19th December, 2011
Dear All,
As we come to the end of the year, I want to thank partners, donors, friends and staff for their hard work, support and dedication throughout the past 12 months. It has been a very interesting year for AMREF, full of challenges as well as achievements. 
The global economic downturn and subsequent shrinking of donor funds and the drought in eastern Africa constituted some of the major challenges. But there were many successes. We established a new office in Senegal, which will be a hub to cater for West African Francophone countries. Through prudent financial management and aggressive fundraising, we managed to get rid of the huge financial gap with which we began the year and increase our funded budget by 20%. Another great and historical achievement was that we finally became ‘One AMREF’, with one governance structure, one Business Plan, one budget, one management and one brand. We developed and launched a 3 year business plan which will focus on improving the health of women and children.
The international Stand Up for African Mothers’ Campaign was launched in Deauville, France, together with AMREF’s nomination of a midwife for the Nobel Peace Prize.
This campaign will run across all AMREF offices, with the aim of raising funds for training midwives from Africans and non Africans who can save the lives of African mothers and children.
Because of our integrity and impressive track record of working in health in Africa, AMREF has continued to attract high-profile partnerships and donors. Both UNFPA and UNICEF have signed Memoranda of Understanding that will see them working and collaborating more with AMREF. GSK has chosen AMREF as the implementer of an innovative project to plough back 20 percent of profits made in Least Developed Countries. Danida and Ausaid joined AMREF as new donors.
Today, we can look back at our achievements with pride and continue building on our successes. But we must also ensure to learn from our mistakes so that we can have even bigger accomplishments and move to greater heights in 2012. Words that will define our work in 2012 include lasting health change in Africa, transformation, knowledgeable communities, strategic partnerships, technical excellence, and last but not least, a united and integrated organisation.
It has been truly an honour for me to work with partners, friends, Board members and such a great team of professional and talented people this year. I go home every day delighted in the knowledge that we are making a real difference in Africa. I wish you all and your families happy Christmas holidays, and a prosperous and successful New Year.
Warm regards
Teguest Guerma
