Oxfam to cut UK jobs and shift focus to global south

Oxfam plans to cut 125 jobs in the UK and close some of its English regional offices in an effort to save around £7.5m and become more “efficient”.

The charity also announced it would reduce the number of countries it works in as it aims to deliver aid “in the areas of the world where it is needed most”.

Its headquarters in Oxford will take the biggest hit, with 110 jobs set to be axed in the first stage of its plan. Several services will be “reformed”, including human resources, finance, business support and campaigns and policy.

Mark Goldring, Oxfam’s CEO, said: “It is imperative we have an Oxfam which lives within its means and is relevant to 21st-century needs. Advances in technology mean we no longer need as much support in head office. Instead our resources will be focused in the regions where we carry out the majority of our work.”

The charity has said it wants to “balance its budget” and “in due course provide additional funds to invest in programmes”. Fewer resources will go to large development projects in middle-income countries and more to poorer countries in the Global South. It plans to stop working in several countries in Caucasia and Asia in the next three years and reduce its influence in the UK and EU. Instead it will focus on promoting poor women’s rights and shaping policy on issues such as climate and inequality in poorer countries.

Oxfam’s income, which comes mainly from shops and fundraising, fell by £17.6m to £367.9m in the year ending in March.

Jane Cotton, Oxfam’s human resources director, said a staff consultation process had begun and the charity would “make every effort” to minimise redundancies.