Aurum Board Chairperson Ms Phangisile Mtshali characterises 2021 as a year of adapting and building resilience.
She writes in the Aurum Annual Report 2021, that the organisation had to pivot and seize opportunities brought by the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath.
As part of adapting to the pandemic, Aurum joined the national responses in South Africa, Mozambique and Ghana, working with the respective health departments and governments on various initiatives to curb the spread of the disease.
Group CEO Prof Gavin Churchyard reflects on the end of the end of the Aurum strategic plan: 2017-2021, a period during which the organisation pursued a strategy of global diversification. “It became evident that our existing structure would not support sustainable growth, so we completed a process of restructuring Aurum. We established an Aurum Group leadership structure, setting out clear accountabilities for the key functions of a global organisation.”
“Partnerships are essential to creating healthier communities. We learnt the importance of maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including ministries of health, funders, collaborating institutions and implementing partners.” Prof Gavin Churchyard: Aurum Group CEO
Mtshali further said the board focused on managing the organisational risk agenda and ensuring that the organisational values, ethical behaviour, and good governance practices are not compromised. “We want to ensure that we prevail and remain vigilant to prevent and help address new health problems as they emerge and old ones as they become urgent threats. It is our response to adverse situations and not adversity itself, that will determine our survival to serve generations to come as envisaged in our 100-year vision,” added Mtshali
“The next step in our evolution is a critical look at where to invest our expertise and efforts in the next two decades to remain a high impact organisation by addressing prominent health issues.” Aurum Board Chairperson Ms Phangisile Mtshali.
Toward the 100-year vision, developed a business investment strategy as a foundation for the overall organisational strategic plan for 2022-2027. The business investment plan provides guidance for investment decisions regarding priority donors, disease areas, new country expansion, and other supporting services required to propel Aurum into its next phase of growth and diversification. “Our Aurum Group Strategic Plan:2022-2027 that will enable us to become a truly African based, but assuredly global, health impact organisation,” said Churchyard.
As an organisation whose mission is to generate evidence for policy and translate policy into practice, we highlight the work done by the work by the South Africa, Mozambique and Ghana country offices, support departments and affiliates, to positively impact the health of communities globally.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to our Board, auditors, and to our Group Finance and ICT teams for their dedication and commitment in striving to achieve the highest standards of financial reporting and intelligence, discipline, and corporate governance. I would also like to thank our valued funders for their vision and continuing support, without which our vision to serve future generations would be short-lived.” Arshad Hassim Chief Financial Officer.
Click here to read the abridged 2021 annual report
Click here to download the full 2021 and previous annual reports
