Ncba Clusa

What it reported doing in 2025

People, nature and spices partnership (pens): originally, this was planned as a five-years project (sep.2022-sep 2027) funded by usda/food for progress ($23 m) to sustainably increase the productivity and trade of three spices (ginger, oregano and turmeric) produced in peru and following a cost-effective model. The program was terminated in june 2025 as part of the us federal government's decision to end financial support to international cooperation innitiatives. Despite its shorter implementation period, this program had a positive social, economic and environmental impact, which included: the use of environmentally friendly production practices by farmers, strengthening local associativity capacity -including farmer associations and cooperatives led by women. The project directly benefitted over 6,000 producers within the ginger, turmeric, and oregano value chains, close to 70 producer organizations and cooperatives, particularly in the geographical areas of piura, lambayeque, junn, moquegua, and tacna. Project actions were grouped into seven clusters, as follows: cluster 1 facilitating access to financial services; cluster 2 training of agricultural extension agents with focus on delivery of high-quality agro-services; cluster 3 training on agricultural production techniques (with focus on organic production and eco-friendly techniques); cluster 4 capacity building on relevant quality standards and certifications with focus on organic production; cluster 5 capacity building to strengthen producer groups and cooperatives, with focus on associativity and management skills; cluster 6 facilitation of buyer-seller linkages as a way to enhance access to markets; cluster 7 -support to relevant local-level regulations and policies, including updates to strengthen competitiveness and work of technical committees. The project's baseline was approved by usda in november 2023, and official project launch followed in 29 november. Between dec 2023 and march 2024, the project profiled beneficiaries for project activities, advanced in signing mous with strategic partners, developped training materials for capacity building activities, and engaged in the organization of activities facilitating buyer-seller linkages.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Pass
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 94.7%; rating input score 95; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -6.3%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.89; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.61; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.2%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: -3.3% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.9% per year; rating input score 100; 19th percentile among comparable filings