Christian Aid has published plans to reduce its staff numbers by 45% as part of an international restructure.
The charity currently employs 720 workers and plans to reduce this number to about 400 as it moves from its current structure of country offices delivering programmes to a model based on partnerships supported by five hubs in Colombia, Nigeria, Kenya, Jordan and Bangladesh.
Christian Aid’s programmes in all 26 countries in which it operates will continue “but these will no longer hinge on a physical staff presence”, the charity said.
The international development charity has already implemented a similar approach in other areas such as the Middle East and Ukraine.
It said the change will allow lower fixed costs in enabling functions, most of which are located in Britain, and release “substantial flexible funding” for programme partners.
The aim of the restructure is to make Christian Aid more responsive and accountable to communities living in poverty, it said.
A spokesperson for the charity told Civil Society: “At this stage we are consulting Christian Aid staff on the details of the new model, and no final decisions have been taken.
“We expect to communicate decisions in the second half of June, once the consultation has closed.
“Role changes would happen from the end of October, once any staff being made redundant have completed their notice period.
“The proposed changes would reduce staff numbers by about 45%, from 720 currently, to about 400 staff, of which 347 are core roles funded from unrestricted income.”
CEO: Proposals not driven by aid cuts
Christian Aid chief executive Patrick Watt said in a statement: “We are committed to shifting power to people whose lives are scarred by poverty, so they can make their voices heard, and create their own opportunities for a better life.
“We want to focus our efforts on where we add value, and wherever possible, want to step back from work that can be done more effectively by partner organisations.
Two key questions we have asked ourselves in designing this new model are, ‘why us?’ and ‘why not local?’
“The changes have been planned carefully over the last 12 months.
“While the proposals we are launching today are not driven by cuts to official aid, we believe that recent decisions by donor governments validate our choice to be a majority voluntary-funded organisation, which collaborates intentionally with institutional funders where we share a common agenda.
“It is clear that the role of INGOs is changing as the world around us changes. It needs to transform further if we’re to contribute more effectively to tackling poverty and marginalisation.
“Christian Aid is committed to that transformation, in a way that builds on our history of working alongside others for equality, dignity and justice.”
In 2019, Christian Aid announced plans to make up to 200 staff redundant as it cut programmes in 12 countries. That year, it also closed its regional offices in England, affecting 25 roles.
The charity recorded an income of £83.3m in the year to March 2024, and an expenditure of £82.4m.
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