Christian Aid has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 45 per cent, from 720 to approximately 400 employees.

This forms part of a strategic shift towards a partnership-based model, aimed at enhancing the charity’s responsiveness and accountability to communities affected by poverty, as reported by Civil Society.

The new approach will involve operating through five regional hubs, in Colombia, Nigeria, Kenya, Jordan and Bangladesh, rather than maintaining a physical presence in all 26 countries where the charity currently operates.

While programmes will continue, they will now be managed remotely in collaboration with local partners.

Christian Aid’s CEO, Patrick Watt, emphasised the importance of empowering communities to lead their own development, saying: “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.”

The charity’s decision is not a response to cuts in official aid but reflects a strategic move to operate more efficiently and effectively.

The restructuring is expected to reduce fixed costs and allow for more flexible funding for programme partners.

A spokesperson for Christian Aid stated that staff consultations are underway, with final decisions anticipated in June.

Role changes are expected to take effect by the end of October.

This move follows previous restructuring efforts, including the closure of regional offices in England and a reduction in staff numbers in 2019.