This is the inaugural annual report for the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES). The $90 million program is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). AACES is a partnership of AusAID, 10 Australian Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and their Africa-based partners. It contributes to the AusAID strategy for Africa through community-based interventions across the sectors of food security, maternal and child health and water, sanitation and hygiene. The program focuses on marginalised communities, with particular attention to women, children, people with disability and people vulnerable to disaster. AACES is the largest AusAID funded NGO program in Africa and will be implemented over five years (2011-16) in 11 countries, namely: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.