A UK based aid agency that works in East Africa is to close its offices as its transitions its operations to a partnership model with groups led by communities in the region.

The Mango Tree has announced the move as it launches a partnership with UK and Uganda based charity Kids Club Kampala, which has a “commitment to empowering local leadership and ensuring sustainable, community-driven development.”

“As part of this partnership, Kids Club Kampala will support The Mango Tree in fulfilling their commitment to providing free education to children in these countries,” said the charities in a statement.

“This comes at a pivotal time, as The Mango Tree UK prepares to close its offices, passing the mantle to locally led organisations.”

The Mango Tree has been working in East Africa for the last 20 years, while Kids Club Kampala has been operating in Uganda for the last 15 years.

They will be collaborating to maintain and expand The Mango Tree programmes in East Africa, including supporting the education of orphans in western Kenya.

“By leveraging both organisations’ on-the-ground presence and long-standing community relationships, the partnership aims to improve access to education and support local leadership development, empowering communities to sustain positive change,” their statement adds.

Kings Club Kampala chief executive Olivia Barker said: “We are so excited about this opportunity to further our collective impact.

“Having visited Kenya and spoken with the team at The Mango Tree, it is clear that our vision, values, and principles are strongly aligned.

“This partnership allows us to combine our resources and expertise to create even
more life-changing opportunities for children across East Africa.”

According to the charities register The Mango Tree’s spent £542,310 in the 12 months to March 2023 and its income was £465,270 over the same period.

The Mango Tree’s move comes amid calls from international aid body Bond for charities to “decolonise” their local operations.

Bond says the move would help tackle ideologies of “superiority and privilege of Western thought and approaches”.

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