Advantage Africa’s Annual Report and Accounts provide a review of the charity’s finances, governance and activities from 1st August 2020 to 31st July 2021.
The period saw the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and severe lockdowns imposed to control it in our partner communities. These had a big impact on the wellbeing of the vulnerable people we support in East Africa and the Report includes details of our response to help those most in need through emergency food and hygiene packages.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the withdrawal of a major grant for our albinism work caused by a cut in the UK aid budget, it was a successful year; significant achievements were made in improving the lives of people living in poverty and facing discrimination because of disability (including albinism) and HIV throughout Kenya and Uganda. Our priority was to assist such vulnerable children and adults to help themselves and build a better future for their families. To this end, we supported nine partner organisations to improve their impact, skills and reach and undertake more than 20 different projects in their communities.
Specific initiatives included projects to enable children with learning difficulties to gain an education and make the transition from school to community life, disabled people to access appliances / rehabilitation and people with albinism to protect themselves from life-threatening skin cancer. Our work among people affected by HIV included HIV testing, counselling, home-based care and income generation.
We take encouragement from the achievements of the year and the thousands of vulnerable people whose lives were improved. We are most grateful to all our supporters (including 135 individuals who made a regular monthly donation) and organisations who made this possible through their kind and generous financial support.
Income in 2020/21 was £290k (£282k in 2019/20) despite a fall in grants from government, trusts and foundations. Expenditure for the year was £283k (£273k in 2019/20) including spending on restricted funds of £109k (£118k in 2019/20). The breakdown by percentage is shown below:
Download our Annual Report and Accounts