Amanda Khozi Mukwashi is to step down as CEO of Christian Aid to take up a new role with the United Nations.
Ms Mukwashi informed the charity’s chair, Dr Rowan Williams, of her decision earlier this year and staff at Christian Aid were informed today.
Since joining Christian Aid in early 2018, Amanda has successfully led the organisation through some challenging times, including an organisation-wide restructure and the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Over this period, Amanda oversaw the development of Christian Aid’s new Standing Together strategy, with an integrated focus on poverty, power, and prophetic voice. She also announced steps the organisation would take to address racial injustice following the commissioning of an internal report in early 2020. The new three-year race and diversity plan of action included the recruitment of a new Race and Diversity Lead, revision of policies and behavioural goals as well as the creation of safe spaces for continued dialogue.
Last month, Amanda’s leadership was recognised as she took home the award for Charity CEO of the Year at the Third Sector Awards.
Commenting on her departure, Ms Mukwashi said: “I am so sad to be leaving Christian Aid – an organisation that I love. It has been one of the honours of my life to lead this great organisation for three and a half of its 76 years and play my part – alongside some of the most passionate and dedicated people I have ever met – in standing for the dignity, equality and justice of all.
“Though I will no longer be leading Christian Aid, I am confident that I leave a strong organisation that is well-placed to tackle poverty, and the injustices that perpetuate it. We have a team well-placed to have a real impact on issues of climate change, debt, economic, gender and racial inequality. I will continue to cheer Christian Aid on from the sidelines.”
Dr Rowan Williams, chair of Christian Aid, said: “Though we are saddened that Amanda will be leaving Christian Aid, we are immensely grateful for her leadership of this great organisation. She has made a transformational impact on both the organisation and the wider sector, being a passionate, eloquent and effective advocate for the people we serve. Christian Aid’s first CEO of African descent, Amanda is a passionate global campaigner for dignity, equality and justice for all and is a leading voice in rallying the UK development sector to much-needed change.
“In a short time, Amanda has wrought hugely positive change to Christian Aid and made a significant contribution to the sector and British public life. She embodies the solidarity with poor and marginalised communities around the world that lies at the heart of the organisation’s strategy Standing Together – which was led by her and launched a year after she took the helm.
“Amanda is in every way an amazing chief executive, an amazing leader, inspiring a collaborative movement for change in her determination to eradicate the scandal and injustice of poverty. She will be sorely missed, but we pray that this next step will continue to see her leadership utilized effectively.”
Ms Mukwashi will leave the organisation at the end of 2021 to start her new function with the United Nations in early 2022. More details of the plans for transition and succession will follow.
