Leading international development organisations merge
United Purpose and The Gorta Group announced their formal merger on Thursday 5th August.
This historic event sees UP become part of The Gorta Group, which trades as Self Help Africa. The combined organisation will invest up to £45 million annually in agriculture, nutrition and enterprise development projects that will support close to 5 million people across 17 countries.
Both organisations share a focus on alleviating poverty in some of the world’s most challenging places, helping farming families grow and earn more from small farms, while also supporting the provision of safe water, sanitation and social accountability initiatives.
United Purpose and its Malawi-based microfinance company, CUMO, will join Self Help Africa in The Gorta Group, which also includes a number of not-for-profit advisory ventures. Self Help Africa previously merged with Gorta, Ireland’s oldest overseas aid charity, in 2014.
United Purpose’s Interim CEO, Linda Edwards, said that since its formation, UP had helped deliver community-led impact to over 35 million people across 13 countries in Africa, Asia and South America. "I am delighted that this merger will ensure that this legacy continues for many years to come,” she added.
Linda moves on following her appointment as CEO of the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA), with Gorta Group CEO Ray Jordan leading the merged organisation. Three of United Purpose’s directors will remain on UP’s board, where they will be joined by two directors from Self Help Africa and one independent.
“We’re bringing two organisations together because we believe we can magnify our impact,” said Ray Jordan. “By joining together we can support more people, in more countries, to work their way out of poverty.”
Carmel Fox, Chair of The Gorta Group, said that the merger would make the organisation stronger and extend its reach.
“Consolidation will make us stronger and more effective as we face the many challenges that confront poor communities in a world recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Carmel stated.
Ray Jordan said that both organisations are driven by a commitment to helping the poorest and most vulnerable.
“By merging our two organisations we can achieve a great deal more on behalf of our donors, supporters, and most importantly for the communities and partners with whom we work in the developing world,” he said.
