International development charity Progressio has announced it is to
close next year, following a period of consultation with its staff,
partners, supporters and funders. The decision was made by the organisation’s trustees after Progressio was unable to secure sufficient levels of income for a viable future after the end of the financial year 2016.
Progressio’s Chair of Trustees, Martin McEnery, said: “The decision to close comes despite intensive fundraising efforts and many years of investing to diversify income. Unfortunately, the funding landscape has become increasingly competitive and we have been unable to replace the £2 million unrestricted grant from DFID which comes to an end in December 2016.
“Our uppermost thoughts now are for the people we work alongside, such as the Yemeni, Somali and Southern African women struggling to have a voice and to counter deeply entrenched abuse of their rights and violence against them. The subsistence farmers across all our country programmes in Central America, Africa and Yemen striving for sustainable livelihoods and to have a voice in decisions that affect their lives. We will do our utmost to ensure their voices continue to be heard and their struggles supported.”
The charity, which was started in 1940, employs 24 full-time staff in its London office and 46 overseas; it works in eight countries including the UK. Staff, partners, funders, volunteers and other stakeholders have been informed of the decision.
A spokesperson from Progressio said the charity will, as far as possible, complete all project and partner commitments through to the end of March 2017.