Row erupts at Oxfam after chief executive forced out
The forced sacking of Oxfam’s UK chief executive, Halima Begum, has sparked controversy at the charity; A prominent trustee has claimed that damning leaks to the press include Dr.
Over the weekend Dr. Begum was dismissed by the board following an independent review that was not publicly disclosed. Independent The fact that he understood that it had not been presented to him was allegedly a sign of “serious problems” in his behavior and decision-making.
The organization’s board of trustees, Dr. He said Begum’s £130,000-a-year position was “untenable” due to an irreparable breakdown in confidence and belief in her ability to do the job.
Dr Begum has also been accused of bullying and creating a “climate of fear” since taking office nearly two years ago; these claims were dismissed as “nonsense” by supporters within the charity.
Inside an article He announced his dismissal late Sunday night. Times A letter “signed” by around 70 employees of Oxfam, but remained anonymous, told the board that it called on the trustees to investigate his behaviour. The charity then hired an external public relations firm to handle his departure.
Oxfam Great Britain said in a statement on Monday: “In line with our policies, a review has been carried out by an independent expert consultancy with recognized expertise in workplace culture, equality and inclusion.
“We have great respect for colleagues who raised concerns about culture. Their perspectives informed an independent review that took place.”
His colleagues, who had little opportunity to defend him before the news of his dismissal became public, Dr. He tried to defend Begum.
In a statement IndependentBalwant Singh, a trustee on Oxfam Great Britain’s board of directors, said: “Oxfam believes in and values kindness, fairness and equity. Unfortunately, the treatment of Halima was not at all kind, fair or equitable.
“While many of those who have voiced concerns about Halima’s leadership hide behind anonymity, citing fear of revenge and retaliation, it is sickening that Halima has been subjected to what appears to be a carefully planned and deliberately brutal episode of retaliation and revenge in the national media.”
He added: “As an organization that likes to speak out, it also saddens me that so many people choose to hide behind anonymity. This does not bode well for Oxfam’s culture.”
Dr Begum’s departure comes weeks after the unexplained departure of Charles Gurassa, chief executive of Oxfam Great Britain. He will become Dr. in 2023. On her appointment, Begum said she was delighted that someone with “such a wealth of experience in how to deliver change and a real passion for tackling injustice” had agreed to lead the charity.
Shortly after his appointment, Dr. Begum’s analysis of Oxfam’s finances revealed a £16.3m black hole; This black hole soon became worse due to massive foreign aid cuts in the US and UK. With donations dwindling and the UK economy weak, the future of the organization he joined was far from assured.
The appointment of a new chief financial officer and subsequent restructuring that put hundreds of jobs at risk of redundancies helped turn the dial on resolving financial problems. However, Oxfam said in September: “Charities are being asked to do more with less at a time when people need us most.”
Sources told Times He said staff were unhappy about the necessary restructuring and that this had created “widespread hostility”.
Meanwhile, according to Mr. Singh, Dr. Begum had “filed a complaint/report” against Mr Gurassa before becoming aware of any concerns about his leadership.
“Allegations of sexism, racism and bullying. The complaints process has not yet been completed,” he said. Independent.
Liberty’s director, Akiko Hart, also described Dr. as a “mentor and friend.” He defended Begum.
“I urge anyone watching to refrain from immediate judgment and see what facts and evidence emerge,” he said in a LinkedIn post.
“I invite people to reflect on the timing of this announcement, at the tail end of a painful board-approved restructuring and several weeks after the president resigned.”
Dr. Begum’s departure comes as Oxfam has struggled to maintain its hard-earned reputation over the years as a leading NGO since allegations emerged in 2018 that the aid agency’s staff were recruiting sex workers abroad, including in Haiti and Chad.
Store profits have recently fallen by nearly two-thirds over the past three years, according to figures released this month; This indicates a sharp decline in retail performance.
Earlier this year the organization cut 250 jobs from its 2,100-strong UK workforce; the move aimed to cut £10.2 million from the wage bill to address the financial shortfall.
During the summer Dr. Begum was accused of potentially jeopardizing Oxfam’s reputation for impartiality after attending a parliamentary panel in which a Palestinian journalist described the 7 October attacks as “a great day”.
Oxfam’s chief support officer Jan Oldfield, who has held the post for four years, will now become acting chief executive.
