opportunities to broaden reach and circumvent censorship, but it comes with a set of threats that require deep expertise to navigate and mitigate. We consider these dual offerings – technology support and business advisory services – some of the most important services that we offer, and services that are increasingly in demand as civic space shrinks globally and financial burdens for media outlets increase.
Internews Europe enters 2021 working in 27 countries with an approved budget of £ 21.6m , its largest yet. We do so firm in the knowledge that providing access to accurate and trustworthy information is more important than ever and with renewed hope and energy that we are building the networks, expertise and advocacy skills to make this happen.
Mark Stephens CBE, Chair of Trustees Jodie Ginsberg, Chief Executive Officer
The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020. Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities SORP FRS 102.
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Objectives, Activities and Public Benefit
Internews Europe is an international charity whose mission is to empower people worldwide with the trustworthy, high-quality news and information they need to make informed decisions, participate in their communities, and hold power to account.
The primary objective of the Charity as expressed in the Memorandum of Association is “The promotion of education and vocational training in the field of journalism in all its forms for the benefit of the public, in particular in countries experiencing conflict, civil unrest, or natural disaster.”
Public Benefit
The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.
Specifically, it is through the provision of our charitable activities that, by way of example:
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In humanitarian disasters, affected communities can access life-saving information to receive emergency health, water and shelter supplies.
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In fragile states and emerging democracies, all citizens are afforded more and better opportunities to speak truth to power, engage with elected officials regarding critical issues, holding them and the wider society to account through strengthened local media and investigative journalism; and
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In countries with limited press freedom, our tools and training help citizens access a greater plurality of views and sources of information about the world around them, by protecting credible sources of news and information.
Strategic report
Achievements and Performance
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GOVERNANCE PROJECTS
Internews Europe’s flagship multi-country, multi-donor programming to inform and empower people in places where freedom of expression is most at risk was renewed for a further four years in 2020. Editorial, managerial and digital security support was provided to 51 media outlets, information providers and civil society groups in nine countries, reaching an estimated 7.2 million people. 56% of those who received training and support were women, and 73% of the outlets supported said they felt more resilient in the face of on and offline threats, targeting and attacks thanks to Internews’ support.
In Zimbabwe , Internews Europe entered the second year of the Zimbabwe Media Development programme, funded by the Swedish Development Agency (Sida) and focussed on the historically
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marginalised and under-resourced Southern regions of Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands. Working with a range of partners including GeoPoll, News Gain, Kabatana, the Centre for Innovation and Technology, Digital Society Zimbabwe, the Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre and the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations, we have worked to ensure that a resilient, digitally enabled and sustainable independent media and civil society can reach people with accurate and impartial information that promotes inclusion and accountability in the post-Mugabe era. These partners engage with audiences across a broad range of digital and analogue platforms, including community cinemas, social media, radio and face to face conversations, and will be provided with technical support which best meets their needs and aspirations as well as those of the people they serve, including training in business management, data journalism and digital security. In addition, several new start-ups have been identified and supported. These other start-ups are providing alternative options to people in marginalised and underserved parts of the country to have a voice in issues that affect their lives.
Due to the COVID 19 induced lockdowns, the Zimbabwe office collaborated innovatively with partners and stakeholders to virtually implement most of the planned activities. In addition, the office responded fast to the COVID pandemic by launching the campaign ‘Information Saves Lives’ to counter the rampant misinformation and disinformation around the virus. This was done through a multi-lingual series of radio programs that hosted critical stakeholders and prompted vibrant feedback from community members. In collaboration with local partner organisations, the focus was shifted to spread accurate and reliable information about the pandemic. The response to COVID – 19 was very impactful; the research collaboration undertaken by Harvard University researchers validated this claim.
Great Lakes Region: Internews Europe received funding for Covid -19 over 14 months. This work is to be implemented by Internews Europe in partnership with Pole Institute and International Alert in the Great Lakes region, Burundi, Rwanda, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Ituri, North and South Kivu, Tanganyika), Uganda (Kyangwali) and Western Tanzania (Kigoma). The project is a continuation of the work of Pole Institute, International Alert and Internews in the region, that was dedicated to the Ebola response, conflict prevention and improvement of information ecosystems and the fight against rumours and false information. Some key achievements of this work to date include:
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Production of more than 50 regional radio bulletin and thousands of media contents on issues related to Covid 19 and peace building in the Great Lake region disseminated and broadcasted by a network of more than 80 medias
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Production of rumour tracking bulletins, radio shows and debates
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Regular training and mentoring for journalists of the region on health, covid, vaccine reporting and fact checking
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Support various awareness raising activities to stop the spread of the virus and prevent conflicts in the regions
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Monitoring of the press and media freedom in the context of the pandemic restrictions, 4 quarterly monitoring report and various advocacy activities
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Community based sensitization, community-based radio shows
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Support community-based organizations in preventing conflicts including covid provoked by the pandemic
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Research on conflict and advocacy for conflict resolution
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Training authorities and humanitarian agencies on gender, conflict sensitivity and the way to communicate and work with media
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Work in Central Asia: during the year, Internews continued implementing the “Strengthening Resilience to Radicalisation and Disinformation in Central Asia through Independent Media (Phase II)”, a follow-up intervention which built on lessons learnt from the Phase I “Contributing to stability and peace in Central Asia through media literacy, improved reporting and regional cooperation” project.
A study commissioned by Internews in 2020, , examined how vulnerable communities consume news and information in Central Asia. Revealing widespread mistrust of information providers, the study pointed to the difficulty of reaching communities with verified information, particularly on COVID-19, and helped to offer workable solutions.
Other activities carried out under this project include:
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Two research studies: one into radicalisation leading to violent extremism in Central Asia and the second into media and information consumption among labour migrants, ethnic minorities, and refugees
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28 media professionals and communication experts from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan completed a 140-hour regional training of trainers (ToT) on conflict-sensitive journalism and conflict-sensitive communications. Internews together with the project partners and the 28 ToT alumni conducted 33 on-site workshops on conflictsensitive reporting, security, and social media for 398 journalists, bloggers, civic activists, press officers and religious/community leaders.196 local religious and community leaders learnt how to produce quality content on social media
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760 local content producers completed 13 training sessions of an extended online capacity building programme on effective online and social media health communication
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Trained content producers implemented 39 media projects producing more than 1,000 pieces of content on conflict-sensitive issues
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6 regional media forums and media labs conducted with a total of 650 participants (media professionals, civic activists, religious leaders, educators, state officials and experts)
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4 Idea Fests organised as part of #IdeaChallenge campaign
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438 socially relevant concept ideas submitted; 200 final ideas selected for Idea Fests; 106 ideas transformed into viable projects; 8 projects supported by Internews for funding
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“Three Dots. Know What You Browse” online media literacy campaign operating in four countries and on a regional level reaching 38 million online users
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109 stipends and grants awarded for content production
In Malaysia , our European Commission (EC) funded project ‘Suara Masyarakat’ (Public Voice) is helping to realise the media’s potential to provide mechanisms to support public participation in processes of reform, including data journalism which support increased transparency. In DRC, with funding from the EC and Sida we have been able to support legal reform and work with partners to produce high quality journalism and radio content which improves to access to information and provides the space for participation, particularly from women and youth who have traditionally been excluded.
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SPOTLIGHT ON: MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY
We continue to develop media sustainability as a core component of our work, and currently support emerging media business models in a range of varied contexts. This was significantly enhanced following the acquisition by Internews Network of media business consultancy Newsgain in 2020.
We continued to see impressive results from our work on media sustainability in Europe and Eurasia, where our partners have increased their audience share and grow revenue from online sales.
In 2020, the average the daily audience reach of partner media outlets in our Sida-funded AUDS project grew by 35 percent in Armenia, by 102 percent in Georgia, by 131 percent in Moldova and 17 percent in Ukraine. Ambrolauris Khma, a small outlet from Georgia, increased its audience reach through the production of multimedia and news stories on socially significant issues, such as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on local communities. The average daily audience grew by 377 percent from 123 average daily users in February of 2020 to 523 users in November of that year. The number of media outlet’s followers on Facebook grew from 1,112 in February of 2020 to 5,828 in November of that year.
At least half of all partner media outlets increased their revenues from online sales. On average the revenues from online sales of partner media outlets in Armenia grew by 1.5 percent, in Georgia: 34 percent, in Moldova: 336 percent, and in Ukraine: 67 percent. Stiri positive, a media outlet in Moldova, increased its online revenues by 586 percent from 250 euros in March of 2020 to 1,715 euros in October that year. Within the project, the outlet produced five infographics that featured women and girls who have transformed their passion into successful small businesses. Following this, a private company commissioned Stiri positive to create a set of infographics and visual products for commercial purposes.
Internews Europe continues to focus on women’s empowerment. We apply a gender lens within all our programming, but we also have projects specifically designed to be gender transformative.
In Iraq, our Sida-funded programme ‘Aswatouna’ (Our Voices) is helping to increase the capacity of Iraqi journalists and Civil Society Organisations as (CSO)s to produce gender-sensitive, inclusive content addressing women’s rights, to increase the presence of women’s voices in the media and public debate, to strengthen women’s resilience against gender-based digital attacks, to build leadership opportunities in the media and information space, and to educate Iraqi women on their political and economic rights in the country.
In Myanmar , we sought to elevate women’s perspectives within the Peace Process with partner “the Women League of Burma” funded from Norad. We provided story grants and opportunities for journalists to engage more deeply in issues at the intersection of gender and peace to improve the quality of reporting, which currently focuses on events rather than personal experiences or analysis of policy questions.
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Mahbooba Mohammadi, a Salam Watandar Reporter in Balkh, has observed changes in the perceptions of audiences around irregular migration as a result of their radio programmes.
In Afghanistan , we have been supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver a programme of journalism training and radio drama production with our long-standing partner radio network Salaam Watandaar. It is designed to increase the volume and quality of coverage of migration, inform people about safe routes and promote discussion around an issue which affects almost everyone in the country yet on which the media is broadly silent. We were also pleased to new funding in 2020 from the European Commission to support local media organisations in tackling COVID in the country.
In addition, we were able to launch work in the Great Lakes region of Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean to support local news outlets in reporting on the pandemic thanks to funding from the Commission. The Latin America work follows the success of our inaugural Rapid Response Fund, seeded with $500,000 in support from Luminate, which provided emergency grants to media and civil society organisations so they could continue to operate during the pandemic.
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Poster of the first call for participation of the Rapid Response Fund in Latin America and the Caribbean.
ENVIRONMENT PROJECTS
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) celebrated its 16[th] year in October. Internews Europe’s flagship environment project, Sida-funded EJN Asia Pacific, has been underway since 2018. As home to 60% of the world’s biodiversity, the region is central to global efforts to tackle environmental degradation and contains many stories that can have far-reaching impacts but limited coverage. The programme works in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, India and the Pacific, and has taken a three-pronged approach: connecting journalists virtually and in-person to share knowledge and expertise and collaborate on cross-border reporting initiatives, training journalists on how to produce engaging, inclusive, data-led content, and creating multimedia platforms which aggregate environmental stories, publish less-told stories and use placedbased storytelling and data visualization to contextualise events within the broader patterns of change.
The project is delivering for communities.
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An environmental journalism workshop carried out by Foundation for Community Educational Media (FCEM) in Thailand, focused on reporting on climate change and climate justice.
HEALTH PROJECTS
Internews Europe is part of a FCDO-funded multi-year collaboration to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the most challenging contexts. 2020 saw us undertake work in Uganda building public support for these rights using a network of community correspondents in the Kyangwali Refugee Camp. The correspondents, residents of the camp, were trained on “communicating with communities (CWC)” methodologies developed for humanitarian response to the health sector and adapted for the local context.
Health Projects – Covid -19
Our Information Saves Lives Rapid Response Fund made more than 180 grants averaging $3,000 each to small media organisations, journalists and civil society organisations in more than 40 countries. Of the nearly 1,000 applications we received, most sought funding so they could provide content for marginalized communities who faced language barriers, stigma, or other obstacles to receiving information.
For example, Tinig focused on the Filipino community in the UK, many whom work in health care, and a disproportionate number of whom have contracted and died from COVID-19. The UK Filipino community did not have an online news site dedicated to their interests and needs, until Tinig launched with Rapid Response funds. Many others sought funding to survive as organizations and continue their operations. Like media all around the world, their ability to earn revenue was hit hard by the pandemic, while the need for their work was higher than ever.
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Grantees including The Associacao Data Labe in Brazil used Rapid Response funds to sustain their operations and report data on COVID-19 in their community. As a non-profit media outlet located in Favela da Maré, one of the largest slums in Brazil, they serve 140,000 favela residents in one of the countries hardest-hit by COVID-19.
ASFEV distributed portable radios to women so they could get information about COVID-19 and other matters.
In total, Internews Europe received more than $8 million in funding for COVID 19 related work: in Afghanistan, Great Lakes, and Latin America, and $500,000 from Luminate for our Rapid Response Fund. Internews Europe also assisted the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, (through PNIF), in another round of Rapid Responses to the pandemic valued at £60,000.
Worth mentioning is the launching, during the year, of the COVID TASK FORCE consisting of staff across the Internews Alliance to monitor ongoing events around the world, review the implementation and impact of Internews various initiatives.
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Financial Review
The detailed results for the year and the state of affairs on 31 December 2020 are set out in the financial statements. The Trustees confirm that, in their opinion, applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed.
Total expenditure for the year was £12.89m and income was £15.66m. Year on year, this represents an income increase of 22.8% and a seventh consecutive year of growth based on trajectory at time of writing. Forecasts for 2021 indicate the potential for further growth. 2020 saw further progress in securing new funding income streams resulting in a boost to our group unrestricted reserves at the end of the year.
Reserves Policy
The board of trustees reviews the reserves policy on an annual basis. The current minimum target, as reviewed and determined by the trustees at the December 2020 Board meeting, is for Internews Europe to hold three months of overhead operating expenditure equivalent to £574k -- as unrestricted funds in reserve. On 31[st] December 2020 our unrestricted group reserves showed a surplus of (£333,951, from the £4,687 deficit reported in 2019.
This has taken Internews Europe into a new phase compared to previous years where it showed an unrestricted deficit.. The origins of the unrestricted fund deficit lay in 2012/13 when Internews Europe’s headquarters was relocated from Paris to London. From the accounting year of 2015 onwards, the charity has enjoyed in-year surpluses on unrestricted funds, which have gradually reduced the unrestricted deficit and aid foundations for a reserve.
The organisation continues to work towards its reserves target through a focused approach to securing unrestricted funding,
from trusts and foundations and corporate donors.
Significant Events
COVID – 19 Developments
Following the World Health Oganisation’s (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic on 11 March 2020, Internews continued to implement programmes to tackle the volume of mis- and disinformation accompanying and, arguably, accelerating this crisis. All this swiftly served to underscore the vital importance of Internews’ mission – with many funders launching new calls for proposals to address the need for reliable and accessible information.
The Internews Alliance’s priority was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, and on 16 March the entire workforce moved to remote working. The project portfolio was then reviewed to ensure that existing objectives could still be met through online delivery, and that all opportunities to deliver high quality information to equip communities around the world to respond to COVID-19 and hold their governments to account were being exploited, with additional institutional funding secured towards this.
While the new Internews five-year strategy launched in 2020 remained highly relevant, we modified it to reflect the additional challenges presented by COVID-19. Many of Internews’ partners saw an immediate drop in revenue as advertising dried up. They also had to move quickly to develop new safety protocols and equip themselves with an understanding of the science behind the pandemic. Internews launched a Rapid Response Fund providing grants of up to $500,000 to enable information providers to continue operating at this crucial moment, in addition to expanding its pool of health information specialists and doubling down on
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support to freedom of expression as civic space began contracting in several countries.
Final BREXIT date – 31.01.20
Following the official UK’s exit from the EU on 31 January 2020, Internews continued to review its opportunities and strategies postBrexit, including but not limited funding options both at UK levels and through our EU registered subsidiary in Paris. Internews Europe’s subsidiary in Dublin remained dormant through the year. Further financial details on the group can be observed from the consolidated financial statements for the year ending 31.12.20.
Events during the year:
Internews Europe’s Board member, Dr Saleyha Ahsan spoke at the sold out WS society event : Silencing the Medics, which was co-hosted by Internews in November 2020.
Internews Europe’s CEO, Jodie Ginsberg also spoke at a Reuters Institute seminar on Press Freedom and On-Line restrictions. These are in addition to panels at the John Schofield Trust media freedom and another panel to launch the Trinity Challenge, which is a coalition of partners with a common aim of developing insights and actions, contributing to a world better protected from global health emergencies.
and awareness into key matters. This work gave birth to the concept “Belonging, Dignity and Justice (BDJ)” and which has continued to thrive through the global organisation with the launch of various affinity groups and led by key, highly skilled staff. Our Alliance-wide Belonging, Dignity and Justice initiative, funded by the Internews Network, kicked off in November with a series of introductory sessions and an organisation-wide questionnaire. Our consultants, Decolonize Design, will now work with us to help develop policies, practices, and processes to ensure this is an organisation in which everyone can thrive
Principal funding sources
Most of our income is derived from public donor agencies supporting international development.
The year also saw the continuation of muchvalued services in-kind and unrestricted financial support from the members of our Corporate Partnership Programme. Sky News and Slaughter & May are thanked for their support for the partnership programme.
The trustees are additionally grateful to the contributions of Slaughter & May LLP, Howard Kennedy LLP, Mayer Brown International LLP and Arnold & Porter, for a range of pro-bono legal and other consultancy services in the year.
Going Concern Review
Belonging, Dignity & Justice
It will be almost inevitable to think of our achievements in 2020 without any reference to the Black Lives Matter campaign following the upheaval in the United States in the summer. These events caused the Internews Alliance to re-think its own internal strategies, processes and approaches, taking up a thorough evaluation on how the company can create a deeper awareness and proper management of this big development. To this end, the Internews Alliance engaged the services of Decolonize Design to help management and staff gain deeper insight
For the reasons set out above, and outlined further in accounting policy 1(d), the Trustees consider it appropriate to prepare the accounts on the going concern basis.
At the end of the 2020 financial year, Internews Europe had been awarded new donations and contracts with a total value of £16.64m over the next 4 years in addition to existing work/income, with a strong and growing pipeline of other income developing in 2020 through subsequent years.
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Processes of monthly and 12 month rolling forecasts of income and expenditure, including cash management procedures, have ensured the charity maintains strong liquidity with forecasts showing a further strengthened position over the coming 12 months.
Internews continues to further its efforts in its pursuing an aggressive donor diversification strategy which reduces over-reliance on any one donor.
department manages relationships with governmental, multilateral and NGO donors whilst the Philanthropy Department is responsible for fundraising from individual supporters, private foundations and corporations.
Internews Europe is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. There were no complaints received during the year and, likewise, no-incidents of non-compliance with the applicable code.
Fundraising Regulation
All Internews fundraising activities are managed in house. Our development
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Risk Management
Internews Europe adopts a rigorous approach to risk management which allows the Trustees and Senior Management Team to take a contemporaneous and informed view of the organisation’s risk tolerance level. Such an approach is necessary for Internews to implement complex programmes, with success and well-managed risk, in a range of the most fragile states in the world.
The trustees actively review the major risks to which the charity is exposed to ensure that systems are in place to monitor and mitigate those risks. A review of the strategic risk register takes place during all scheduled trustee board meetings and on an ad-hoc basis if and when risks are re-graded to the higher levels in the register. The trustees also determine which areas of risk they wish to review in detail on a standing basis, irrespective of the risk ratings.
Senior managers take operational responsibility for risk mitigation in all areas; for example, by ensuring appropriate internal controls and policies are in place whilst regularly monitoring risks from the external operating environment. Specifically, the management group receives information via a more detailed programme portfolio risk register which identifies specific risks and actions required down to the level of each individual project. In turn, this information feeds the overall strategic risk register as reviewed by the trustees.
The trustees believe these actions provide sufficient early warning systems, and the requisite controls and procedures in the event of adverse conditions.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Global shocks: early 2020 saw the world hit by a global pandemic the consequences of
which are still being assessed. Internews has robust operational security protocols which enabled swift and decisive action to mitigate the health risk to staff across the
organisation, and deeply embedded tools and practices for distributed working which meant a smooth transition to remote working. A Senior Director of Security and Program Operations leads key senior staff in rapid decision making on staff travel and office closures and this Emergency Management Team meets regularly for updates on local and global risks presented by the pandemic.
The pandemic is described by many as an ‘infodemic’, and while we have seen some projects temporarily reduce the pace of delivery to observe social distancing, we have also seen increased demand from funders for work which involves the dissemination of high quality information which enables people to make informed decisions to protect themselves and strengthens civil society efforts to resist increased pressure on freedom of expression, and are able to deliver much of this on digital platforms. We remain concerned about the immediate health and secondary economic, political, and societal impacts that COVID-19 may generate in many of the places we work and retain a watching brief through our Operational Security team.
Operational Security: there are inherent risks to working in fragile states, or those vulnerable to disasters, and these risks are ever present. The trustees periodically and carefully review the organisation’s ability to continue to operate programmes in high-risk environments to ensure that we have well developed procedures and protocols for working in such environments. These include a well-resourced emergency management structure shared with our allied entity in the US. The trustees are of the view that
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maintaining such resources and operational capacity is essential for the organisation to achieve its charitable purposes.
Hostile Environment for Media Partners and Support to Media: worldwide the number of journalists killed or attacked in the course of their duties continues to remain high. Established norms that protect the fundamental principles of free expression, and the role of media as a fourth pillar of democracy face increasing hostility in all societies. These trends underscore the global need for Internews’ work, but also require increasingly careful assessment of risks to partners involved. Such assessments go on to form the method of operation for individual projects, in such a way that impact can still be achieved whilst preserving partner safety and security.
External/Government Policy: like many UK registered international charities, Internews has developed an extensive mitigation strategy to insulate the organisation from the effects of the UK leaving the European Union. This is further described in ‘Significant Events’ above.
Financial: on-going volatility in the currency markets affecting multi-currency operations and programme budgets continued in 2020. This is mitigated through a well-managed treasury function and highly effective currency planning.
In addition, Internews continues to focus intensively on a donor diversification strategy to mitigate risks. In late 2020, Internews appointed a new Senior Director of Outreach and Partnerships who will focus on building relationships with a diverse set of institutional funders. This appointment is already bearing fruit with Internews invited to bid for two new projects as a result. In addition, Internews has appointed two new staff members to cover for our Director of Philanthropy, Claire Palmer, during her maternity leave. A dedicated Trusts and Foundations Officer, alongside a Corporate Partnerships
Associate, will allow us to take a more targeted approach to securing funding from these sectors.
Investment in increased external outreach, through collaboration with our newly created Alliance-wide External Affairs team will also enable us to identify potential new sources of support in future.
Safeguarding and Serious Incidents
During the year, Internews continued to step up its efforts in ensuring high standards of safeguarding, monitoring and training of all relevant persons across the globe strengthened by a suite of polices in six languages. These include policies on :
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Prevention of Abuse and Safeguarding,
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Non-Discrimination and AntiHarassment
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Relationships in the Workplace,
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Business Ethics,
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Disclosure, Protection Investigation,
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Conflict of Interest.
One of such stepped up measures included the appointment of skilled consultants to review reported cases where it was felt that there was insufficient in-house expertise to deal with the matter at hand.
The charity maintains its zero-tolerance policy towards abuse or other forms of serious misconduct and sets clear standards and expectations around representatives’ behaviour in our international Code of Conduct.
All employees and other representatives are required to take part in both induction and recurring annual training on safeguarding and associated policies and controls (through webinars, face to face discussions and consultations) Internews continued to refer to its Safeguarding framework intended to provide absolute clarity of incident management, simplicity and accessibility
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within our reporting mechanisms. Internews offers various points of internal incident reporting for all UK and international representatives, in addition to an external, multi-lingual reporting and whistleblowing ‘hotline’ operated by Lighthouse Services.
The trustees are alive to their obligations to report the most serious misconduct or abuse to relevant authorities in the United Kingdom and other countries of operation, in particular the formal requirements for Serious Incident Reporting to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. In broader terms, this obligation is understood across the broader definitions of Serious Incidents in which the Commission would have an interest.
trustees had dealt with the matter appropriately and responsibly. Further clarification was sought by trustees related to a third incident as Internews was initially slow to report the incident, which had occurred in 2019.
All reported cases have been closed by the Charities Commission and donors respectively, following in-depth reviews and investigations.
Internews Europe CEO Jodie Ginsberg launched an initial review of safeguarding policies and practices in 2020 and in 2021 Internews will engage an external consultant to advise on the organisation’s current policies, processes, and practices.
Three Serious Incident Notifications were made to the Commission during the period covered by this report. In two cases, the Charity Commission was satisfied that the
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Plans
2020 was the first year of implementation for our new five-year strategic framework: Internews 2025.
Goal: Over the next five years, as the next 3 billion people come online, we will join with allies who share our vision, including journalists and technologists, data scientists and legal specialists, as well as artists, advocates, and storytellers. Together, we will build healthy information environments in more than 100 countries across the globe.
Key to the advancement of our vision and goal are two new commitments we are making with this framework:
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First, we are committing to building a Global Change Agenda to complement our deep and long-standing in-country program expertise. This Global Change Agenda will elevate the insights and concerns of our partners to significantly influence the policies, norms, and practices of global players toward building healthier information environments around the world.
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Second, we are committing to studying and evaluating the actual changes that occur in a community when their information environment improves over time. We will deeply explore our impact around the world and learn which of our approaches are most effective and worth bringing to scale. We call this “25 x 25,” as we aim to focus research and external expertise on 25 diverse and representative communities around the world through the end of this strategy in 2025.
Finally, we recognize that resources are necessary to support this work, so we will evaluate the potential funding opportunities and steps we need to take to raise the diverse resources necessary to advance this framework — while also ensuring Internews remains financially and operationally resilient into the future.
The strategy will shape the way we work in 2021 and beyond, driving us to listen more closely to our partners, advocate more loudly on their behalf, work harder to find and support media business models that work, be more demanding in the pursuit of quality and excellence, and in proving that we have achieved it, and finding new partners and avenues to deliver our mission.
While the response to COVID formed much of the operational focus of 2020, we were pleased that the pillars of the 2025 strategy remained profoundly relevant. We were able to launch several 25 x 25 research projects and look forward to presenting the results of these later in 2021.
Annual Operational Planning
The strategic framework, in turn, provides the foundations for annual operational plans developed for Internews Europe at a headquarters level, in addition to a range of regional plans for each of our geographic programme units. The 2021 annual operational plan for Internews Europe in the
19 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
UK focussed on three principal goals and objectives as follows:
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(1) Lead, Service and Support effective programmes in support of Internews’ global strategy
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1.1 Objective - Sustain EU-funded programmes in service of the strategic plans developed by regional PMUs and global teams.
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(2) Increase financial sustainability
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2.1 Objective - Increase private income, unrestricted income and reserves
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(3) Develop the operational capacity and risk resilience of the organisation
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3.1 Objective - Reform Alliance agreements and processes to improve cost effectiveness and create efficiencies across organisation
In summary , the three operational focus areas for Internews Europe in 2021 will be:
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Building the best organisation
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Building the best Alliance with its sister organisations
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Building a better world
This is the end of the strategic report.
20 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
Structure, Governance and Management
Internews Europe is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales on 23 December 2011 and registered as a charity in England and Wales on 1 August 2012. Internews Europe (UK) is the legal successor to Internews Europe (France), originally established in 1995, having been the beneficiary entity of an assignment agreement whereby contracts, grants and assets were transferred to full control of Internews Europe (UK) as of 1 April 2013. The resulting subsidiary, Internews France, was disposed of after winding up operations on the 1 January 2015.
The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association.
The primary objective of the charity as expressed in the Memorandum of Association is "The promotion of education and vocational training in the field of journalism in all its forms for the benefit of the public, in particular in countries experiencing conflict, civil unrest, or natural disaster."
The trustees and executive seek to fulfil these objectives through establishing projects in a wide range of countries which focus on media development and information access around several core themes: Democracy, Human Rights & Governance, Humanitarian Information, Health and the Environment.
The trustees are responsible for the overall governance of the charity. The Board has constituted a committee for Audit, Risk and Governance which meets two to three times a year. The committee, reviews financial reports, annual audits and other risk matters making recommendations to the main board as deemed appropriate.
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in Note 6 to the accounts. Most trustees donate travel and other expenses associated with their governance duties.
GROUP SUBSIDIARIES
Internews International (France)
Since 2018 Internews Europe has enjoyed effective overall control of the French NonProfit Association Internews International (RNA no. W751139592, SIRET no. 425 132 347 000 13 APE 921).
Internews International was originally established in Paris, France in 1995 as a coordination and membership body for both Internews Europe (by extension including the former Internews France), Internews Network (USA) and a range of national media development organisations in Eastern Europe Central and South Asia. Whilst practical cooperation continued, the legal vehicle itself had become somewhat redundant in more recent years.
For good order, and as part of measures to sustain a continental European legal identity after the UK leaves the European Union Internews Europe agreed to the measures necessary for it to assume overall control with all other members. The transfer of control was confirmed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Internews International in February 2018. A principal measure of control is that Internews Europe UK, as a corporate member of the French Association, has the sole authority to appoint the officers of President, General Secretary and Treasurer. The revised articles of Internews International make provision for these officers to be members of the Key Management Personnel of Internews Europe UK.
21 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
Internews International closed its third year of operations (31 December 2020) with a surplus of £7,063. The total restricted fund balance closed at £nil
Internews Media Development Company (Republic of Ireland)
In addition to the above, Internews Europe registered a subsidiary non-profit company in the Republic of Ireland in 2017 (no. 615323). This entity remains dormant on the Irish company register and no further disclosures are required.
TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT, INDUCTION AND TRAINING
Trustees are proactively selected and appointed to ensure there is a broad range of relevant skills and experience represented across the trustee board. Trustee recruitment may take place using open advertisements and/or through more targeted approaches to individuals, agreed by existing trustees to possess skills and experience that would further strengthen the board. A trustee board skills matrix is regularly reviewed to ensure a suitable balance of skills, experience and trustee diversity. A comprehensive policy exists for the appointment and approval of new trustees, in addition to processes for the election of officers such as the Chair, ViceChair and Treasurer.
A rolling cycle of training and development of trustees ensures there are cognizant of their statutory responsibilities and keep up to date on key issues such as development and relief work in addition to exposure to Internews Europe's international programmes.
As part of our Strategic Alliance with Internews Network (see Related Parties, below), the board of our US sister organisation is entitled to select and appoint one of its own number as a trustee to serve on the Internews Europe board.
This role is currently fulfilled by Mr Matt Chanoff. This is a reciprocal arrangement; therefore, Internews Europe’s trustees also have an entitlement to select one of their number to serve on Internews Network’s Board of Directors. This role is currently undertaken by Mrs Kristina Henschen.
ORGANISATION OF THE CHARITY
lnternews Europe's operations are conducted in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the
policies/strategies approved by the Trustees. Given the international scale and complexity of the organisation, the trustees delegate all day-to-day responsibilities for running the organisation to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This position was held by Mr Daniel Bruce for the 5+ years from 24 February 2014 – 18 September 2019. Thereafter, Ms Rosie Parkyn acted as Chief Executive Officer until the position was taken up by Ms Jodie Ginsberg on 9 March 2020.
The CEO is supported by the Senior Management Team (SMT, consisting of Key Management Personnel) namely Mrs Foluke Mogaji , Senior Director of Finance and Resources, Mr Denis Kovalenko, Head of Grants, Contracts and Compliance, Ms Camilla Palazzini, Director of Development (resigned 16 October 2020), Mrs Claire Palmer, Director of Philanthropy and Ms Rosie Parkyn, Global Director of Impact, for the period when she was not acting as CEO, and Mr Abdurahman Sharif , Senior Director of Outreach and Partnerships who joined the company in January, 2021
In addition, a larger Corporate Management Group takes responsibility for various operational and support functions. Field programmes are overseen by a range of Regional Directors, Country Directors and other national support staff.
22 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
RELATED PARTIES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS
Internews Network (USA)
lnternews Europe operates in a Strategic Alliance with lnternews Network; a US based non-profit organisation which was the first media development organisation to bear the Internews name and brand. A Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic alliance was signed by the boards of both entities in September 2014. This was subsequently reinforced with a legalised, Strategic Alliance Agreement signed in June 2016.
Through their Alliance, Internews Network (IUS or Internews US) and Internews Europe (IEU) express their joint commitment and intent to create greater programme impact and public benefit than two separate organisations would be able to achieve on their own. The Alliance is particularly intended to ensure seamless delivery of programmes through regional and country offices, and greater sharing and application of effective organisational learning.
The Alliance has shared responsibility for five regional Programme Management Units (PMUs) which, under the leadership of their associated Regional Directors are accountable to both entities for the successful implementation of a diverse body of projects and programmes jointly funded by the Alliance. Given the nature of this arrangement, there are a significant amount of Inter-Alliance financial transactions over the course of the year, which ensure each field office is equipped with the resources to deliver a blended portfolio of projects and programmes.
Nevertheless, IEU and IUS purposefully maintain separate, independent, governance bodies and each legal entity has its own CEO.
CDAC Network (Limited) (UK)
Internews Europe continues to maintain its membership of the “Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) Network” . During the year, Internews has been represented on the CDAC board by Ms Rosie Parkyn, Internews Europe’s Global Director of Impact.
REMUNERATION POLICY AND SALARY DISCLOSURES FOR KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
The trustee board takes responsibility for the appointment and performance management of the Chief Executive Officer. This includes an annual review of the CEO’s pay and benefits which, in turn, is linked to a detailed and rigorously benchmarked organisational salary scale.
In broad terms, all salary bands are reviewed periodically, both for sector benchmarking and any inflationary increments deemed appropriate and affordable for the overall payscale. During annual benchmarking of the organisational salary scale, Internews Europe compares its pay bands for all positions to equivalent posts in the following areas:
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Domestic and international charities with a similar level of income.
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Other relevant international charities of any size; for example, others in the British Government’s Rapid Response Facility (RRF).
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Other charitable organisations working in the specific sectors of media, information and development, freedom of expression and support to independent journalism; and
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Comparable salaries of Internews Network staff.
Taken as a whole, the Internews Alliance is among the two or three largest, if not the largest organisation working in the media, information and development sub-sector.
23 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
Given this scale and complexity, and the need to recruit and retain skilled staff with an unusual blend of experience in both media and international development, our salary scale is set in the middle of the upper quartile of our benchmarking results.
incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial
- select suitable accounting policies and
In setting the pay and benefits of the Chief Executive Officer, the trustees work from a minimum floor figure in the salary scales, which is currently £86,683, up to an in principle pay multiple ratios of five (relative to the lowest pay scale).
In turn, the CEO sets the pay and benefits of the other senior directors using the scale points immediately below the CEO floor. Details of all salaries and benefits exceeding £60,000 for the year can be found in Note 6 to the financial statements.
For 2020, the Senior Pay disclosures include the CEO, Senior Director of Finance and Resources, Director of Development, Director of Philanthropy and Director of Programmes. The aggregated actual pay for this group in 2020 was £457,784 (2019 - £406,876).
FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE
During 2020 there were no funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE’S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also directors of Internews Europe for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the
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observe the methods and principles in the
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make judgements and estimates that are
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
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there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditors are unaware; and
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the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the
24 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to
the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees on 31 December 2020 was 9 (2019: 9). The trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.
Auditors
Sayer Vincent LLP were re-appointed as the charitable company's auditors during the year.
Approved by the trustees on 17 June 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
Mark Stephens, CBE, Chair of Trustees
Photo Credits:
Internews (pg. 8), Internews (pg. 9), FCEM (ph 10), ASFEV (pg 11)
25 | Internews Europe Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020
Independent Auditor’s Report
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Internews Europe (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the consolidated statement of financial activities, the group and parent charitable company balance sheets, the consolidated statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
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Give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2020 and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended
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Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
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Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the group financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Internews Europe's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other Information
The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report, other than the group financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the group financial statements does not cover the other information, and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion
Internews Europe Independent Auditor’s Report 2020 | 26
thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the group financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the group financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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The information given in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements
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The trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report, including the strategic report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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Adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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The parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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Certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ annual report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Internews Europe Independent Auditor’s Report 2020 | 27
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and section 151 of the Charites Act 2011 and report in accordance with those Acts.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.
Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:
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We enquired of management, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the group’s policies and procedures relating to:
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Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
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Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud;
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The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.
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We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
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We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the group operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the group from our professional and sector experience.
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We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit.
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We reviewed any reports made to regulators.
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We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
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We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
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In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or noncompliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be
Internews Europe Independent Auditor’s Report 2020 | 28
less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities . This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Jonathan Orchard (Senior statutory auditor) 8 July 2021 for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TL
Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
Internews Europe Independent Auditor’s Report 2020 | 29
Internews Europe
Consolildated statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)
For the year ended 31 December 2020
| Unrestricted £ Income from: 2 94,400 3 601,932 3 84,272 3 116,300 896,904 4 184,873 4 275,599 4 40,551 4 57,243 558,266 338,638 Reconciliation of funds: 15 (4,687) 333,951 Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward Raising funds Environment Humanitarian Total income Expenditure on: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Charitable activities Democracy, Governance & Human Rights Environment Humanitarian Total expenditure Net movement in funds Democracy, Governance & Human Rights Note |
Restricted £ - 10,748,890 1,177,012 2,839,746 |
2020 Total Unrestricted £ £ 94,400 135,146 11,350,822 350,511 1,261,284 50,240 2,956,046 34,477 15,662,552 570,374 184,873 161,026 9,986,394 223,900 1,181,193 105,753 1,541,571 41,677 12,894,031 532,356 2,768,521 38,018 6,815,327 (42,705) 9,583,848 (4,687) |
2020 Total Unrestricted £ £ 94,400 135,146 11,350,822 350,511 1,261,284 50,240 2,956,046 34,477 15,662,552 570,374 184,873 161,026 9,986,394 223,900 1,181,193 105,753 1,541,571 41,677 12,894,031 532,356 2,768,521 38,018 6,815,327 (42,705) 9,583,848 (4,687) |
Restricted £ - 9,365,675 1,760,567 1,055,721 |
2019 Total £ 135,146 9,716,186 1,810,807 1,090,198 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14,765,648 | 570,374 | 12,181,963 | 12,752,337 | ||
| - 9,710,795 1,140,642 1,484,328 |
161,026 223,900 105,753 41,677 |
- 5,387,786 2,951,448 700,288 |
161,026 5,611,686 3,057,201 741,965 |
||
| 12,335,765 | 532,356 | 9,039,522 | 9,571,878 | ||
| 2,429,883 6,820,014 |
38,018 (42,705) |
3,142,441 3,677,573 |
3,180,459 3,634,868 |
||
| 9,249,897 | (4,687) | 6,820,014 | 6,815,327 |
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 15 to the financial statements.
30
Internews Europe
Company no. 07891107
Balance sheets
As at 31 December 2020
| Note Fixed assets: 10 Current assets: 11 Liabilities: 12 15 Funds: Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Tangible assets Debtors General funds Cash at bank and in hand Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds: Total funds Total net assets |
2020 2019 £ 47,775 61,291 47,775 61,291 2,054,613 2,469,689 8,089,159 5,483,590 10,143,772 7,953,279 607,699 1,199,243 9,536,073 6,754,036 9,583,848 6,815,327 9,249,897 6,820,014 333,951 (4,687) 9,583,848 6,815,327 The group |
2020 2019 £ 47,775 61,291 47,775 61,291 2,054,613 2,469,689 8,089,159 5,483,590 10,143,772 7,953,279 607,699 1,199,243 9,536,073 6,754,036 9,583,848 6,815,327 9,249,897 6,820,014 333,951 (4,687) 9,583,848 6,815,327 The group |
2020 2019 £ 47,775 61,291 47,775 61,291 2,231,722 2,651,754 8,064,099 5,325,853 10,295,821 7,977,607 726,801 1,223,447 9,569,020 6,754,160 9,616,795 6,815,451 9,254,864 6,816,578 361,931 (1,127) 9,616,795 6,815,451 The charity |
2020 2019 £ 47,775 61,291 47,775 61,291 2,231,722 2,651,754 8,064,099 5,325,853 10,295,821 7,977,607 726,801 1,223,447 9,569,020 6,754,160 9,616,795 6,815,451 9,254,864 6,816,578 361,931 (1,127) 9,616,795 6,815,451 The charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47,775 2,054,613 8,089,159 |
61,291 2,469,689 5,483,590 |
47,775 2,231,722 8,064,099 |
61,291 2,651,754 5,325,853 |
|
| 10,143,772 607,699 |
7,953,279 1,199,243 |
10,295,821 726,801 |
7,977,607 1,223,447 |
|
| 9,536,073 | 6,754,036 | 9,569,020 | 6,754,160 | |
| 9,583,848 | 6,815,327 | 9,616,795 | 6,815,451 | |
| 9,249,897 333,951 |
6,820,014 (4,687) |
9,254,864 361,931 |
6,816,578 (1,127) |
|
| 9,583,848 | 6,815,327 | 9,616,795 | 6,815,451 |
Approved by the trustees on 17 June 2021 and signed on their behalf by
Mark Stephens CBE Chair of Trustees
31
Internews Europe
Statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 December 2020
| Note 16 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash flows from operating activities |
2020 2019 £ £ 2,621,190 2,538,599 (15,621) (15,249) 2,605,569 2,523,350 5,483,590 2,960,240 8,089,159 5,483,590 |
|---|---|
32
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 1 Accounting policies
a) Statutory information
Internews Europe is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address (and principal place of business), is 43-51 New North Road, London, N1 6LU. In 2018, Internews Europe initiated the process of acquiring effective control of the French Non-Profit Association Internews International (RNA no. W751139592, SIRET no. 425 132 347 000 21 APE 913). As of 15 November, 2017, Internews Europe had successfully registered a new entity in Ireland - Internews Media Development (A Company Limited by Guarantee) with registered Company number 615323. Under the new structure, Internews Europe remains the Parent Company, with Internews France and Ireland as Subsidiaries. As December 2018, there is a requirement to consolidate the reports of both Internws Europe and Internews Internatioal, as control of the latter was achieved in February 2018. Internews Media Development Company (registered in November 2017 in the Republic of Ireland), remained dormant in 2020.
b) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.
These financial statements consolidate the results of the charitable company and its wholly-owned subsidiary Internews International on a line by line basis. Transactions and balances between the charitable company and its subsidiary have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Balances between the two companies are disclosed in the notes of the charitable company's balance sheet. A separate statement of financial activities, or income and expenditure account, for the charitable company itself is not presented because the charitable company has taken advantage of the exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.
c) Public benefit entity
The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
d) Going concern
Internews Europe opened in 2020 with an Unrestricted Fund deficit of £4,687 . In light of the in year surplus made in the year, the results of Internews Europe are stating a surplus of £333,951.
In light of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Internews senior management team has conducted a series of stress tests and scenario plans for the coming year to ensure the organisation is well placed to withstand any financial downturn. This includes a ‘worst case scenario’ model that envisages no new funding whatsoever for the coming year. Even in this worst case scenario, Internews would be able to maintain its current staffing structure through cuts to discretionary budgets (ie. travel, planned new hires).
We are aware that the full impact of COVID 19 on the funding landscape is as yet unknown. However, through effective cash flow management and good relationships with donors and cost control measures where required, the financial risks from COVID 19 can be effectively managed. On the basis of current assessment of C-19 impact the trustees believe that IEU will have sufficient cash flow to keep operating for the next 12 months. In the view of the trustees, there are no other material uncertainties and so they continue to
e) Income
Revenue grants are credited to the statement of financial activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier.
Where unconditional entitlement to grants receivable is dependent upon fulfilment of conditions within the charity's control, the incoming resources are recognised when there is sufficient evidence that conditions will be met. Where there is uncertainty as to whether the charity can meet such conditions the incoming resource is deferred.
For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.
Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.
33
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 1 Accounting policies (continued)
f) Donations of gifts, services and facilities
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
On receipt, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
g) Fund accounting
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.
h) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
i) Allocation of support costs
Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned to the charities activities on a proportionate and consistent basis. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity. These costs relate to constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity's activities.
We have apportioned Support costs to the activities as follows:
Democracy and governance 73.81% Environment 10.86% Humanitarian 15.33%
j) Foreign currency transactions
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the Inforeuro rates prevailing at the date of the transaction. Balances denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Any gain or loss for the period is taken to the statement of financial activities.
k) Operating leases
Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.
34
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 1 Accounting policies (continued)
l) Tangible fixed assets
Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Furniture and other equipment directly related to projects are fully expensed to such projects so as to reflect the full costs of implementation. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
Office equipment and computers 3 years Office furniture 5 years Fixtures & fittings Life of office lease
m) Debtors
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
n) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
o) Creditors
Creditors are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resource.
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
p) Pensions
Internews Europe mainatains a pension scheme where staff are auto-enrolled accordingly. Both Internews Europe and employees make contributions into the scheme in compliance with regulatory requirements.
2 Income from donations
| Income from donations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations Gifts/Services in kind |
£ 63,250 31,150 Unrestricted |
£ - - Restricted |
2020 Total Unrestricted £ £ 63,250 53,180 31,150 81,966 94,400 135,146 |
£ - - Restricted |
2019 Total £ 53,180 81,966 |
|
| 94,400 | - | 135,146 | - | 135,146 |
The unrestricted donations represent monies received from individuals and foundations. Gifts/Services in-kind are in relation to probono legal support on various tasks and assignments undertaken throughout the year.
35
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 3 Income from charitable activities
| Income from charitable activities | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ - - - - - - - - - - - 559,933 - - - - - - 42,000 - - - - - - 601,932 Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands UK Department for International Development (FCDO) - OPTIONS Unrestricted IREX Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation Orgsafe - Other Luminate US Services, LLC FCDO (KPMG Advisory) German Development Agency Sub-total for Democracy, Human Rights & Governance European Commission - DG Devco European Commission - ICSP Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Other funders European Commission - EIDHR The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (Internews International) Cruach Trust European Commission Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Swiss MFA (le département fédéral des affaires Foundation to Promote Civil Society Open Society Foundation FCDO- ARTICLE 19 |
£ - - - - - - - - - - - 559,933 - - - - - - 42,000 - - - - - - Unrestricted |
£ 312,219 191,083 3,060 368,614 (2,600) - 4,129,298 231916 543,438 133,499 - - - - - - 4,085,452 18,000 407,254 72,692 96,964 60,039 82,525 15,437 Restricted |
2020 Total Unrestricted £ £ 312,219 - 191,083 - 3,060 - 368,614 - (2,600) - - - 4,129,298 - - 5,495 231,916 - 543,438 - 133,499 - 559,933 328,756 - - - - - - - 14,760 - 1,500 4,085,452 - 60,000 - 407,254 - 72,692 - 96,964 - 60,039 - 82,525 - 15,437 - 11,350,822 350,511 |
£ 108,232 (42,942) 2,699,654 566,431 94,269 30,424 4,806,963 - 495,493 592,985 - - 17,550 (6,094) 2,710 - - - - - - - - - - Restricted |
2019 Total £ 108,232 (42,942) 2,699,654 566,431 94,269 30,424 4,806,963 5,495 495,493 592,985 - 328,756 17,550 (6,094) 2,710 14,760 1,500 - - - - - - - - |
|
| 10,748,890 | 350,511 | 9,365,675 | 9,716,186 |
36
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 3 Income from charitable activities (continued)
| Income from charitable activities (continued) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxfam Rockefeller Foundation - OXFAM Oxfam European Commission Other funders Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA) European Climate Foundation The Bertarelli Foundation Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Sub-total for Humanitarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands International Organisation Migration UK Department for International Development International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) European Commission FCDO Danish Refugee Council (FCDO) Other funders UK Department for International Development (FCDO) - OXFAM UK Department for International Development (FCDO) - International Rescue Committee Sub-total for Environment Save the Children UK - (START Network) International Committee of the Red Cross Various - Core UK Department for International Development (FCDO) -BBC Media Action Arcadia Philanthropic Trust Oak Foundation Total income from charitable activities |
£ - 1,885 - - - - 82,387 - - Unrestricted |
£ 32,319 933,078 25,000 (8,403) (976) - 192,175 3,819 Restricted |
2020 Total Unrestricted £ £ 32,319 - 934,963 - - - 25,000 - (8,403) - (976) - 82,387 50,240 192,175 - 3,819 - 1,261,284 50,240 2020 Total Unrestricted £ £ 202,756 - - - 116,300 19,800 - - 32,705 - - - 74,997 - - - - (323) - 15,000 1,783,931 - 15,764 - 72,755 - 7,563 - 649,275 - 2,956,046 34,477 |
£ 356,052 1,151,747 72,174 50,000 63,004 67,590 - - - Restricted |
2019 Total £ 356,052 1,151,747 72,174 50,000 63,004 67,590 50,240 - - |
|
| 84,272 | 1,177,012 | 50,240 | 1,760,567 | 1,810,807 | ||
| Unrestricted £ - - 116,300 - - - - - - - - - - - - |
£ 202,756 - - - 32,705 - 74,997 - - - 1,783,931 15,764 72,755 7,563 649,275 Restricted |
£ 34,898 44,475 - 17,795 65,190 14,224 152,077 44,987 - - - - - - 682,075 Restricted |
2019 Total £ 34,898 44,475 19,800 17,795 65,190 14,224 152,077 44,987 (323) 15,000 - - - - 682,075 |
|||
| 116,300 | 2,839,746 | 34,477 | 1,055,721 | 1,090,198 | ||
| 896,904 | 14,765,648 | 15,662,552 | 435,228 | 12,181,963 | 12,617,191 |
The income from the grants shown above have been aggregated by charitable activity which have been described in note 15 to the financial statements.
- Negative income balances relate primarily to forex adjustments on actual income received and unspent funds payable back to donors.
37
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
4 Analysis of expenditure (Current year)
| Analysis of expenditure (Current | year) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff costs (Note 6) Project delivery costs Rent Office costs Utilities IT and communications Development costs Finance costs Legal and Professional fees Depreciation Travel costs Support and governance costs Total expenditure 2020 |
Cost of raising funds £ 136,935 - - 5,685 - 851 25,417 109 11,530 - 4,346 |
Charitable | activities | Support costs £ 686,371 132,809 104,869 29,495 (9) 41,765 168 4,859 85,419 29,136 (1,080) 1,113,802 (1,113,802) - |
2020 Total £ 5,445,646 6,310,409 321,955 179,218 8,070 123,237 25,585 58,417 257,520 29,136 134,838 12,894,031 12,894,031 |
2019 Total £ 4,486,125 3,214,947 156,548 309,814 6,123 154,239 3,561 71,813 333,453 26,849 808,406 |
||
| Democracy, Governance & Human Rights £ 3,411,724 5,102,326 123,885 133,544 8,055 75,217 - 49,585 117,458 - 102,830 |
Environment £ 501,991 505,193 22,447 3,636 - 2,886 - 2,100 662 - 9,941 |
Humanitarian £ 708,625 570,081 70,754 6,858 24 2,518 - 1,764 6,510 - 18,801 |
Governance costs £ - - - - - - - - 35,941 - - |
|||||
| 184,873 - |
9,124,624 861,770 |
1,048,856 132,337 |
1,385,935 155,636 |
35,941 (35,941) |
9,571,878 | |||
| 184,873 | 9,986,394 | 1,181,193 | 1,541,571 | - | 9,571,878 |
38
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
4 Analysis of expenditure (Current year)
| Staff costs (Note 6) Project delivery costs Rent Office costs Utilities IT and communications Development costs Finance costs Legal and Professional fees Depreciation Travel costs Support and governance costs Total expenditure 2019 |
Cost of raising funds £ 100,509 927 - 542 - 263 1,643 109 22,023 - 35,010 |
Charitable activities | Charitable activities | Support costs 2019 Total £ £ 396,969 4,486,125 29,780 3,214,947 97,239 156,548 35,588 309,814 - 6,123 53,381 154,239 1,918 3,561 60,940 71,813 156,938 333,453 26,849 26,849 32,021 808,406 891,623 9,571,878 (891,623) - - 9,571,878 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democracy, Governance & Human Rights £ 2,405,028 1,870,744 22,938 171,316 3,958 95,600 - (2,748) 73,473 - 434,397 |
Environment £ 1,135,943 1,186,458 23,325 68,806 2,029 7,587 - 6,853 47,088 - 261,891 |
Humanitarian £ 447,676 124,483 13,046 33,562 136 (2,592) - 6,577 775 - 44,891 |
Governance costs £ - 2,555 - - - - - 82 33,156 - 196 |
|||
| 161,026 - |
5,074,706 536,980 |
2,739,980 317,221 |
668,554 73,411 |
35,989 (35,989) |
||
| 161,026 | 5,611,686 | 3,057,201 | 741,965 | - |
39
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 5 Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging / (crediting):
| Net income/(expenditure) for the year This is stated after charging / (crediting): |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation | 29,137 | 26,849 |
| Operating lease rentals: | ||
| Property | 82,632 | 82,632 |
| Auditors' remuneration (net of VAT) : | ||
| Audit UK ( Statutory Audit) | 20,640 | 16,820 |
| Other services - donor audits | 99,895 | 96,232 |
| Foreign exchange gains or losses | (11,943) | 37,169 |
- 6 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel
Staff costs were as follows:
| Staff costs were as follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total staff costs Project staff - Internews NW & other direct contracted staff** Salaries and wages Social security costs Redundancy and termination costs Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes Other human resources costs Total emoluments paid to staff were: |
2020 £ 1,582,528 176,235 70,817 3,576,443 - |
2019 £ 1,255,881 138,711 48,570 2,976,175 15,372 |
| 5,406,023 39,623 |
4,434,709 51,416 |
|
| 5,445,646 | 4,486,125 |
**The Salaries of staff of Internews International (Paris) amounted to £370,465.
The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) during the year between:
| 2020 | 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | No. | ||
| £60,000 | - £69,999 | 3 | 2 |
| £70,000 | - £79,999 | - | 1 |
| £80,000 | - £89,999 | - | - |
| £90,000 | - £99,999 | 3 | 2 |
The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £457,784 (2019: £405,876).
The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2019: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2019: £nil).
Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £nil (2019: £1,267) incurred by nil (2019: 2) members relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees.
40
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
7 Staff numbers
The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was as follows:
| Charitable Expenditure Raising Funds Support & Governance |
2020 No. 21.00 10.00 5.00 |
2019 No. 16.0 8.00 4.00 |
|---|---|---|
| 36.00 | 28.00 |
Staff of Internews Network, other contractors and local staff working on Internews Europe's projects were 260 (December 2019: 110). Total staff engaged on Internews Europe's projects by the staff of Internews Network are estimated at 152.
8 Related party transactions
lnternews Europe maintains a formal 'Strategic Alliance' with lnternews Network; a US based non-profit organisation which was the first media development organisation to bear the lnternews name and brand. A Memorandum of Understanding to firmly establish a strategic alliance was signed by the boards of both entities in September 2014. Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Internews Network (IUS or Internews US) and Internews Europe (IEU) express their joint commitment and intent to form a Strategic Alliance which aims to create greater programme impact and public benefit than two separate organisations would be able to achieve on their own. The alliance approach is particularly intended to ensure seamless delivery of programmes through regional and country offices, and greater sharing and application of effective organisational learning. Nevertheless, IEU and IUS purposefully maintain separate governance bodies and each legal entity has its own CEO.
One of the trustees of Internews Network, David Hoffman, is on the board of both entities. Matt Chanoff is the Internews Network Board representative on the Board of Internews Europe. Carolyn Hink was appointed to the Board of Internews Europe on 17 January 2019 and subsequently replaced Sach Chandaria as Treasurer. The IEU Chief Executive Officer, Senior Director of Finance & Resources and the company's Treasurer, are on the board of Internews International, based in Paris.
At the end ~~o~~ f the financial year 31.12.20 IEU had a net debtor balance with IUS stated at £81,040 (2019: £195,643) All transactions were at an arm's length basis. Internews Europe's subsdiary, Internews International also owed a net total of £41,041 (2019: £151,542) as of the same date. Internews Europe, continued its representation on the Board of Trustees of CDAC (Communication in Disaster Affected Communities) during the year.
Donations amounting to £4,739 (cash and pledges) from trustees have been recognised during the year, (2019£7,818) . Internews Europe maintained its effective control of the French Non-Profit Association, Internews International (RNA no. W751139592, SIRET no. 425 132 347 000 13 APE 913). Internews Media Development, registered as a nonprofit entity in Ireland by Internews Europe in 2017, remained dormant.
9 Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
41
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
10 Tangible fixed assets
The group and charity
| The group and charity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| At the start of the year Net book value at end of the year At the end of the year At the start of the year Additions in the year Cost At the start of the year Charge for the year At the end of the year Depreciation |
Fixtures and fittings £ 91,645 - |
Office equipment & computers £ 35,382 15,621 |
Office furniture Total £ £ 598 127,625 - 15,621 |
| 91,645 | 51,003 | 598 143,246 |
|
| 48,266 18,329 |
17,838 10,688 |
230 66,334 120 29,137 |
|
| 66,595 | 28,526 | 350 95,471 |
|
| 25,050 | 22,477 | 248 47,775 |
|
| 43,379 | 17,544 | 368 61,291 |
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
11 Debtors
| Debtors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounts receivable Programme advances Other debtors Balance due from subsidiary/other Accrued income Prepayments |
2020 2019 £ £ 211,093 969,903 878,789 496,062 64,656 46,433 - - 888,245 940,454 11,831 16,838 2,054,613 2,469,692 The group |
2020 2019 £ £ 211,093 969,903 878,789 517,834 64,656 48,933 184,755 157,792 888,245 940,454 4,184 16,838 The charity |
||
| 2,054,613 | 2,469,692 | 2,231,722 | 2,651,754 |
12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Taxation and social security Other/Sundry creditors Other Intercompany Accruals Deferred income (note 13) |
2020 2019 £ £ 243,270 890,537 90,561 51,671 70,066 6,069 - - 203,802 105,163 - 145,803 607,699 1,199,243 The group |
2020 2019 £ £ 243,270 890,537 90,561 51,671 70,066 6,069 - - 203,802 105,163 - 145,803 607,699 1,199,243 The group |
2020 2019 £ £ 240,644 886,211 70,812 51,671 70,066 28,349 143,714 6,250 201,566 105,163 - 145,803 The charity |
2020 2019 £ £ 240,644 886,211 70,812 51,671 70,066 28,349 143,714 6,250 201,566 105,163 - 145,803 The charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 607,699 | 1,199,243 | 726,801 | 1,223,447 |
42
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
13 Deferred income
Deferred Income shown, relates to pre-financed monies received, unspent and unearned as at the year end.
| Balance at the beginning of the year Amount released to income in the year Amount deferred in the year Balance at the end of the year |
2020 2019 £ £ 145,803 - (145,803) - - 145,803 - 145,803 The group |
2020 2019 £ £ 145,803 - (145,803) - - 145,803 - 145,803 The group |
2020 2019 £ £ 145,803 - (145,803) - - 145,803 The charity |
2020 2019 £ £ 145,803 - (145,803) - - 145,803 The charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 145,803 | - | 145,803 |
14a Analysis of group net assets between funds (current year)
| 14b 15a Restated At the start of the year £ Democracy and Governance 4,608,028 1,796,841 415,145 Total restricted funds 6,820,014 (4,687) (4,687) 6,815,327 Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year) Net current assets Restricted funds: Net assets at the end of the year Humanitarian Environment Total unrestricted funds Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Net assets at the end of the year Tangible fixed assets Movements in funds (current year) - Group Unrestricted funds: General Total funds |
14b 15a Restated At the start of the year £ Democracy and Governance 4,608,028 1,796,841 415,145 Total restricted funds 6,820,014 (4,687) (4,687) 6,815,327 Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year) Net current assets Restricted funds: Net assets at the end of the year Humanitarian Environment Total unrestricted funds Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Net assets at the end of the year Tangible fixed assets Movements in funds (current year) - Group Unrestricted funds: General Total funds |
Incoming resources & gains £ 10,748,890 1,177,012 2,839,746 |
General unrestricted £ 47,775 286,176 |
Restricted funds £ - 9,249,897 |
Total funds £ 47,775 9,536,072 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 333,951 | 9,249,897 | 9,583,848 | |||
| General unrestricted £ 61,291 (65,978) |
Restricted funds £ - 6,820,014 |
Total funds £ 61,291 6,754,036 |
|||
| (4,687) | 6,820,014 | 6,815,327 | |||
| Outgoing resources & losses £ 9,710,795 1,140,642 1,484,328 |
Transfers £ - - - |
At the end of the year £ 5,646,123 1,833,211 1,770,563 |
|||
| 6,820,014 (4,687) |
14,765,648 896,904 |
12,335,765 558,266 |
- - |
9,249,897 333,951 |
|
| (4,687) | 896,904 | 558,266 | - | 333,951 | |
| 6,815,327 | 15,662,552 | 12,894,031 | - | 333,951 | |
| 43 |
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
15b Movements in funds (prior year)
| Democracy and Governance Total restricted funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds: Unrestricted funds: Environment Humanitarian General Total funds |
At the start of the year £ 630,139 2,987,722 59,712 |
Incoming resources & gains £ 9,365,675 1,760,567 1,055,721 |
Outgoing resources & losses £ 5,387,786 2,951,448 700,288 |
Transfers £ - - - |
At the end of the year £ 4,608,028 1,796,841 415,145 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,677,573 (42,705) |
12,181,963 570,374 |
9,039,522 532,356 |
- - |
6,820,014 (4,687) |
|
| (42,705) | 570,374 | 532,356 | - | (4,687) | |
| 3,634,868 | 12,752,337 | 9,571,878 | - | 6,815,327 |
Purposes of restricted funds
Democracy, Governance and Human Rights
Democracy and Governance
Media serve a crucial watchdog function, providing citizens with the information they need to keep the public and private sectors accountable. In many countries, however, repressive legal environments inhibit the media's ability to play this role. Moreover, some journalists lack the skills to conduct the in-depth investigative reporting that is essential to accountability.
Internews has trained journalists in investigative reporting, produced television programming to encourage dialogue on corruption, and helped reform media laws, including expanding freedom of information rights.
Human Right s : Internews trains both professional and citizen journalists to analyse and report on human rights issues more effectively. We support independent media to preserve access to information and promote the monitoring of human rights violations.
Conflict and Stablisation : Projects to support media, community mobilisation, and access to information with the aim of long-term efforts to build trust between governments and the governed and contribute to peace. Internews brings together journalists from diverse media outlets working in different languages to improve their professional standards of news reporting.
Environment
Environment : The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) – established by Internews – creates networks of environmental journalists in countries where they don't exist, and builds their capacity where they do. Through training workshops and development of training materials, support for production and distribution, the provision of small grants, and creation of unique data mapping platforms, EJN works with journalists in developing countries to find innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental issues of today.
We support freedom of expression by helping to keep information flows open and connecting human rights defenders with their local media.
Our work also aims to reduce the potential for harm to journalists, writers and other civil society activists in countries where they are most at risk. We also build the independence and credibility of emerging information stakeholders, such as internet bloggers, to allow communities to trust in their most prolific sources of information.
Humanitarian
Humanitarian : In disasters people affected by the unfolding tragedy need more than physical necessities: they also have an urgent need for information. From earthquakes to armed conflicts, survival can depend on knowing the answers to questions such as: is it safe to go back home? Should I stay with my family or go elsewhere for help? What is the extent of the damage? Where can I get clean water and food? What are the symptoms of cholera? Where is the nearest health facility? Internews addresses these questions with a range of ongoing information services.
44
Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
- 16 Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities
| Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation charges (Increase)/decrease in debtors Increase/(decrease) in creditors Net cash provided by operating activities Net income for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial activities) |
2020 £ 2,768,521 29,137 415,076 (591,544) |
2019 £ 3,180,459 26,849 (1,092,899) 424,190 |
| 2,621,190 | 2,538,599 |
17 Operating lease commitments
| Less than one year One to five years |
2020 2019 £ £ 27,544 82,632 - 27,544 27,544 110,176 Property |
2020 2019 £ £ 27,544 82,632 - 27,544 27,544 110,176 Property |
2020 2019 £ £ 764 1,528 - 764 Equipment |
2020 2019 £ £ 764 1,528 - 764 Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27,544 | 110,176 | 764 | 2,292 |
18 Capital commitments
At the balance sheet date, the charity had no capital commitments (2019: £nil).
19 Contingent assets or liabilities
At the balance sheet date the charity had no contingent assets or contingent liabilities.
20 Legal status of the charity
The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £10
21 Subsidiary undertaking
The charitable company maintains effective control over Internews International, a company registered in France. The company number is 425 132 347 00013 (Numero Siret ) and charity (Association) number is RNA W751139592 . The registered office address is 21 bis rue du Simplon, 75018 Paris
The subsidiary is used for charitable activities in Europe. All activities have been consolidated on a line by line basis in the statement of financial activities. Available profits are gift aided to the charitable company.
The Internews Europe's Chief Executive Officer, Senior Director of Finance & Resources, Internews Europe's Treasurer (Trustee) and Internews Network's Chief Operating Officer, currently constitute the directors of the subsidiary.
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Internews Europe
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2020
21 Subsidiary undertaking (continued)
A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below:
| Transfer to Parent Company The aggregate of the assets, liabilities and funds was: Assets Liabilities Brought forward (Deficit)/surplus for the year Reserves Exchange Adjustment Total funds Gross profit Administrative expenses (Deficit)/surplus for the financial year Turnover Cost of sales |
2020 £ 17,888 - |
2019 £ 8,328 (119,371) |
|---|---|---|
| 17,888 (18,236) - |
(111,043) (12,978) - |
|
| (348) | (124,021) | |
| 7,058 353 (348) |
131,079 - (124,021) |
|
| 7,063 | 7,058 | |
| 57,078 (50,015) |
164,417 (157,359) |
|
| 7,063 | 7,058 |
During the year, Internews Europe's Net costs incurred on behalf of Internews International was £41,041 (2019: £151,542). These costs were stated on the Charity's balance sheet (Intercompany account) - see note 11.
22 Parent charity
The parent charity's gross income and the results for the year are disclosed as follows:
| 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Gross income | 15,662,552 | 12,746,511 |
| Result for the year | 2,808,878 | 3,311,662 |
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