CHASE Africa (Community Health and Sustainable Environment)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £825,307 (charitable expenditure, 2024)
• Total Income: £850,379 (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania (East Africa)
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation/selection only
• Charity Number: 1200992

Contact Details

Email: info@chaseafrica.org.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 7775 631280 or +44 (0) 7773 993023

Address: The Office, Barrow Farm, Rode Hill, Rode, Somerset, BA11 6PS, UK

Website: www.chaseafrica.org.uk

Fundraising Contact: Jo McClellan - jomcclellan@chaseafrica.org.uk

Overview

CHASE Africa (Community Health and Sustainable Environment), established in 2000 (originally as the Rift Valley Tree Trust, renamed to CHASE Africa in 2012) and re-registered as charity 1200992 in January 2023, is a UK-based international development charity supporting local partner organisations in East Africa. With an annual income of £850,379 and charitable expenditure of £825,307 (2024), the organisation works with carefully selected local partners in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. CHASE Africa's distinctive approach integrates community health - particularly Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Family Planning - with environmental conservation and natural resource management in remote, underserved rural areas. The organisation provides both financial grants and comprehensive technical support to strengthen partner capacity, facilitating a network that has delivered over 1.5 million primary health services and over 680,000 family planning services. CHASE Africa does not operate an open application process, instead working through pre-existing relationships and carefully selected partners who share their values and work in close collaboration with national Ministries of Health.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

CHASE Africa provides grant funding to local partner organisations, combined with technical support and organisational development assistance. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, but funding supports:

• Core operational support for partner organisations
• Programme implementation costs for integrated health and environment initiatives
• Capacity building and organisational development
• Technical assistance alongside financial grants

Funding Approach: Long-term partnerships with ongoing support rather than project-by-project grants.

Priority Areas

Health Focus:

• Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
• Family planning services and contraception access
• Primary healthcare delivery in underserved communities
• Maternal and child health
• Gender-based violence prevention
• Health system strengthening

Environmental Integration:

• Community-based conservation
• Natural resource management
• Climate change resilience building
• Biodiversity protection
• Supporting conservation organisations to integrate health components

Geographic Priority:

• Remote, rural areas of East Africa
• Communities with high unmet need for family planning
• Areas with poor access to general health services
• Regions where health and environmental challenges intersect

Key Principles:

• Working in close collaboration with national Ministries of Health
• Community-led approaches
• Rights-based framework (universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health as a fundamental right)
• Integration of health, environment, and community empowerment

Current Partner Organisations

CHASE Africa works with local partners including:

• Reproductive Health Network Kenya
• Kalyet Afya Foundation
• Mount Kenya Trust
• Save The Elephants
• Dandelion Africa
• South Rift Association of Land Owners (SORALO)
• The Maa Trust
• Rural Initiative for Community Empowerment West Nile
• Rwenzori Centre for Research and Advocacy Uganda
• Plus additional partners in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania

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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Chief Executive Officer: Harriet Gordon-Brown (appointed June 2022, previously Programme and Partnerships Manager from 2020)

Staff Team:

• Georgia Burford - Programme & Partnerships Manager
• Jo McClellan - Programme & Partnerships Manager
• Francis - based in Nairobi, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion specialist

Trustees: 7 trustees (none receive remuneration)

Partnership Philosophy

From their materials: “CHASE Africa and our local partner organisations share overlapping goals, values and approaches” based on:

• Shared goals and values
• Mutual respect and collaboration
• Continuous learning process
• Open communication
• Risk-taking and supporting each other

How to Apply to Chase Africa (community Health And Sustainable Environment)

How to Apply

CHASE Africa does not have a public application process. They do not accept unsolicited applications from organisations seeking funding.

Partnership selection is conducted internally through a careful vetting process. Organisations cannot apply to become partners through an open call or application portal.

Getting on Their Radar

While CHASE Africa does not accept open applications, organisations working in their priority areas might consider:

Alignment Requirements:

• Already operating in remote/rural areas of Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania
• Working closely with national Ministry of Health
• Demonstrating strong community engagement and locally-led approaches
• Showing capacity or interest in integrating health (especially family planning) with environmental/conservation work
• Sharing CHASE Africa's values around rights-based healthcare access

Networking Opportunities:

• CHASE Africa Partner Network: The organisation facilitates an active partner network with annual conferences, exchange visits, and knowledge-sharing webinars
• Family Planning 2030: CHASE Africa is a member of the FP2030 (Family Planning 2030) global partnership
• THET Global Health Workforce Programme: CHASE Africa was a grantee of the Tropical Health and Education Trust programme funded by UK DHSC
• Sector events: Conferences and forums focused on integrated health-environment programming in East Africa

Potential Contact Routes:

• Building reputation in the specific geographic regions where they work
• Demonstrating outcomes in integrated health-environment programming
• Connections through current partner organisations
• Ministry of Health collaborations in Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania

Note: Given their model of carefully selected partners and emphasis on long-term relationships, new partnerships appear to develop organically through sector connections rather than through formal applications.

Application Success Factors

Since CHASE Africa does not have an application process, organisations hoping to potentially work with them should focus on:

1. Geographic and Thematic Alignment

• Operating in the specific remote, rural areas of Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania where CHASE Africa focuses
• Demonstrating genuine community integration and locally-led approaches
• Working in areas with high unmet need for family planning and poor health access

2. Integration Approach

CHASE Africa's distinctive feature is integration. Ideal partners either:

• Are health organisations willing to integrate environmental components, OR
• Are conservation organisations willing to integrate health components (CHASE Africa specifically mentions supporting conservation organisations to add health programming)

3. Ministry of Health Collaboration

“All of our local partners work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health” - demonstrating established relationships with national health authorities is essential

4. Organisational Capacity

• Being a locally-registered organisation in East Africa
• Having operational capacity in remote/rural areas
• Demonstrating commitment to organisational development and continuous learning
• Willingness to participate in partner network activities

5. Values Alignment

Organisations should demonstrate commitment to:

• Rights-based approach: “Every individual has the right to health”
• Universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Community empowerment and resilience-building
• Gender equality and addressing gender-based violence

6. Long-term Approach

CHASE Africa seeks sustained partnerships, not short-term project relationships. They offer “ongoing support for the organisational growth of all partners”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not open for applications: CHASE Africa operates through invitation and careful selection, not public application processes - organisations cannot simply apply for funding
• Long-term partnership model: They provide ongoing grants plus technical support rather than one-off project funding
• Geographic specificity: Must be operating in remote/rural Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania in areas they prioritise
• Integration is key: Unique focus on integrating health (especially family planning) with environmental conservation
• Ministry collaboration essential: All partners work closely with national Ministries of Health
• Network benefits: Partners gain access to peer learning, conferences, exchange visits, and capacity building beyond financial grants
• Focus on relationship building: If your organisation aligns with their priorities, building visibility in the sector and connections with current partners may be more valuable than seeking direct contact
• Consider their grantee profile: They work with both health organisations adding environmental work AND conservation organisations adding health components

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Amref Health Africa Uk
• Weseehope
• Ace Africa (uk)
• Tanzania Development Trust
• The Dulverton Trust
• Palle Moeller Foundation
• World Connect International, Uk
• James Percy Foundation
• T. & J. Meyer Family Foundation Limited
• The Stone Family Foundation

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - CHASE Africa (1200992).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5204805

1. CHASE Africa Official Website - About Us.. https://www.chaseafrica.org.uk/about-us

1. CHASE Africa Official Website - Partnership Model.. https://www.chaseafrica.org.uk/how-we-work/our-partnership-model

1. CHASE Africa Official Website - Our Partners.. https://www.chaseafrica.org.uk/how-we-work/our-partners

1. CHASE Africa Official Website - Contact.. https://www.chaseafrica.org.uk/contact

1. Knowledge SUCCESS. “Spotlight on CHASE Africa: Strengthening Integrated Health and Environment Programs through Strategic Partnerships in East Africa.” June 1, 2023. https://knowledgesuccess.org/2023/06/01/spotlight-on-chase-africa-strengthening-integrated-health-and-environment-programs-through-strategic-partnerships-in-east-africa/

1. Family Planning 2030 - CHASE Africa Commitment.. https://www.fp2030.org/chase-africa/

1. Randal Charitable Foundation - CHASE Africa.. https://www.randalfoundation.org.uk/chase-africa/

1. CHASE Africa Official Website - Our Impact.. https://www.chaseafrica.org.uk/our-impact