Development Ratings

Director, Martin Drewry, was previously National Secretary for World Action and headed the Christian Aid campaign operations. Deputy Director, Jerry Clewett, has education, refugee, and community development and health experience and worked for Plan International. The head of fundraising formerly worked for UNICEF UK, and the evaluation advisor has past experience with DfiD and UNICEF. A new management team has been put in place over the past year. In-country programmes are managed by regional and country managers in the field who are often locals with medical, health ministry, NGO or INGO backgrounds. Trustees and advisors include advocacy consultants, financial and business executives, and paediatric, tropical medicine and public health specialists. In 2008, the charity employed 382 people, of which over 340 are overseas, over 200 of these being managed Cambodian health ministry staff. 95% of field staff are local and were HU trained.

The proportion of restricted income is still high, as institutional and governmental donors limit their support to specific projects in particular countries. These donors hold the charity accountable for their funds, and ensure that it is run within tight financial bounds. But this limitation restricts HU’s ability to bid for future health projects, to respond flexibly, and to develop centrally so as to be able to replicate its programmes and impact. Health Unlimited operates with just over one month of reserves coverage of costs, which is not ideal, but this is an improvement on recent years. It has managed at below this level successfully for many years.

Institutional income flow timing was largely the cause of the reduction in restricted income in 2007, but individual income fundraising is starting to show results in 2008. The fundraising efficiency remains good, due to high levels of institutional income. Individual donors, including major private donors, are increasing (7% of income in 2006, 9% in 2007, and 10% in 2008).

Project expenses growth to total expenses growth is over 100%, meaning other costs are being kept under restraint. Costs per employee are low (£4,871 in 2008) reflecting local wages.

Country expenditure in 2008 was as follows: Cambodia 21%, Burma 16%, Rwanda 8%, Sierra Leone & China 7%, Horn of Africa, Namibia & Nicaragua 6%, Guatemala 5%, Laos, Ethiopia & Peru 4%, Regional 5%. The continental split is: Asia 48%, Africa 32%, Latin America 15%, and Regional 5%.