Foreword from the Directors

Our expertise in behavioural science – together with a team of about 100 unmatched in their ability to deliver in the most difficult places on earth – lets us get things done and change lives in specific, exciting ways.

In the past year, we’ve delivered about six million euros of programming with partners that include the governments of Austria, the Netherlands, and the UK, as well as the European Commission, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, and private donors. These programmes allow us to deliver quality services that make a difference to individuals who go on to contribute positively in their communities. 

We care what works and measure it by embedding measurement tools in the design of each and every project. In Morocco, thousands of students changed their opinion on irregular migration after a single educational workshop – thanks in part to the Turning Tides escape game, adopted by the Ministry of Education in Morocco and now adapted for classrooms in Iraq, Nigeria, Kenya, and Senegal. In Nigeria, SUSTAIN has established a trusted brand, enabling it to build a pipeline of more than 2,000 verified STEM professionals (700+ women) eligible for jobs in Germany and Ireland. In Afghanistan and Ethiopia, AI-driven beneficiary selection allowed us to reach millions considering irregular migration and prioritise the 2,000 who most needed support.

Our ambitions don’t stop there. We’re taking steps to massively increase our impact. First, we’re investing in people. Many of the people we hire have direct experience of the challenges we work on, and those who joined on short-term, local assignments are now designing the next generation of programmes. Second, we’re investing in technology. The best in AI is available to our teams along with access to coaching. Third, we’re fostering innovation – and protecting it from the bureaucracy that consumes our sector – through a transition to a model of incubation and spinout.

During this time, conflict intensified across many of our operating environments, directly affecting our colleagues as well as programme participants. Funding cuts reshaped the sector, meaning that some programmes we might have hoped would renew required us to go back to the drawing board. And yet, thanks to hard work and hard choices, we ended 2025 in a stronger position than we began it. 

Looking toward 2027, the question that drives us is straightforward. What does a world look like where everyone can lead a life they feel proud of? We believe agency is the answer, even in the most difficult environments.