Five million Burkinabe children could not go to school for six months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the United Nations. Schools re-opened in October 2020, but as the COVID-19 situation worsens across the region, students face the threat of closures again.

At least one third of the world’s students cannot access remote learning and this disruption continues, as outlined by UNESCO in advance of International Education Day amid the global pandemic.

Remote learning in Burkina Faso

In response, digital resources for remote learning are a key focus for Projet d’appui aux réformes institutionnelles et techniques pour l’équité – the PARITÉ Project – funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented through a partnership between Alinea and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation. This project works with the Burkinabe government to build capacity across the Ministry of Education to support teachers in improving the learning outcomes of students, particularly girls. As part of the Burkinabe government’s response to the global pandemic, PARITÉ provides on-the-job support for ministry employees who train teachers to reach students using digital resources.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 4

“The global pandemic is showing us how challenging online learning can be for children around the world, but this is particularly the case in the poorest countries like Burkina Faso,” said Suzane Louchard, PARITÉ Project Director. Louchard has extensive experience working in West Africa and manages Alinea’s projects and program development across the region where crisis situations, such as conflict, create fragility and instability that exacerbate challenges associated with connecting girls and boys with quality, basic education.

“Our current focus is equipping teachers with the necessary skills to provide instruction online, which starts in the Ministry of Education where we work with employees who train Burkinabe teachers on producing and implementing digital education resources.”

New routes to education for girls in Mali

In neighbouring Mali, schools closed in December and remain shuttered as significant challenges to distance learning systems persist. In addition to new barriers to education brought on by the global pandemic, at least 250,000 people are estimated to be displaced due to conflict, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Défi éducation des filles au Mali – the DÉFI Project – funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea, creates new routes to education in conflict-affected areas with a specific focus on the education needs of internally displaced persons – needs becoming increasingly urgent as conflict continues to ravage the centre and northern parts of the country.

Alinea manages institutional activities to support the Malian government in responding to these needs while key partners provide expertise at the community level. Through a network of local radio stations, Farm Radio International delivers interactive radio programming to hard-to-reach areas of the region. Catholic Relief Services and their local partners work directly with communities to support education of out-of-school children, especially girls, in conflict-affected areas. This includes professional training using innovative tools and methodologies provided by Éducation internationale.

UN Sustainable Development Goal 5

“Between the global pandemic and growing conflicts, children across Sub-Saharan Africa face significant challenges to accessing quality education services tailored to their needs and circumstances. Keeping girls in school is by far the most difficult issue we face,” said Louchard, who is also the DÉFI Project Director.

“The road to meaningful change to girls’ education outcomes requires close collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including schools, government, parents, communities and local leaders.”

On January 24, Alinea joins the world in marking International Education Day and the 2021 theme, “Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation.”

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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International Education Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic