Registered number: 4133841 Charity number: 1084798
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A company limited by guarantee)
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 6 |
| Independent Examiner’s report | 7 |
| Statement of financial activities | 8 |
| Balance sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 10 - 16 |
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The Trustees, who are also directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, submit their annual report and the financial statements of International African Institute (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with current statutory requirements, the requirements of the Charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives
The Charity’s main purpose, as set out in the objects contained in its governing document, is to advance public education worldwide concerning the study of Africa and its languages and cultures.
Activities
To meet these objects the Charity publishes, in print and digital format, scholarly works on Africa through:
Africa : the Institute’s (IAI) flagship journal Africa is edited by a team of three, currently Julie Archambault, Asonzeh Ukah and Joost Fontein. Joseph Mujere is the book reviews editor and Raga Makawi the social media editor. It is currently published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) from whom royalties are received and who also support the editorial office financially. The entire archive from 1928 (Vol.1) is available digitally.
Africa Bibliography, Research and Documentation : Africa Bibliography , a large and authoritative annual guide to African Studies works, had been published since 1984. In 2021 it merged with SCOLMA’s (the UK Libraries and Archives Group on Africa) African Research & Documentation journal. The new journal, entitled Africa Bibliography, Research and Documentation , was first published by the IAI and CUP in 2022. It is edited by Terry Barringer and compiled by Richard Bartholomew. The bibliography database, including all back volumes giving more than 250,000 interactive records, is now published online only. IAI supports SCOLMA’s activities, in particular the annual conference which is a key source of papers for the journal of which there will be two issues published each year from 2025.
Journal of African Cultural Studies: in January 2019 the rights to this journal were acquired. Published since 1988, presently by Taylor & Francis who also contribute to the editorial costs, it is edited by Carli Coetzee.
International African Library: a monograph series, published by CUP with over 70 titles to date, is edited by Leslie Bank, Harri Englund, Deborah James, Adeline Masquelier, Helene Neveu-Kringelbach and David Pratten.
African Arguments : a book series published until April 2020 by Zed Books (now part of Bloomsbury Publishing), is published by Hurst Publishers with co-publishing provided by Oxford University Press in the USA. Its editors are Adam Branch, Eyob Gebremariam, Nanjala Nyabola, Ebenezer Obadare, Portia Roelofs, Jon Schubert and Nicolas Westcott. Almost 50 titles have been published to date. African Arguments – Debating Ideas , a blogsite supporting discussion around the book series, is edited by Raga Makawi and Stephanie Kitchen. Over 350 articles have been published since the site’s inception in 2020.
Urban Africa Book Series: published by UCL Press and IAI from 2023, to provide the study of issues affecting African urban environments. Fully Open Access, it is edited by Jennifer Robinson and Jeffrey Paller.
Other series:
Readings In African Studies : collections of articles published by Indiana University Press. Routledge Revivals : published by Routledge/Taylor & Francis, keeping hard-to-find backlist titles, now totalling 167, in print.
Classics in African Anthropology : book reprints published by LIT Verlag.
Monographs from International African Institute : a series of monographs published by LIT Verlag. International African Seminars : edited volumes of Institute-organised seminars in different African countries.
In addition to the publications series, the Institute has established two websites providing freely available information on African Digital Research Repositories and a Database of African Publishers , the latter developed in association with the African Books Collective.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Public Benefit
When reviewing the Institute’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities the Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, and the duties set out in Section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011, including the guidance “Public Benefit: Running a Charity (PB2).” A number of the Institute’s activities, such as book launches and access to certain digital records and websites, are free of charge or at low cost while Open Access Publishing also provides a public benefit. Accessibility of the websites has been enhanced by the translation of several pages into French and Portuguese. Additionally, the Institute, supported by Book Aid International and the Institute’s publishers, supplies books and journals free of charge or at significant discounts to university libraries and other institutions in Africa, which are available to the general public. The rich store of information held in various digital repositories has been documented and listed in the African Digital Research Repositories website and a Database of African Publishers has been established; both websites are freely available.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
During a year when the publication contracts for Africa and the Journal of African Cultural Studies were renegotiated and renewed, the achievements and performance of each of the publication series are as follows:
Africa. During the calendar year 2023 five issues of Volume 93 of the journal were published, comprising 32 articles over 708 pages (prior year: Volume 92, 43 articles, 892 pages). In 2023 Africa's published 2-year Impact Factor was 1.2. The Twitter account @Africa_IAI now has over 7,500 followers. The income from the Journal represents the Institute’s main source of revenue, with combined royalties from CUP and EUP amounting to £104,518 (2022: £88,711). The journal is available to some 23,500 institutions worldwide.
Journal representation at external events increased during the year with the participation of two editors at the African Studies Association’s (ASA) annual meeting in San Francisco as well as attendance at the European Conference on African Studies (ECAS) in Cologne by three editors and a number of Council members.
The annual Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) meeting in 2023 was held during the ECAS conference in June 2023 and an additional meeting was held at the ASA in December 2023.
Africa Bibliography, Research and Documentation (ABRD). The 2[nd] volume was published October 2023 consisting of an editorial, seven articles and three book reviews; the annual update of the online Africa Bibliography (the database) was made available at the same time. The annual conference was held in June.
Journal of African Cultural Studies (JACS) . During the calendar year 2023 4 issues of Volume 35 of the journal were published, comprising 38 articles. The Editor participated at the African Literature Association and the Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies conferences as well as in other workshops and discussions to support the development of a younger generation of authors and journal workers in Africa.
International African Library . Two new titles were published in 2023/24, bringing the series total to 71. Three further titles have been published since the end of the financial year
African Arguments . Three titles were published by Hurst Publishers in 2023/24, bringing the series total to 48; two more have been planned for publication in the current financial year. The blogsite supporting discussion flowing from the book series, africanarguments.org/category/debating-ideas, published 88 articles in the year.
Urban Africa Book Series. The first title under this fully Open Access based series was published in March 2024; a second is contracted for publication and several other projects are under review.
Other Charitable Activities.
150 copies of each International African Library ( IAL) series book and 75 copies of each African Arguments title are donated to institutions, publishers, libraries and scholars in Africa. Such organisations and individuals in Southern and Eastern Africa benefit in a similar manner in respect of various selected titles thanks to financial support and cost free publishing licences given to certain publishers and also thanks to other arrangements which allow publications to be available at lower prices. Furthermore, the editors organise writing workshops for early career scholars and the Institute provides financial support to Africa based researchers to attend international conferences, thereby enabling wider and longer term contributions to the charity’s objectives.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The immediate plans are to mitigate the financial risks faced by the Institute from the uncertainties created by the movement to Open Access (OA) publishing and from the pressures of inflation. While the Institute is broadly supportive of the philosophy behind OA publishing, there remain several challenges in its practical implementation, in particular the impact on royalty income and the expenditure of processing costs. The Institute continues to be closely involved in OA policy discussions in various institutional and international contexts. Despite the rate of inflation recently falling, the cost base remains higher than it was two years ago. The Trustees are determined to ensure the reserves policy is maintained and, further, have begun investing the reserves in ethical funds to improve returns and attempt to maintain value without incurring unacceptable market or other risks.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The Institute has recorded annual net income (£23,288) for an 8th consecutive year, with all income categories, achieving improvements over the previous year. Total income was 18% higher than in 2022-23. Expenditure increased 10%, mainly as a consequence of inflation but, additionally, more resources were invested in editor outreach activities and in supporting overseas scholars.
Unrestricted funds at March 2024 therefore rose to £448,272, of which £19,009 are designated, as explained in note 14 of the Financial Statements, and £429,263 are general funds. Net current assets are £417,068, and all but £85,000, a 12 month term loan deposit, is immediately realisable. The Institute has increased its investment in ethical funds to £31,204 during the financial year; although they are intended to be held for the longer term, these funds could be realised at short notice, if required. The financial position is therefore healthy and there are sufficient funds and assets to cover more than 2 years of anticipated annual expenditure.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees are of the opinion that the free reserves, being unrestricted funds excluding fixed assets, should be at least equal to one year’s expected future expenditure. This is currently assessed as £185,000. The actual level of unrestricted funds, excluding fixed assets, at 31 March 2024 was £417,068 (2023: £415,250).
Going concern
The Trustees are of the opinion that the assets and reserves of the Institute are adequate to support its on-going activities and obligations.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document and Constitution
The Charity was established under a Memorandum of Association dated 30 May 2000 which defined its objects and powers, and it is governed under its Articles of Association which were last amended by the Members on 30 March 2018. It is constituted as a charitable company limited by guarantee which was incorporated on 29 December 2000 and is registered as a charity.
The activities and net assets of International African Institute, an unincorporated association founded in 1923, were transferred to the charitable company on 1[st] April 2001.
The members of the company, known collectively as the Council, are named on page 5. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability of each member in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1.
Organisational Structure
Following the change to the Articles of Association in 2018, the Council meets biennially and is responsible for strategic and policy decisions. The Council’s last meeting was in May 2023. The Trustees are accountable for the management of the Charity and have delegated day-to-day operational responsibility to the Honorary Director and various committees, most significantly, the Publications Committee, chaired by the Managing Editor. The Board of Trustees met 3 times during the year to 31 March 2024.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT cont’d
Method of Appointment and Induction of Trustees
Trustees are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association.
The existing Trustees would look to appoint someone who was already familiar with the work of the Charity and/or active in the field of African Studies and its languages and cultures. Once appointed, the Trustees would encourage the new Trustee to attend Trustee meetings regularly where possible and to familiarise themselves with the objectives of the Charity and the duties of a Trustee.
Related Parties
There have been no related party transactions during the period under review.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
| Trustees | Richard Fardon | Chair of Trustee Board |
|---|---|---|
| Philip Burnham | Honorary Director and Secretary | |
| Karin Barber | ||
| Ken Barlow | ||
| Katherine Homewood | ||
| Deborah James | ||
| Murray Last | ||
| Company registered number | 4133841 | |
| Charity registered number | 1084798 | |
| Registered office and | SOAS, University of London, | |
| operational address | Thornhaugh Street, | |
| Russell Square | ||
| London WC1H OXG | ||
| Website address | www.internationalafricaninstitute.org | |
| Honorary Editors ofAfrica | Julie Archambault | |
| Joost Fontein | ||
| Asonzeh Ukah | ||
| Managing Editor | Stephanie Kitchen | |
| Editor ofJACS | Carli Coetzee | |
| Independent Examiner | Anthony Epton | |
| Goldwins Limited | ||
| 75 Maygrove Road | ||
| London NW6 2EG | ||
| Bankers | CAF Bank Ltd, | |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue, | ||
| West Malling, Kent | ME19 4JQ | |
| Fund Managers | CCLA Fund Managers Ltd | |
| 1 Angel Lane | ||
| London EC4R 3AB | ||
| Solicitors | Bates, Wells & Braithwaite, | |
| 10 Queen St. Place | ||
| London EC4R 1BE |
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS cont’d
COUNCIL
Professor Odile Goerg ActingChair Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 Professor Murray Last Life member University College London
Elected members Professor Fred Ahwireng-Obeng University of Witwatersrand, South Africa Professor Leslie Bank Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa Professor Armando Cutolo University of Siena, Italy Professor Filip De Boeck KU Leuven, Belgium Professor Mamadou Diawara Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany Professor Andreas Eckert Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany Professor Peter Geschiere University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Professor Jan-Bart Gewald Leiden University, Netherlands Professor Nancy Rose Hunt University of Florida, Gainesville, USA Professor Adam T Jones Leipzig University, Germany Professor Dina Ligaga University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Professor Lotte Meinert Aarhus University, Denmark Professor Birgit Meyer Utrecht University, Netherlands Professor Mauro Nobili University of Illinois, USA Professor Michael Ọmọlẹwa University of Ibadan, Nigeria Professor Benjamin Soares University of Florida, Gainesville, USA Professor Zachary Wright Northwestern University, Qatar
The Trustees and the Honorary Editors of Africa are also ex officio Members of Council
PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
Stephanie Kitchen Chair Managing Editor, International African Institute Professor Tim Allen Dept of International Development, LSE Dr Julie Archambault Concordia University, Canada Dr Adam Branch University of Cambridge Professor Philip Burnham Dept of Anthropology, UCL Dr Carli Coetzee International African Institute Professor Harri Englund University of Cambridge Professor Joost Fontein University of Johannesburg Dr Eyob Gebremariam University of Bristol Professor Peter Geschiere University of Amsterdam Professor Deborah James Dept of Anthropology, LSE Professor Murray Last Dept of Anthropology, UCL Professor Adeline Masquelier Tulane University, Louisiana Dr. Hélène Neveu-Kringelbach Dept of African Studies, UCL Professor David Pratten University of Oxford Professor Jennifer Robinson Dept of Geography, UCL Dr Jon Schubert University of Basel Professor Asonzeh Ukah University of Cape Town Dr Keren Weitzberg Queen Mary, University of London Dr Joseph Mujere Dept of History, University of York
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees (who are also directors of International African Institute for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company and charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and of FRS 102.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 7 October 2024 and signed on their behalf, by:
Professor P C Burnham – Trustee
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024
I report on the accounts of International African Institute for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 8 to 16.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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A
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Anthony Epton BA, FCA, CTA, FCIE Goldwins
Chartered Accountants 75 Maygrove Road West Hampstead London NW6 2EG
Date: 14 October 2024
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (incorporating income and expenditure account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Note INCOME FROM: Charitable activities: Journals 3 Books and other publications 3 Donations Investment income Total income EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities: Journals 4 Books and other publications 4 Donations, grants and other support 4 Total expenditure NET INCOME BEFORE NET GAINS / (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS 6 Net gains / (losses) on investments NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR & NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS: Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted Funds £ 155,483 20,857 142 15,046 191,528 104,961 54,903 9,846 169,710 21,818 1,470 23,288 424,984 448,272 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
2024 Total £ 155,483 20,857 142 15,046 191,528 104,961 54,903 9,846 169,710 21,818 1,470 23,288 424,984 448,272 |
2023 Total £ 139,437 16,211 101 6,658 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 162,407 | ||||
| 92,071 57,196 4,499 |
||||
| 153,766 | ||||
| 8,641 (266) |
||||
| 8,375 416,609 |
||||
| 424,984 |
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. The Statement of Financial Activities includes all recognised gains and losses in the year.
The detailed 2023 comparative Statement of Financial Activities is reported in note 2.
The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 Company Number: 4133841
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| Investments | 10 | 31,204 | 9,734 | ||
| 31,204 | 9,734 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Debtors | 11 | 70,042 | 53,434 | ||
| Current asset investments | 12 | 245,463 | 258,504 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 126,476 | 128,424 | |||
| TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 441,981 | 440,362 | |||
| CREDITORS:amounts falling due within | |||||
| one year | 13 | 24,913 | 25,112 | ||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 417,068 | 415,250 | |||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES & | |||||
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 448,272 | 424,984 | |||
| FUNDS | |||||
| Unrestricted Funds | 14 | ||||
| Designated Funds | 19,009 | 14,286 | |||
| General Funds | 429,263 | 410,698 | |||
| Total Unrestricted Fund | 448,272 | 424,984 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 448,272 | 424,984 |
The Trustees consider that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 ("the Act") and members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at 31 March 2024 and of its profit or loss for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the financial statements so far as applicable to the company.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 7 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Professor P C Burnham – Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. Accounting Policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102 - effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. The charity has taken advantage of the special provisions relating to small companies as set out in the Companies Act 2006 and those relating to smaller entities in Charities SORP FRS 102
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
1.2 Going concern
The accounts are prepared on a going concern basis after consideration by the trustees that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Such consideration includes a review of committed income and expenditures, cash flows and reserves. The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
1.3 Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are funds which the donor has specified are to be used solely for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.
Accounts relating to royalty contracts with publishers are prepared on a calendar year basis. Income is recognised by the Charity for the calendar year ending during its financial year.
Investment income is recognised when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. Accounting Policies cont’d
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
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Costs of raising funds comprise the costs, including allocated support costs, incurred in seeking both voluntary income in the form of donations and also funding to support charitable activities.
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Expenditure on charitable activities comprises the costs, including allocated support costs, of producing and distributing the Journals, Bibliography and other publications, and the costs of providing donations, grants and other support to individuals and organisations undertaking activities which meet the Institute’s charitable objects.
Costs which are attributable to a specific activity are charged directly to that activity. Costs which are shared between a number of specific activities are charged directly to those activities based on the amount of time or usage incurred in undertaking each of the specific activities.
1.6 Allocation of support and governance costs
Support and governance costs are incurred to further the work of the charity but are not incurred directly for raising funds or carrying out charitable activities. These costs, which are analysed in the notes to the Financial Statements, are allocated between the cost of raising funds and expenditure on each charitable activity based on the weighted average amount of time undertaken by the charity as a whole on those categories of expenditure.
1.7 Taxation
No provision is made for Corporation Tax as the company, being a charity, is exempt.
1.8 Foreign Currencies
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. Exchange differences are taken into account in arriving at the Net Income/(Expenditure) for the year.
1.9 Cash Flow
The accounts do not include a cash flow statement because the charity, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under the provision Financial Reporting Standard 102 (as amended with effect from 1 January 2016).
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. Accounting Policies (continued)
1.10 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Computer and office equipment – 33% on written down value
Individual fixed assets costing below £1,000 are not capitalised.
1.11 Debtors
Trade debtors are stated in the Balance Sheet at the invoiced amount (including VAT) after recognising any provisions for doubtful debts which are judged on a case by case basis.
Accrued income is recognised where funds in respect of the financial period being reported have been received or invoiced after the Balance Sheet date. Prepayments are recognised where payments, in respect of future financial periods, have been made prior to the Balance Sheet date
1.12 Current asset investments
Cash on deposit and cash equivalents with a maturity of less than one year but more than three months which are held for investment purposes rather than to meet short-term cash commitments are recognised as current asset investments, initially at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the Balance Sheet date.
1.13 Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
1.14 Creditors
Creditors and provisions are recognised at their invoiced amount including VAT. Accruals are based on agreed costs (excluding VAT) for services received prior to the Balance Sheet date but not invoiced before that date; where an expense has not been agreed an estimate of the final settlement amount (excluding VAT) is made.
Deferred income representing grants, donations and sponsorship support received in advance of the financial period for which a donor has stated the funds should be expended is recognised at the settlement value received.
1.15 Pensions
All eligible employees are enrolled into a defined contribution pension scheme under auto-enrolment arrangements. Other non-eligible or entitled employees may join or opt in to the same scheme. The charity’s only liability is the monthly contribution calculated as a proportion of the employee’s qualifying earnings during the period of employment at the charity. The cost of such contributions is recognised as a staff cost and charged directly or allocated to the cost of raising funds or expenditure on charitable activities in line with the policies described in notes 1.5 and 1.6 above.
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
2 Detailed comparatives for the statement of financial activities
| 2023 Unrestricted £ Income from: Charitable activities: Journals 139,437 Books and other publications 16,211 Donations 101 Investment income 6,658 Total income 162,407 Expenditure on: Charitable activities: Journals 92,071 Books and other publications 57,196 Donations, grants and other support 4,499 Total expenditure 153,766 Net gains / (losses) on investments (266) Net income / (expenditure) for the year & net movement in funds 8,375 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 416,609 Total funds carried forward 424,984 3 Income from Charitable Activities Journals Royalties received Africa_and_Africa Bibliography Journal of African Cultural Studies Fees to support editorial activities Total income from Journals Books and other publications Royalties received Sales and other fees Total income from books and other publications Total Income from Charitable Activities All income in 2024 and 2023 was unrestricted |
2023 Restricted £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2024 Total £ 104,517 11,681 39,285 155,483 13,060 7,797 20,857 176,340 |
2023 Total £ 139,437 16,211 101 6,658 |
|---|---|---|
| 162,407 | ||
| 92,071 57,196 4,499 |
||
| 153,766 | ||
| (266) | ||
| 8,375 416,609 |
||
| 424,984 | ||
| 2023 Total £ 88,711 14,152 36,574 |
||
| 139,437 | ||
| 11,966 4,245 |
||
| 16,211 | ||
| 155,648 | ||
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INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
4 Expenditure on Charitable Activities
| Staff costs Editorial expenses Editors’ outreach Royalties paid Grants & other support Books for African Libraries Support & governance costs Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities 2023 |
Journals Books & other publications Donations, grants and other support 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 43,962 34,859 - 78,821 35,621 1,960 - 37,581 7,729 - - 7,729 - 5,215 - 5,215 - 1,079 5,542 6,621 - - 3,000 3,000 17,649 11,790 1,304 30,743 104,961 54,903 9,846 169,710 92,071 57,196 4,499 153,766 |
2023 Total £ 79,004 31,868 4,168 3,138 5,345 3,717 26,526 |
|---|---|---|
| 153,766 | ||
All expenditure in 2024 and 2023 was from unrestricted funds
5 Support and Governance Costs
| Staff costs Accountancy fees Office rent Other office costs Council meeting Independent Examination fee Support costs allocated to governance Total Support and Governance Costs 2023 |
Support costs Governance Costs 2024 Total £ £ £ 7,714 - 7,714 12,666 - 12,666 4,500 - 4,500 2,330 - 2,330 - 2,433 2,433 - 1,100 1,100 (9,896) 9,896 - 17,314 13,429 30,743 15,710 10,816 26,526 |
2023 Total £ 7,038 11,847 4,500 2,191 - 950 - |
|---|---|---|
| 26,526 | ||
All costs (including shared staff costs assigned on an assessment of employee time) which can be identified as having been incurred for a specific activity are reported as a direct cost of that activity. Remaining support and governance costs are allocated between the charity's activities on the basis of the weighted average staff time spent on each activity, as follows
| Allocation of Support and Governance Costs Charitable activities Journals Books and other publications Donations, grants and other support Total Support and Governance Costs |
Support costs Governance Costs 2024 Total £ £ £ 9,212 8,437 17,649 7,624 4,166 11,790 478 826 1,304 17,314 13,429 30,743 |
2023 Total £ 15,134 10,610 782 |
|---|---|---|
| 26,526 |
- 14 -
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
6. Net incoming/(outgoing) resources
| This is stated after charging: Independent Examination fee: Analysis of staff costs and trustee remuneration and expenses Staff costs were as follows: Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs |
2024 £ 1,100 2024 £ 82,502 1,325 2,708 86,535 |
2023 £ 950 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 £ 82,012 1,401 2,629 |
||
| 86,042 |
7. Analysis of staff costs and trustee remuneration and expenses
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year. The total employee benefits including employer national insurance and pension contributions of the key management personnel were £48,349 (2023: £49,408).
The trustees were not paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2023: £nil) neither did any trustee receive payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil). Trustees are re-imbursed expenses which would otherwise have been paid by the Institute; in total, such expenses amounted to £268 in the year (2023: £nil).
Staff Numbers
The average monthly number of staff during the year was as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | FTE* | Total | FTE* | |
| Charitable Activities | 4.00 | 1.64 | 4.00 | 1.74 |
| Support Costs | 1.00 |
0.20 | 1.00 |
0.20 |
*FTE = Full time equivalent
8. Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
9. Related Party Transactions
There have been no related party transactions during the year (2023: nil).
10. Investments
| COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund Accumulation Units Market value at beginning of financial year Acquisitions at cost Net gain / (loss) on revaluation Market value at end of financial year |
2024 £ 9,734 20,000 1,470 31,204 |
2023 £ - 10,000 (266) |
|---|---|---|
| 9,734 |
- 15 -
INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN INSTITUTE
(A Company Limited by Guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
11. Debtors
| Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trade debtors Accrued royalties Other debtors Prepayments |
2024 £ 40 66,213 2,868 921 70,042 |
2023 £ 165 47,961 3,547 1,761 |
| 53,434 |
12. Current Asset Investments
Current asset investments comprise cash on deposit at banks with a maturity of less than one year
13. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Accruals Other creditors Value Added Tax Other taxation and social security costs |
2024 £ 7,625 6,771 8.887 1,630 24,913 |
2023 £ 9,398 4,634 9,332 1,748 |
|---|---|---|
| 25,112 |
14. Funds
The Charity had six restricted funds received for projects completed almost 20 years ago but with an aggregate £15,490 unused remaining balance. As it had not been possible to source or contact the original individual donors after the funds had been dormant for so many years the trustees decided in 2022 to consolidate and designate the funds and to use them, in line with the intentions of the original grants, to support African publishers, authors and workshops. During the year £6,000 of income was designated for two specific publishing activities.
Summary of Fund Movements
| Unrestricted Funds General Funds Designated Funds Total Unrestricted Funds Total Funds |
Brought Forward £ 410,698 14,286 424,984 424,984 |
Incoming Resources £ 185,528 6,000 191,528 191,528 |
Resources Expended £ (168,433) (1,277) (169,710) (169,710) |
Other gains/ (losses) £ 1,470 - 1,470 1,470 |
Carried Forward £ 429,263 19,009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
448,272 |
|||||
448,272 |
Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds
All assets and liabilities are unrestricted
- 16 -