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2022-01-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 283670

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

for

Development Studies Association

Sterling Partners Limited Chartered Accountants Chartered Tax Advisors 2nd Floor, Grove House 774-780 Wilmslow Road

Didsbury Manchester Greater Manchester M20 2DR

Development Studies Association

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 to 12
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 13

Development Studies Association

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2022.

The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 2015).

Page 1

Development Studies Association

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Association are to promote and advance international development as a field of study, research and action, with a mission to deepen understanding of how global poverty and inequalities are produced, sustained and may be overcome, and how a better future may be advanced.

VISION

In taking forward its mission and vision, the DSA is committed to:

  1. Advance connections between people that will extend and deepen understanding of development issues

2 .Raise the profile of the UK development studies community and provide a platform for its collective voice

  1. Build the institutional strength of the DSA

  2. Nurture the future of development studies in the UK through support to students, early career researchers and Higher

Education teachers

  1. Promote greater inclusiveness, diversity and equity within the development studies community

ACTIVITIES

In pursuit of these objectives, the DSA has achieved the following during the Financial Year 2021-2022:

1. Annual Conference

The 2021 Annual Conference was held virtually again due to the coronavirus pandemic, organised and hosted by the University of East Anglia, 28th June - 2nd July. Key statistics being Participants: 675; Papers/presentations: 342; Plenaries: 2; Panels and Study groups: 55.

Planning for the next annual conference began in July 2021 and it was agreed, further to positive evaluation results, that a three-day event will be hosted by University College. London in early July 2022. This will also take place as a virtual online conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic and high costs of hybrid events, and also to enable high levels of inclusion amongst global South colleagues.

2. DSA Newsletter

The DSA Newsletter is emailed out monthly to nearly 1700 individuals. The Newsletter performs an important service, appreciated by members and the sector as a whole, to allow members to publicise events, publications, jobs and other news of interest to the sector. It is compiled by the Communications Manager from contributions from members and continues to attract interest as a means to reach the development sector worldwide.

3. Study Groups

Study Group activity remained low during 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown preventing in-person meetings, however there was continued active participation in the annual online conference. The following activities have been undertaken:

Page 2

Development Studies Association

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

4. Students

The two student representatives on Council remained active in promoting student activities and interaction with the DSA. At financial year-end there were 207 student members of the association (21% of total membership): a decrease (70 members) in numbers and percentage (due to increased gS member numbers) over the previous year.

The student mailing list was kept current and items of interest and communication with students took place via this list. The DSA Facebook group continued to share updates on DSA news, development sector news, job and paid internship opportunities as well as workshops, conference and training opportunities. There was a DSA students’ meeting at the annual conference to find ways that students can interact more effectively with the DSA and gain more information about student activities, events etc. There was also once again a well-attended Publication strategies briefing for students and early career researchers (ECR) at the conference.

The DSA continued to offer its annual Masters' level Development Studies dissertation prize. The award winners were announced and presented their prizes at the annual conference and both winners presented their work at the conference. The winning dissertations were mentioned and linked to on the DSA website. A new PhD thesis prize was created this year and will be awarded during 2022.

5. Heads of Centres

A Heads of Centres meeting was held online on 17 December 2021. After the usual updates, the main business for discussion was DSA Communications. There was an update on DSA’s main activities and future priorities and an introduction to HoCs of the DSA’s new Communications Manager (Laura Roberts) and the association's communications strategy. A discussion was held on how DSA's new communications capacities can be deployed to help strengthen the DS community, both internally and in terms of its external profile. The DSA’s suggestion that it holds a post-REF2021 debrief event and also conducts an EDI audit for the sector were welcomed by HoCs.

6. Where are we after COP26 and what is needed now? webinar

The DSA organised and hosted a webinar on 8 December 2021 with invited panelists: Dr Amani Aboud Zeid, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Meena Raman, Third World Network, Chukwumerije Okereke, Professor of Global Climate and Environmental Governance and Co-Director of Climate and Justice Centre, University of Reading, Simon Maxwell, ODI. The Chair was: Dr Emily Wilkinson, Senior Research Fellow, ODI; Chief Scientific Adviser, CREAD-Dominica; ?Co-Director, Caribbean Resilience and Recovery Knowledge Network (CRRKN) with a roundtable style discussion on the fall-out from COP26. Unfortunately, the event was not as well attended (~30 people) as our previous webinar (376 people), perhaps due to timing and webinar-fatigue.

Page 3

Development Studies Association

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Membership

Individual membership at year-end increased to 1267, largely due to a large increase in gS members, resulting from the conference taking place online again and good levels of funding to allow free attendance. Individual and student membership are slightly up from the previous year, as the pandemic eases and activities and finances perhaps return to a more normal level. Institutional membership dropped very slightly to 34.

Finances

With sufficient reserves, the DSA continues to seek to allocate its reserves towards its central purposes: cash at bank decreased from £141,519 to £132,262 on 31st January 2022.

Expenditure was lower than budgeted in many areas (Council, HoCs, Study groups) once again due to the pandemic but higher for Communications (36k) with our new Communications Manager starting this year, and some more usage of ESRC monies (for a final workshop invoice spent during this year - 5k). Income was higher than predicted due to the conference surplus (3.7k) and increased individual (2k) but lower institutional (2k) subscriptions. We also received a large unidentified payment to the bank account (2k).

This was the first year of DSA’s main investment which was to directly employ a DSA Communications Manager, Grade 6, 0.5 FTE, for three years on a 12 months rolling contract from April 2021. The post is enabling the DSA to achieve its strategic objectives, particularly in terms of advancing connections to deepen understanding of development, raising the profile of the UK development studies community and providing a platform for its collective voice and increasing our institutional strength.

Administration

The administration of the DSA continues to be carried out by NomadIT, on a rolling contract.

FUTURE PLANS AIMS FOR THE COMING YEAR (2022-23)

Overall aims for the coming years are given in the Business Plan, 2019-22. Particular goals in the coming year are as follows:

Timing Activity
Mar 2021 - Mar Assist Communications Manager to begin to promote DSA activities and boost the visibility
2022 of the association.
July 2022 Host and organise the 3rd DSA online conference in a new format
Oct/Nov 2022 Convene Heads of Centres meeting.
Develop support for PGR and ECR scholars and DSA members based in global South;
Through the year support Study Group Activity; pursue possibility of establishing a DSA journal.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

Recruitment, appointment, induction and training of new trustees

Trustees are recruited from members of the DSA with upcoming vacancies signalled in communications to all members from the Chair of the Board. Applicants present their credentials and intentions to the AGM in person or by letter and their appointment is subject to vote. Induction and training takes place before applicants make their approach through informal discussions with existing board members and/or after their appointment. Positions with specific responsibilities (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary) involve more prior training and preparation.

Page 4

Development Studies Association

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Risk management

The DSA Council reviews sources of, and responses to, risks at least annually. Sources of risk include fluctuating membership, conference attendance, level of study group activity and the status of development studies in the UK. Risks are mitigated through regular consultation with institutional members through Heads of Centres' meetings, monthly newsletters and email communication, reviewing membership categories and rates, reviewing the purpose and design of annual conferences and reviewing costs involved in administering the charity.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

283670

Principal address

23 Linton Road Hove BN3 5HF

Trustees

Dr L Camfield Dr N Gooptu (resigned 2.7.2021) Dr L C Hammond (resigned 2.7.2021) P Anand S Hickey D Brockington Ms A Chammas Miss B Ezeomah (resigned 2.7.2021) Dr U Kambhampati Dr R Slater Miss N Kabeer Ms R S Dieng (resigned 10.6.2021) Ms A Prizzon B Radley P Taylor Ms S Fennell J Fisher Dr I Kvangraven Trustee (appointed 2.7.2021) Dr I Roy (appointed 2.7.2021) Dr M Jennings Trustee (appointed 2.7.2021) Ms R Arora Trustee (appointed 2.7.2021)

Independent Examiner

Mr Saeid Mokhtassi Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Sterling Partners Limited Chartered Accountants Chartered Tax Advisors 2nd Floor, Grove House 774-780 Wilmslow Road Didsbury Manchester Greater Manchester M20 2DR

Page 5

Development Studies Association

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:

........................................................................ Trustee

Page 6

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Development Studies Association

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Development Studies Association

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Development Studies Association (the Trust) for the year ended 31 January 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

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.

Mr Saeid Mokhtassi Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Sterling Partners Limited Chartered Accountants Chartered Tax Advisors 2nd Floor, Grove House 774-780 Wilmslow Road Didsbury Manchester Greater Manchester M20 2DR

Date: .............................................

Page 7

Development Studies Association

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
2,693
Charitable activities
Promotion of development research
110,830
Investment income
2
371
Other income
(468)
Total
113,426
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Promotion of development research
127,643
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(14,217)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
146,632
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
132,415		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2022
Total
funds
£
2,693
110,830
371
(468)
113,426
127,643
(14,217)
146,632
132,415		 2021
Total
funds
£
745
89,278
949
(468)
90,504
102,448
(11,944)
158,576
146,632

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 8

Development Studies Association

Balance Sheet

31 January 2022

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at bank
5
132,415
NET CURRENT ASSETS
132,415
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
132,415
NET ASSETS
132,415
FUNDS
6
Unrestricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-		 2022
Total
funds
£
132,415
132,415
132,415
132,415
132,415
132,415		 2021
Total
funds
£
146,632
146,632
146,632
146,632
146,632
146,632

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:

............................................. Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

Development Studies Association

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 permits a charity to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities where gross income in the financial year does not exceed £250,000, therefore receipts and payments accounts and a statement of assets and liabilities in its balance sheet) have been prepared and presented for the year; this is consistent with previous years.

Income

All income, including the subscriptions, conference income and bank interest are recorded when received.

Expenditure

All expenditure are recorded when paid.

Trustees' expenses

These expenses are included in the financial statements once amounts are expended by the Trustees on behalf of the charity.

.

Trustees' indemnity insurance

No charitable funds have been used to purchase insurance to indemnify the Trustees against the consequences of any neglect or default on their part.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2. INVESTMENT INCOME

INVESTMENT INCOME
2022 2021
£ £
Interest received 371 949

3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 January 2022 nor for the year ended 31 January 2021.

Trustees' expenses

Trustees expenses of £Nil (2021: £856) were paid during the year.

continued...

Page 10

Development Studies Association

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

4.
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
fund
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
745
Charitable activities
Promotion of development research
89,278
Investment income
949
Other income
(468)
Total
90,504
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Promotion of development research
102,448
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(11,944)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
158,576
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
146,632
5.
CASH AT BANK
Cash at bank and in hand
Total		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2022
Total
funds
£
132,415
132,415		 Total
funds
£
745
89,278
949
(468)
90,504
102,448
(11,944)
158,576
146,632
2021
Total
funds
£
146,632
146,632		 Total
funds
£
745
89,278
949
(468)
90,504
102,448
(11,944)
158,576
146,632

6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Each of the below funds have arisen due to the donors specifying that the funds donated have to be spent on the specific projects.

Restrictions are imposed through contracts which are signed at the beginning of each project.

continued...

Page 11

Development Studies Association

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

7. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 January 2022.

8. FUNDS

Project Funds
brought
forward		 Income Expenditure Transfer
between funds		 Funds carried
forward
£ £ £ £ £
RESTRICTED FUNDS
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General fund 146,632 113,426 127,643 - 132,415
146,632 113,426 127,643 - 132,415
TOTAL FUNDS 146,632 113,426 127,643 - 132,415

9. ACCRUAL BASIS

The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payment basis. Should the accounts of been prepared on an accruals basis, then £2,600 of membership income should be removed and £7,560 of administrative costs should be accrued. This would result in a deficit of £24.4k for the year ended 31st January 2022.

Page 12

Development Studies Association

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations
Investment income
Interest received
Charitable activities
Subscriptions
Conference and exhibitions
Other income
Other income
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Conference
Administration
Study groups
Stationery, print and postage
Council expenses
Bank and credit charges
Workshop series
Support costs
Governance costs
Sundries
Accountancy and legal fees
Consultancy fees
Donations
Total resources expended
Net expenditure		 2022
£
2,693
371
57,433
53,397
110,830
(468)
113,426
48,987
31,349
-
-
-
960
5,007
86,303
500
1,980
36,000
2,860
41,340
127,643
(14,217)		 2021
£
745
949
54,234
35,044
89,278
(468)
90,504
51,264
20,556
1,440
4,800
856
512
6,317
85,745
500
1,980
14,223
-
16,703
102,448
(11,944)

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 13