h4 ANNUAL REPORT & AUDITED ACCOUNTS | 2023 peas
IMPACT REPORT | 2023 IhS'11 i Qeas
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Student in his community near PEAS Frontiers Secondary School, Isingiro District, Western
Uganda
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A word from our Chair
PEAS’ focus on accessible, quality secondary education has always been a source of admiration for me, especially the clear attention to the challenges of the girl child. So, it was an honour this year to take over as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
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PEAS recognition that solutions to Africa’s development challenges shall be driven and lead by Africans, and the deliberate shift to an organisational structure to reflect that, is refreshing.
Apollo Gabazira Chair
I’m excited to be leading a multi-skilled, multi-cultured team of Trustees committed to supporting PEAS through the next stage of growth to achieve the organisation’s vision and goals.
I have taken this role at a time when PEAS is on a trajectory from being purely a school operator to emerging as an influential advocate and innovator in the secondary education space. In the coming years, we won’t only see PEAS scaling our model but will see others, including African governments, learn from it. That’s where we will see true impact at scale.
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A word from our Chief Executive
More children miss out on secondary school today than 15 years ago, when PEAS was founded. At a time when our mission has never been so important, 2023 saw PEAS deliver quality education to more children than ever before.
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It’s hard to select just one highlight because there are so many. We launched the 36th PEAS school taking student enrolment to over 19,000; PEAS students recorded their best ever exam results; beyond our PEAS schools, we reached around 150,000 students in our growing number of partner schools; and, we expanded from Uganda and Zambia to Ghana.
Laura Brown
Chief Executive
But PEAS’ impact is not just about big numbers and growing reach. My personal highlight from 2023 was taking a lesson in hydraulics from a group of girls at PEAS Aspire High School in rural Uganda with their teacher (a PEAS school alumni herself) looking on with pride.
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Students sing and dance at PEAS Onwards & Upwards Secondary School, Wakiso District,
Central Uganda
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Students arrive at PEAS Noble Secondary School, Ibanda District, Western Uganda
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Table of contents
| A word from our Chair and Chief Executive | 1 |
|---|---|
| Table of contents | 3 |
| About PEAS | 4 |
| Our impact and reach | 9 |
| Key achievements | 11 |
| Supporting girls to succeed | 12 |
| Driving school improvement at a system level | 14 |
| Extending impact to Ghana | 15 |
| Revolutionising education through innovative technology | 17 |
| Sharing our knowledge to drive improvements across the | 18 |
| sector | |
| Our leadership | 19 |
| 2022-26 strategic journey | 20 |
| Looking forward to 2024 and beyond | 22 |
| Our partners | 23 |
| Strategic report | 24 |
| Report of the Trustees | 25 |
| Statement of the Trustees | 31 |
| Independent auditors report | 32 |
| Consolidated statement of financial activities | 35 |
| Consolidated balance sheet | 35 |
| Consolidated statement of cash flows | 36 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 37 |
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OUR MODEL EXEMPLAR PEAS SCHOOLS PEAS schools provide proof of concept for low-cost, sustainable secondary -tchooling PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS PEAS partners with government to roll out our approaches In government schools I'lll. SYSTEM LEVEL TRANSFORMATION PEAS shares 8vidence to support wider system change GLOBAL ADVOCACY PEAS advocates globally to influencg the widar international education ecosystem 41 Qeas
What we do
PEAS is transforming secondary education in subSaharan Africa
Each year we support around 170,000 young people, in marginalised communities across Uganda, Zambia, and Ghana.
We work hand in hand with governments so all young people can learn in a safe, inclusive environment. We draw on 15 years practical experience running one of the largest, not-for-profit secondary school networks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Our award-winning programmes are designed and delivered by Africans for Africans. Evidence shows our students come from poorer households and make faster learning progress. And our girls are more confident and better equipped for life after school. We achieve all this at a lower cost than alternatives.
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A student in her dormitory at PEAS Kampinda Secondary School, Northern Province, Zambia 5
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PEAS Kabuta Secondary School, Northern Province, Zambia
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Why we do it We believe that...
Secondary education is life changing
Adolescence is the critical moment when young people benefit most from an education. A person who is educated has better life choices, more agency and more income. In the countries where we work, for most young people, secondary education is the last formal stage of education before entering the labour market, starting a family and participating in democracy.
Even more so for girls
Educating adolescents, particularly girls, reduces their dependence on others and the likelihood that they will experience violence at home. Girls who complete secondary education have higher earnings and healthier families. They are more likely to share the benefits with their families and invest in their children’s education. Educating a girl benefits generations to come.
But it is out of reach for millions
Today secondary education is neither relevant nor in reach for millions of African adolescents. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest completion rates for secondary education in the world. Not enough secondary schools exist and where they do, many students experience a poor standard of education and an unsafe environment.
So, we are seizing the moment
In our lifetime, over half of the world’s young people will be African. This huge youth population presents an exciting opportunity for economic and social transformation. This opportunity can only be seized if the adolescent population are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to lead social, political and economic growth.
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It goes beyond education PEAS’ holistic approach to sustainable development
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Students at PEAS Frontiers Secondary School, Isingiro District, Western Uganda
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Empowering futures
Our impact in 2023
168,845 students and 8,532 teachers in 337 PEAS and partner schools across Uganda, Zambia, and Ghana benefitted from PEAS support. We are proud that:
PEAS’ students are more likely to make successful transitions after school.
PEAS’ learning environment is safer than other schools in similar contexts.
PEAS’ schools increase confidence, self-esteem and . girls’ beliefs on gender equality
PEAS’ support to government schools is increasing teacher and student attendance, teaching quality, and student safety.
PEAS’ schools achieve the most with their resources , educating the most challenging students whilst charging families the least.
Expanding horizons Our reach in 2023
GHANA Partner Schools
2,207 students 105 teachers 16 schools
UGANDA PEAS Schools
16,008 students 646 teachers 30 schools
Partner Schools
126,361 students 6,469 teachers 215 schools
Z A M B I A PEAS Schools
3,077 students 119 teachers 6 schools
Partner Schools
21,192 students 1,193 teachers 70 schools
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PEAS students in Zambia meet the President, to advocate on girls’ education after winning 'Ambassador for the Day' competition.
Key achievements in 2023
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PEAS was officially recognised as a CPD Service Provider by the Ministry of Education in Zambia.
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PEAS launched in Ghana to design and deliver a sustainable school improvement programme in government schools.
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PEAS students in Zambia achieved their best exam results to date. For the seventh year running, PEAS schools performed higher in national exams than government schools.
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PEAS were recognised as setting a benchmark for secondary education quality and accountability in Uganda by National Foundation for Educational Research.
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PEAS celebrated 15 years’ providing high-quality, affordable education across sub-Saharan Africa.
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PEAS appointed a new Chair of Trustees, Apollo B. Gabazira, a Ugandan national with extensive leadership experience with INGO’s across East Africa.
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PEAS received US Library of Congress Literacy Award recognising exemplary, sustainable and replicable strategies to promote literacy and reading.
PEAS launched our 36th school, which was opened by UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, and the Hon. Minister of Education, Douglas Munsaka Syakalima.
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Supporting girls to succeed
For over 15 years, PEAS’ schools in Uganda and Zambia have helped adolescent girls overcome barriers to access and complete secondary school.
We are now bringing this expertise to support girls in government schools and have documented and launched our Approach to Girls’ Inclusion to share what we have learnt with others.
In 2023, PEAS commissioned a participatory gender audit to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for PEAS to further advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Evidence shows girls in PEAS schools learn faster, feel safer and and are better prepared for life after school.
Students at PEAS Kabuta Secondary School, Northern Province, Zambia
Student spotlight
“Returning to school as a young mother in Uganda is not easy. Many girls like me don't get the chance to go back to school. But PEAS is different. They gave me an opportunity to take control of my life and decide my future.
At the age of 17, I became pregnant while still in school and gave birth to my son. Unfortunately, his father wasn't there to support us. It was a difficult time for me. My father saw the pain I was going through and asked if I wanted to go back to school, and I said yes.
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Namusisi and her son
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Many girls in my situation don't get a second chance to go back to school.
When I finish school, I hope to become a policewoman so I can help bring justice to my community.”
*Name changed for anonymity
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Namusisi at home with her sister and father
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Namusisi and her son
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Namusisi
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When I joined the school, I didn't feel like I was treated differently. The discipline at the school also made me feel welcome. There was no bullying, and boys and girls were treated equally.
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Namusisi’s home, Kasese District, Uganda
Government Partner School - Ruhinda Secondary School, Mitooma District, Uganda
Driving school improvement at a system level
PEAS believe all young people deserve a quality education, not just students in PEAS schools. We
In 2023, we impacted the lives of almost 150,000 nonPEAS’ students across 3 countries in 301 partner schools.
want stronger, more consistent national education systems, where top priority is given to student safety and learning.
In 2023, we expanded our work with governments to support educators with the tools, resources and know how needed to make a difference.
Expanding our impact beyond PEAS schools 2023 achievements
In Zambia, we expanded our work with government into new schools and new provinces. We are now reaching over 20,000 students in 70 government schools. PEAS’ approach to school leadership development and our School Leader Handbook was accredited by the Ministry of Education and PEAS became the first INGO to be officially recognised by The Teaching Council of Zambia as an accredited CPD provider.
In Uganda, our school improvement programme was recognised as setting a benchmark for secondary education quality and accountability. Our focus on practice rather than policy was highlighted as a quicker route to scale up, sustain progress and feed into policymaking over the long term (NFER). 78% of PEAS partner schools saw improvements in school leadership and management – a key driver to a successful school.
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Extending our impact to Ghana
After 15 years of operation, PEAS felt ready to utilise our experience and expertise to support transformational change in new geographies.
In 2023, we launched a pilot in Lawra, Upper West region of Northern Ghana. Working in partnership with the Savannah Education Trust and the local Ghana Education Service, to design and deliver a sustainable school improvement programme.
The programme was co-designed with partners to ensure its relevance to the local context, and draws on our learnings and expertise from PEAS school improvement programmes in Uganda and Zambia.
Through this programme, we are focusing on building school leaders’ capacity to drive long-term improvements, including inclusive teaching practices, robust safeguarding systems, and driving a positive school culture.
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Students in Bagri Baptist Primary School, Lawra, Ghana
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One of PEAS’ Partner Schools – Bagri Baptist Primary School, Lawra, Ghana
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For 8 years, Luke has been the Head Teacher of a government school in Lawra, Ghana. He feels proud of the safe and inclusive learning environment he has created, with support from PEAS.
“I see myself as a better teacher and Head Teacher now than ever before. The things I know and do, I do not see when I visit other schools.
This project has built my capacity to support my teachers. I can conduct quality lesson observations and provide coaching and feedback to my teachers, devoid of fault finding, so that they can improve their lesson delivery. Our new teacher training programme has also come in handy with student-centred techniques and simple steps to follow. I organise in-school CPD programmes on student-centred pedagogies, safeguarding, and the new Ghana Education Service Curriculum.”
“This project has supported me to drive school improvement by developing a roadmap to drive sustainable school improvement. I have learned about safeguarding and how to provide a safe environment for learners.
I now see child protection and safeguarding to be the most important thing i f teaching and learning are already effective. All learners can make it if they feel safe to learn.”
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Students take part in an ICT lesson at PEAS Bridge Secondary School, Mitoma District, Western
Uganda
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We believe it is possible to use simple, well-designed tools in PEAS’ schools to drive quality. Empowering school leaders with real-time data helps them make better decisions to support their students everyday.
In 2023, PEAS continued to trial and test low-cost innovative technology to strengthen school management and enhance teaching and learning.
In 2023, 71% of our students reported increased confidence in IT skills.
Technical triumphs
2023 achievements
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Adaptive Learning Software Pilot: We piloted adaptive offline learning software tailored for the unique challenges of PEAS' lowresource context. This innovative tool allows students to access personalised learning resources aligned with their individual learning levels and interests. Teachers can craft personalised learning pathways for each student, closely monitoring their progress and interactions lesson to lesson. 92% of students reported improvements in their literacy and/or numeracy skills.
School Information System Rollout: Our commitment to technological innovation culminated in the successful rollout of our School Information System across all 30 PEAS schools in Uganda. This system revolutionises data collection and analysis, by providing offline capabilities and real-time insights. Empowered by this technology, teachers and school leaders can efficiently target support for their students, ensuring no one is left behind in their educational journey.
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Sharing our knowledge to drive improvements across the sector
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Protection is Possible: Ensuring High Safeguarding Standards Across a Portfolio
In 2023, PEAS continued to share our tools and learning with the wider sector to magnify the impact and influence future policy and programming.
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Our tools, evaluations, and learnings are open source and we share these through social media, learning summits, and international and regional conferences.
Empowering Schools for Adolescent Girls: Our Approach to Girls’ Inclusion
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Using Technology to Improve Education for Marginalised Girls
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Girls’ Education Challenge Spotlight Brief: Value for Money
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How We Run Our Schools
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Learning Partnership for the PEAS-DES Inspect & Improve Programme: Digital Tool Case Study
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Teachers sing and dance at PEAS Onwards & Upwards Secondary School, Wakiso District, Central Uganda
The changemakers Our leadership
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Apollo Gabazira Laura Brown Beatrice Likando Henry Senkasi
Chair Chief Country Country
Executive Director Director
Team spotlight: meet David
In 2023, PEAS welcomed David Boateng to the team. David is the Country
Programme Manager for PEAS Ghana and is PEAS’ first employee in the
country.
Global Global Zambia Uganda
PEAS PEAS PEAS PEAS
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hana
G
S
A
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P
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David Boateng
Country Programme Manager
My passion for PEAS' work is driven by the impact we continue to make in the lives of young people. We are levelling the playing field through the provision of relevant and quality education, and opening up windows of opportunity for them to thrive in the world of work.
2022-2026 PEAS strategic journey
In 2022, PEAS launched an ambitious 5-year growth strategy. Here’s how we are doing against our three global goals.
1. Grow PEAS School Networks
Double PEAS students and close the gender attainment gap
We have four new PEAS schools, and are educating over 19,000 students every year.
Across PEAS’ school network, in Zambia girls are performing better than boys, and in Uganda, the gender attainment gap reduced by 8% points. In both countries, exam results improved for girls and boys in PEAS schools.
2. Strengthen Education Systems
Improve secondary education at a national level in at least two countries
We have co-designed school improvement programmes, based on PEAS’ best practice, with Ministries of Education in Uganda and Zambia. In Ghana we are testing the transferability of PEAS model to government schools.
In all three countries, we have seen improvements in school leadership and management, teaching and learning, and child protection in partner schools.
3. Strengthen the Organisation
Be sector leading in diversity, equity and inclusion
PEAS Board has evolved from a majority-European, majority-male Board with a UK Chair to a majority African, majority-female Board, now headed by a Ugandan.
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A student in a classroom at PEAS Kampinda Secondary School, Northern Province, Zambia
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Growing our impact
“Two years into our ambitious growth strategy we are delighted to be on track. We launched the strategy at a time of great uncertainty - just as we were coming out of 2 years of school closures in Uganda and the macro-economic climate was the toughest it’s been in decades - but we knew that the people hit the hardest would be the students we serve. If we didn’t step up we wouldn’t be doing our job.”
– Laura Brown, Chief Executive, PEAS
PEAS and Partner Students
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20k 175k
19k
18k 158k 150k
130k
16k 15.5k 125k
16k
14k 100k
12k 75k
10k 50k
45k
8k 25k
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Students enjoy lunch at PEAS Bridge Secondary School, Mitoma District, Western Uganda
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6k
0k
2021
2022 2023
Looking forward to 2024 and beyond
PEAS greatest impact will come through transforming how education is delivered across national education systems, not just at PEAS schools.
We are extremely proud of the progress we've made to strengthen and grow our exemplar school network. We have deepened our partnerships with governments to begin to influence stronger secondary education systems.
In the second half of the strategic period, we will build on this success:
We will construct two new schools in Zambia and join forces with Impact Network, a mission-aligned not-forprofit, to support more students.
We aim to become truly gender-transformative through our programmes and at all levels of operation. We will continue to work with governments to drive improvement in quality across national education systems.
That way, we will be closer to reaching our vision of a world where all children enjoy an education that unlocks their full potential.
Students relax at PEAS Bridge Secondary School, Mitoma District, Western Uganda
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Our partners Achieving impact through collaboration
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Without the generous support of our partners, none of this would be possible...
We would like to thank the following organisations for their continued and generous support. We would also like to thank a number of donors who wished to remain anonymous, and the individual supporters who have given generously to our work or participated in fundraising events on behalf of PEAS. All these partners have been critical to our success.
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61 FINANCIAL REPORT | 2023 Qeas
Strategic Report
The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present their strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2023, in compliance with S414C of the Companies Act 2006.
Fair review of the business
PEAS was pleased to continue its growth trajectory in 2023 by growing enrolment by 19% to over 19,000 students in 36 PEAS schools, partnering with 301 schools through our school improvement programmes, and launching PEAS’ first programme in Ghana. Through growth in school fee income, successful fundraising, and sound budget control, PEAS was able to successfully increase expenditure by 10% to support this growth.
This growth aligned to PEAS’ 2022-2026 strategic plan with a strong emphasis on growing our school networks, system strengthening work and into new countries of operations. 2023 proved to be a strong second year of this growth strategy. Rapid expansion of our networks in Uganda and Zambia, including another new school in Zambia, and strong enrolment drives in both countries led to >19% enrolment growth at the start of 2023.
In a little over 5 years, our school improvement programmes are now reaching 301 partner schools, including 215 in Uganda, 70 in Zambia, and 16 in Ghana. We continue to see strong demand from the Ministries of Education in all three countries, meaning there is good opportunity to expand the work to more schools, new regions, and national level reform programmes in 2024 and beyond.
Given the context within which PEAS works, the principal risks for PEAS are:
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Rising inflation and cost of doing business: Global macro economic factors are resulting in rising costs of most goods and services e.g. fuel, food and construction. PEAS has contingency plans and budget in place.
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External environment for business development: The same macroeconomic factors are also resulting in a more challenging fundraising environment, which will likely put pressure on PEAS’ medium-term income pipeline. PEAS has healthy reserves and is prioritising securing multi-year funding partnerships. Child Protection: Child Protection is paramount at PEAS, and all PEAS staff work tirelessly to minimise the risk of any incident which might harm our beneficiaries.
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Corruption: PEAS has clear Anti-Corruption policies and procedures, including a Whistle-Blowing policy and an Internal Audit team focused on rooting out corruption at every level.
Beyond the above risks, PEAS is pleased to have achieved unrestricted free reserves equivalent to 100% of its target, and the trustees will continue to focus on protecting PEAS' financial stability.
Liquidity risk
Prudent liquidity risk management includes maintaining sufficient cash balances, and the availability of funding from an adequate amount of committed credit facilities. Management monitors rolling forecasts of the charity's liquidity reserve based on expected cash flow.
The strategic report was approved by the trustees of the Charity on 27th June 2024 and signed on its behalf by Apollo Gabazira.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
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A quarterly review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces.
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The establishment of policies, systems, and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the reviews.
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Procedures to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
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Report of the Trustees
Senior management personnel
The Trustees consider the following as senior management personnel of the Charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running and operating the charity and its subsidiaries on a day-to-day basis.
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Laura Brown
Chief Executive
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Global Strategy Team (GST)
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Beatrice Likando Country Director PEAS Zambia
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Dirk Phiri
Deputy Country Director
PEAS Zambia
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Henry Senkasi
Country Director
PEAS Uganda
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Emily Goulborn
Head of Partnerships
PEAS Global
Jenny Groot
Chief Programme Officer
PEAS Global
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Richard Aung Chief Operations Officer PEAS Global
Senior Leaders
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Amos Chipasi School Network Senior Manager PEAS Zambia
Bonaventure Mulenga Strategic Partnerships Senior Manager PEAS Zambia
Daniel Kyasanga Head of Quality Assurance PEAS Uganda
Daniel Omaya Head of School Network PEAS Uganda
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Elizabeth Amuge
Head of Operations
PEAS Uganda
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Sarah Chanda
Senior Finance & Grants Manager
PEAS Zambia
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Sibeti Msariri Senior Finance Manager PEAS Global
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Report of the Trustees
The pay of the charity's key management personnel, excluding the Board of Trustees, is reviewed annually and, where necessary increased in accordance with average earnings. In view of the nature of the charity, its economy of operations, and the extensive use of professional advisers to the Board of Trustees, the trustees consider that the salary of the Chief Executive and other key management personnel may up to three times the median average salary for UK employees. The remuneration is also benchmarked against charities of a similar size and activity to ensure that the remuneration is fair and not out of line with that generally paid for similar roles.
Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee is a subcommittee of the PEAS board and is tasked with reviewing PEAS' financial management, policies, risks, and risk mitigation processes in greater detail.
The committee meets on a quarterly basis, usually shortly before board meetings, and any ad-hoc meetings where required. The committee is made up of the following people:
Ronald Kansere (Chair) Started in May 2019 Mike Saxton Started in January 2018 James Adams Started in October 2018 Andrew Jurczynski Started in January 2022 Babalwa Gova Started in March 2023 Joseph Swingland Started in September 2023 Erica Stuart Stepped down in June 2023
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A student in a classroom at PEAS Kabuta Secondary School, Northern Province, Zambia 26
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Report of the Trustees
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
PEAS aims to challenge and overcome all forms of marginalisation in our workplace and schools. We are working to ensure the balance of leadership and governance is moving closer to the students and communities we serve by ensuring more African leadership on our global senior team and board. We also empower and champion female leadership, which we see as critical to reaching gender equality in our schools. Our diversity, equity and inclusion agenda is not driven by quotas, but by bottom-up investment in our people and building equitable systems throughout our organisation.
PEAS commits to creating a safe and physically comfortable working environment with a positive values-driven, meritocratic and open culture across all levels. We aspire to create a culture that promotes excellence and innovation so our team can deliver to the best of their performance. PEAS is committed to providing equality, fairness and respect for everyone in the team whether in temporary, part-time or full-time employment. As an equal-opportunities employer, we do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age (protected characteristics).
PEAS will oppose and avoid all forms of unlawful discrimination. Thi policy applies to all aspects of employment with us, including pay and benefits, terms and conditions of employment, grievances and discipline processes, termination and dismissal, redundancy, leave for parents, requests for flexible working, and selection for employment, promotion, training or other development opportunities. This applies in the workplace, outside the workplace (when dealing with beneficiaries, suppliers or other work-related contact), and on work related trips or events including social events.
To inform our efforts to ensure we have a safe, engaging and motivating workplace, PEAS carries out staff engagement Pulse Surveys three times per year, and an annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion survey. The senior leadership team ensures clear actions plans are laid out to respond to teams’ feedback on their engagement, welfare and motivation.
Internal Communication and Engagement
The Chief Executive and senior staff have weekly meetings to discuss any business and operations matters. The Chief Executive shares bimonthly update emails to communicate progress with all staff and encourages any feedback. Quarterly “Ask Us Anything” calls hosted by the Global Senior Team also provide a channel to listen, and answer staff queries, and gain their input and feedback. The Chief Executive and other senior management also have regular one-to-one check-ins with staff across all levels of the organisation.
The regular Pulse and DEI Surveys also provide valuable feedback to the senior team and Trustees. Several of the organisation’s strategic goal indicators are taken from the survey results and are therefore discussed at quarterly Trustee meetings.
PEAS consults with its beneficiaries through several channels. Each year, PEAS students and teachers are invited to participate in student and teacher perception surveys, where they are asked for their feedback on a wide range of matters relating to PEAS programming. School Leaders are also invited to participate in the regular Pulse and DEI Surveys. Students are often invited to participate in small group discussions as part of key stakeholder consultations for internal and external monitoring and evaluation processes. Beneficiary feedback from all these channels is used to further improve PEAS’ programming.
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Report of the Trustees
Financial review
PEAS’ financial performance in 2023 ably supported our strong strategic growth. Income exceeded expenditure by 12%, allowing for both a 10% increase in expenditure, and a healthy contribution to free reserves to further secure the organisation’s long-term financial position.
PEAS’ total income for the year was £8.7m. This was 12% higher than expenditure for the year, despite being 14% lower than the prior period of £10m, largely due to lower conversion of capex income for school infrastructure expansion. PEAS continues to prioritise securing new or increasing income from existing strategic and construction partners. PEAS’ school income for the year was £3.5m, 29% higher than prior period (£2.7m), driven by strong fee collection, significant growth in school enrolment numbers in both Uganda and Zambia, and opening a new school in Zambia in 2023.
PEAS’ total expenditure for the year was £7.8m, 10% higher than the prior period of £7.1m. School expenditure was £4m, 38% higher than prior period, due to variable school costs increasing in tandem with significant enrolment growth, and cost pressures from inflation and foreign exchange volatility. Expenditure on school expansion, school management and support, and work with partner schools was £3.5m, down 10% from prior period due to scale benefits in PEAS’ school improvement programme and systematic approach to managing costs and reducing school support and construction costs. Expenditure on generating funds came to £0.4m, which represents 5% of total expenditure.
During 2023, PEAS contributed £100k to unrestricted free reserves to shore up the organisation's financial security. £653k was released from designated reserve to support implementation of PEAS’ growth strategy in 2023, which included growing our partner school improvement work in Uganda & Zambia, expanding PEAS’ work to Ghana, and expansion of the PEAS Uganda and Zambia school networks to progress towards full scale and financial sustainability.
Income and expenditure breakdown
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Income (£) Expenditure (£)
12 months to Dec 2023 12 months to Dec 2023
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School building and equipment
The expenditure on school construction is accounted for through PEAS' balance sheet. This is represented by the School Building Fund of £10.1m (2022 — £10.5m) included in Total Funds.
During the year PEAS spent £1.3m (2022 — £2.2m) on new school construction, expanding schools and new equipment across the school network. Of that, £0.5m was in Uganda and £0.8m in Zambia.
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Report of the Trustees
The following pages present the Trustees' and Directors' report for the year ended 31st December 2023.
Structure, governance, and management
PEAS is a registered UK charity (no. 1126550) and a company limited by guarantee. (no. 06552715). The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Application of income by the charitable company is limited to the promotion of its objectives, which are to expand provision of high-quality equitable education, with a focus on countries in Africa.
PEAS has established subsidiary offices in Uganda and Zambia, which are legally registered as International Non-Profit entities in those countries. PEAS has also begun the process of registering a subsidiary office in Ghana. A control relationship exists between PEAS’ global and country offices and as such PEAS produces consolidated, audited group accounts as well as accounts for each of its country offices.
Decisions are made by simple majority of votes cast at Trustees' meetings with quorum, or by unanimous agreement in writing.
PEAS board members can serve for up to two three-year terms. Board members have been selected through a combination of head-hunting sector leaders through existing networks and through advertising publicly to identify candidates with a range of expertise. New trustees are selected based on experience, personal/professional networks, and their ability to support organisational governance.
Statement of public benefit
The trustees, having regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in accordance with section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, consider the purpose and activities of the charity to satisfy the requirements of the public benefit test as set out in section 4 of the same act.
Third-party indemnity provision
PEAS has purchased insurance to protect it for any loss arising from the neglect or defaults of its trustees, employees, and agents and to indemnify the trustees or other officers against the consequences of any neglect or default on their part. The insurance premium paid by the charity during the year totalled £1,731 (2023-24) and provides cover of up to a maximum of £5,000,000.
In the year covered by this report, the Board of Trustees are comprised of:
Peter Colenso Chair - outgoing (stepped down in September 2023) Robin Horn Trustee (stepped down in June 2023) Erica Stuart Trustee (stepped down in June 2023) Ronald Kansere Trustee Andrew Jurczynski Trustee Apollo Gabazira Chair - incoming (stepped up in September 2023) Ally Arnall Trustee Janice Matwi Trustee Bridget Gyamfi Trustee (joined in March 2023) Aissatou Bah Trustee (joined in March 2023
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Report of the Trustees
Reserves and investment policy
PEAS has a Reserves and Investment policy in place. PEAS UK aims to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately three months of unrestricted expenditure for the UK and overseas subsidiaries. The Trustees consider that this level will provide sufficient funds to ensure that support and governance costs are covered. PEAS also has an increasing number of restricted reserves which are primarily made up of physical assets such as the school buildings.
Funds and reserve position
PEAS has total funds of £13.84m (Dec 2022 - £14.77m). Of this, £10.08m (Dec 2022 - £10.46m) is physical school infrastructure in Uganda and Zambia and is distinct from usable cash funds. Of the remaining £3.76m of funds, restricted funds are £1.45m (Dec 2022 - £1.45m) and unrestricted funds are £2.31m (Dec 2022 — £2.86m). Of the £2.31m unrestricted funds, £1.12m is part of a designated reserve and £1.18m is usable unrestricted reserve.
In 2023, most of the funds have been raised from existing donors, which are a mix of institutions, trusts, foundations, corporates and individuals. PEAS has strict policies and guidelines in place that govern our approach to fundraising, including compliance with GDPR. The fundraising team closely monitors compliance with these policies and guidelines.
PEAS received no complaints related to fundraising in any way over the year. PEAS will not under any circumstances put pressure on any person to donate to PEAS and takes all due care to ensure that any communication that is sent out from PEAS is wanted by the recipient.
Over this year, PEAS continued to only contact individuals who had expressed an interest in hearing from PEAS and had a strict process to ensure that any requests to unsubscribe from PEAS' materials were acted on immediately.
PEAS group’s current unrestricted reserves position is about 3 months of operating costs, equivalent to the target level set in the reserves policy. This shows an incremental improvement over the past financial years due to a continued steady contribution to unrestricted funds each year.
UK Fundraising
PEAS fundraising over the year has continued to be done in a way which PEAS believes is best practice, learning from the guidance issued to the sector by the Fundraising Regulator and adhering to PEAS Ethical Fundraising Policy.
All fundraising is carried out strictly in line with PEAS' values, in particular the value of Be Honest. PEAS believes that sticking to our principles of doing what is right for the broader NGO sector is vital to ensure we are having an overall positive impact as well as assuring the long-term success of PEAS.
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Statement of the Trustees
The trustees (who are also the directors of Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS) for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' annual report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently. Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. Make judgements 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. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to 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.
As far as each Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company's auditors are unaware. Each Trustee has taken all reasonable steps that he/she ought to have taken as a Trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information.
Approved by the trustees of the Charity on 27th June 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
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Students walk to class at PEAS Aspire Secondary
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School, Ibanda District, Western Uganda
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Apollo Gabazira Trustee
Independent Auditor’s Report
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF PROMOTING EQUALITY IN AFRICAN SCHOOLS (PEAS)
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS) for the year ended 31 December 2023, which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the Consolidated and Company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of the group’s and parent charitable company’s net movement in funds, including the income and expenditure, for the year then ended; have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the Trustees’ and the Strategic Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
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Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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the information given in the Trustees’ Annual Report (which includes the strategic report and the directors’ report prepared for the purposes of company law) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the strategic report and the directors’ report included within the Trustees’ Annual Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report (which incorporates the strategic report and the directors’ report).
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 31, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of
assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Based on our understanding of the group and the environment in which it operates, we identified that the principal risks of noncompliance with laws and regulations related to those standard to UK charitable companies, and we considered the extent to which noncompliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011, corporation tax, payroll tax and sales tax.
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We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries to revenue and management bias in accounting estimates. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
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Inspecting correspondence with regulators and tax authorities; Discussions with management including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulation and fraud;
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Evaluating management’s controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities;
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Identifying and testing journals; and
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Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their critical accounting estimates.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
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……………………………………………………… Vikram Sandhu (Senior Statutory Auditor) 10 Queen Street Place
For and on behalf of Haysmacintyre LLP, Statutory Auditor London
EC4R 1AG
Date: 23 July 2024
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
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Consolidated statement of financial activities
Year ended 31st December 2023 (vs. prior year 31st December 2022)
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All of the Charity’s activities derive from continuing operations during the above period.
Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31st December 2023
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The financial statements were approved and authorized for issue by the Board of Trustees on 27th June 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
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Apollo Gabazira Trustee
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Consolidated statement of cash flows
Year ended 31st December 2023 (vs. year period ended 31st December 2022)
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Students perform in the brass band at PEAS Noble Secondary School,
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Ibanda District, Western Uganda
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Notes to the financial statements
Year ended 31st December 2023 (vs. year period ended 31st December 2022)
1. Accounting policies
Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the consolidated basis 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) (second edition 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.
Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS) 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 notes.
In the application of the Charity's accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement
Preparation of the accounts requires the trustees and management to make significant judgements and estimates.
The items in the accounts where these judgements and estimates have been made include:
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Estimating the impact of the global economy on the charity’s income and expenditure flows for the purpose of preparing cash flow forecasts and budgets to assist in the assessment of going concern; and
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Allocating supporting costs across charitable activities
Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. The trustees have made this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of this account.
In making their assessment, the trustees of the charity have considered the impact of the global environment. However, the Charity’s current and forecasted unrestricted reserves and cash position are above the target levels set out in the reserves policy and it has secured multi-year grants.
The Trustees have therefore concluded that there are no material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.
Presentational currency
The consolidated financial statements are denominated in Pounds Sterling.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised when the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods when the revision affects both current and future periods.
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Foreign currency transactions
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to Sterling at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are retranslated to Sterling at the exchange rate ruling at that date.
The results of overseas operations are translated at the average annual rate of exchange and their balance sheets at the rates ruling at the balance sheet date.
Exchange differences arising, including those on the translation of opening net assets of overseas subsidiary undertakings, are taken to the SOFA.
Group financial statements
The financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its partner organisations PEAS Uganda and PEAS Zambia, which are under the common control of PEAS UK, on a line-by-line basis. A separate Statement of Financial Activities, including the income and expenditure account, for the charity itself is not presented in accordance with the applicable exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial performance of PEAS UK can be found in note 4. There is currently no PEAS subsidiary in Ghana, hence not included in consolidation.
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred and includes any VAT which cannot be recovered.
Resources expended on charitable activities comprise expenditure related to the direct furtherance of the charity’s objectives. Grants payable are included under charitable expenditure when a contract is signed with the grantee. Where costs cannot be directly attributed, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
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Governance costs are those incurred in connection with the management of the charity’s assets, organisational administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
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The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included as expenditure in these accounts.
Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets costing over £500 (including any incidental expenses of acquisition) are capitalised. Provision for depreciation is made to write off the cost or valuation of tangible fixed assets, less any residual value, on a straight-line basis over the expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned. Land is not depreciated.
Income
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any conditions attached to the items have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.
The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
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Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is recognised according to the agreement.
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Incoming resources from tax reclaims (Gift Aid) are recognised at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
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Donated services and facilities (gifts in kind) are included at the price the charity would pay in the open market where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included as income in these accounts.
Investment income is included when receivable.
- Income will be deferred or recognised as a grant/ donation in the future if the resources are received in advance of the expenditure on the activity funded by the grant or donation.
Depreciation on all other assets is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:
Buildings 25 years Furniture and fittings (Uganda) 4 years Furniture and fittings (Zambia) 4 years Motor vehicles 4 years Computer and office equipment (UK) 4 years Computers and office equipment (Zambia) 4 years Machinery 5 years
The effect of these different depreciation rates between the group entities is not considered to have a significant effect on the financial statements and so no adjustment has been made upon consolidation.
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Capital work in progress
All assets that are under construction or being assembled in a project nature are classified as work in progress. Assets in the course of construction (capital work in progress) are not depreciated. Upon completion, the accumulated cost is transferred to an appropriate asset category where it is depreciated according to the policy on property and equipment.in a project nature are classified as work in progress. Assets in the course of construction (capital work in progress) are not depreciated. Upon completion, the accumulated cost is transferred to an appropriate asset category where it is depreciated according to the policy on property and equipment.
Intangible Assets
The charity has entered land leasehold arrangements and has determined, based on an evaluation of the terms and conditions of the arrangements, that it does not retain all the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the land and accounts for the contracts as operating leases.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of 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 donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for a particular area of the charity's work.
Pensions
The charity has a defined contribution 'money purchase' scheme for UK employees. The administration costs of the defined contribution scheme are included within support and governance costs and charged to the unrestricted funds of the charity.
2. Legal status and registered address of the charity
The Charity is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in the UK and has no share capital. The registered address of the Charity is 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Financial instruments
The trust only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
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3. Group financial performance in the prior period
4. Financial performance of PEAS UK
The consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes the results of PEAS UK.
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5. Financial performance of PEAS Uganda Limited
The consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes the results of PEAS Uganda Limited, a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in Uganda (Liliesleaf Chambers 1st & 2nd floor, Plot 2B Kyambogo Drive, Ministers’ Village Ntinda, P.O. Box 23308, Kampala).
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6. Financial performance of PEAS Zambia Limited
The consolidated Statement of Financial Activities includes the results of PEAS Zambia Limited, a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Zambia (35 Sheila Dare, PO Box 71192, Ndola).
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7. Income received
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Cash donations received reduced in 2023 compared to the prior period as the fundraising climate for capex projects remained subdued.
Tuition and boarding fees increased in 2023 compared to the prior period aided by growth in enrolment numbers and strong fee collection across the school network
Other income includes school income generating activities and recovering bad debts on fees.
8. Expenditure
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Analysis of support costs
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Analysis of support costs – prior period
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9. Auditor remuneration
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10. Exchange differences
The consolidated accounts include the value of the school land and buildings owned by PEAS Uganda and PEAS Zambia.
The book value of these assets (and other assets and liabilities) in the accounts of PEAS Uganda is stated in Ugandan Shillings (UGX) & Zambia Kwacha (ZMW) and converted to GBP as part of the consolidation process. The combined value of this estate is approximately £10.8m (Dec 2022 - £11.2m) at the balance sheet date, and this large value means that a relatively small shift in the UGX:GBP or ZMW:GBP exchange rate over the course of a year can produce a significant exchange difference on consolidation. However, as it relates to the GBP valuation of a category of fixed assets that the charity intends to hold beyond the 25-year depreciation period to the point when their book value will be zero, any exchange difference represents a book entry in restricted funds rather than what might be considered a "real" exchange gain or loss on an investment or a saleable asset.
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11. Analysis of staff costs
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During the year termination payments were made totalling £nil (Dec 2022 – £nil).
The number of staff receiving emoluments exceeding £60k were as follows:
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PEAS received support from one volunteer over the course of 2023 in the UK Office. The volunteer supported with business development and administration, delivering a series of projects to support the team.
12. Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions during the year nor the prior period.
The trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (Dec 2022 - £nil).
No expenses were paid to the trustees in the period (Dec 2022 - £nil).
The key management personnel of the charity, PEAS UK, comprise of the Board of Trustees, Chief Executive, Chief Programme Officer (maternity leave from March 2023 – October 2023), Chief Operating Officer, and Head of Partnerships.
The key management personnel of the group comprise of those of PEAS UK and the key management personnel of its wholly owned subsidiaries PEAS Uganda Limited, Country Director and PEAS Zambia Limited, Country Director and Deputy Country Director
The employee benefits of key management personnel for the Group was therefore £497k (Dec 2022 - £526k).
The average monthly head count of employees (including casual and part-time staff) during the year were as follows:
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13. Government Grants
The UK Government Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
In 2023, The UK Government supported PEAS through FCDO Uganda, FCDO Zambia as part of the wider FCDO programmes to strengthen education systems to improve learning. These bilateral partnerships between FCDO and PEAS are increasing access to quality secondary education and improving the sustainability of PEAS and PEAS schools. The partnerships also enable PEAS to leverage the strengthened network of schools to drive school improvement at a system level in Uganda and Zambia.
Donations received under the FCDO Uganda and Zambia partnerships during the year were £0.896m (Dec 2022 - £2.434m) and expenditure was £1,878m (Dec 2022 - £2.168m).
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
In 2023, PEAS received £0.151m from USAID as part of the Catalyze EduFinance Development Programme to i) grow PEAS Zambia’s network of PPP secondary schools, ii) deliver a quality secondary education to each of our communities, and iii) provide technical assistance to equity-focused primary schools in low-income communities around PEAS Zambia schools.
Ministry of General Education, Government of Zambia
In 2016, PEAS reached a ground-breaking partnership with the Zambian Ministry of General Education under which the government would pay for all the per-pupil expenses while PEAS only had to fundraise for the cost of building a school.
Through this partnership, in 2023 PEAS received an equivalent of £66k (Dec 2022 - £76k).
14. Corporation Tax
PEAS is a registered charity and as such is exempt from tax on its income to the extent that this is applied for charitable purposes.
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A student tends to the vegetable garden at PEAS Kabuta Secondary School,
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Northern Province, Zambia
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15. Tangible fixed assets – Group
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16. Tangible fixed assets – Charity
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17. Intangible fixed assets – Group
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18. Debtors: amounts falling due within one year
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19a. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
19c. Deferred Income Analysis
Deferred income refers to grants/ donations received in advance of the expenditure on the activity funded by the grant or donation.
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19b. Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
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20. Analysis of movements in funds
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20. Analysis of movements in funds (continued)
GHANA - General[Funding received from donors for PEAS Ghana] but not restricted to specific activity. UGANDA - Construction[Funds to cover the design and building of our] schools in Uganda.
FCDO funded programme through FCDO Uganda to enable PEAS to leverage the Strengthen Education Systems strengthened network of schools to have a to Improve Learning (SESIL) system-level impact in Uganda and provide strategic funding for PEAS work in Uganda. UGANDA - Programmes[Funds to cover running of our schools and] educational programmes in Uganda. ZAMBIA - Construction[Funds to cover the design and building of our] schools in Zambia. ZAMBIA - Programmes[Funds to cover running of our schools and] educational programmes in Zambia. School fixed asset fund[Funds representing the value of our schools’] network infrastructure.
Funds designated to support implementation of PEAS’ 2022-26 growth strategy including growing education system strengthening work in Uganda & Zambia, expanding PEAS’ work to new countries, and continued transformation and expansion of PEAS Uganda and Zambia school networks to reach financial sustainability.
Designated fund
Transfers from restricted funds to school fixed asset fund represent the net additions to the schools’ network infrastructure in the year.
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21. Analysis of net assets between funds
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22. Post balance sheet events
As indicated in our strategic report, PEAS has a robust plan that covers both the programmatic and operational aspects of the response. There are, therefore, no material events that would require disclosure or adjustments to these financial statements.
23. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
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24. Capital Commitments and contingent liabilities
There were no capital commitments and contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2023.
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Students sing and dance at PEAS Kampinda Secondary School, Northern
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Province, Zambia
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