Africare is a Washington-based nonprofit that focuses on quality of life in Africa. The organization says it has thousands of separate projects across 36 countries on the African continent. ¹

In 2016, the organization had more than $34 million in revenue and spent more than $36 million on aid for Africa. ²

The organization says it has an almost entirely African staff that has firsthand knowledge of the continent. ³

Africare says it has provided more than $1 billion in aid to tens of millions of people on the African continent since its founding in 1971. ⁴ The organization has provided rapid humanitarian aid during a public health crisis or natural disaster on the continent. ⁵ The health projects have included HIV/AIDS prevention, child survival, and maternal health. ⁶

History

Africare was established by both Americans and Africans during the Sahelian drought of the late 1970s through the 1980s. ⁷

Payne Lucas was the principal founder, and was president from 1971 to 2002. It was 1971 when then-President of Niger Hamani Diori recruited Lucas to help raise money in the United States to assist in drought relief in West Africa, and the organization began to grow. ⁸

In the mid-1970s, Africare expanded its mission to include food, water, health care and the environment in Africa. ⁹

By the 1980s, the organization was promoting private sector development in Africa. The organization provided aid to a Somalian refugee crisis during the 1980s. It also provided assistance during the Africa-wide drought of the 1980s. ¹⁰

During the 1990s, the organization focused on relieving humanitarian crises caused by warfare in Angola, Somalia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Burundi. ¹¹

In 2007, the organization provided humanitarian aid after wars ended in Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The organization also ramped up addressing HIV/AIDS. ¹²

Leadership

In 2002, Lucas retired, and Julius E. Coles became the president. Coles passed the job to Robert L. Mallett in 2015. ¹³ Mallett previously served as the acting secretary and deputy secretary of Department of Commerce during the Clinton administration. Before going to Africare in 2015, he held executive positions at Accordia Global Health Foundation, United Healthcare, and Pfizer. ¹⁴

Stephen D. Cashin is the chairman of Africare’s board of directors. He is the founder and CEO of Pan African Capital Group, LLC. He is also the founder and managing director of Modern Africa Fund Managers, LLC in Washington, D.C. Before that, he opened the Equator Bank office in Nairobi, Kenya where he managed relationships throughout East Africa. He sits on the board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. ¹⁵

Franklin Moore is the chief of programs for Africare and previously held senior positions at USAID, and was a former senior adviser for a Rome-based United Nations organization. ¹⁶

Earlene Barnes is the chief administrative and human resources officer. She previously worked for Women for Women International and SMS Consulting Services. ¹⁷

Evelyn Boyd Simmons is the chief of external affairs and partnerships. She previously worked for Pfizer and for the State Department. ¹⁸

Alissa Patrick McGuire is the chief governance and strategy officer. She previously worked for Accordia. ¹⁹

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2. Genzlinger, Neil. “C. Payne Lucas, Leader in Aid to Africa, Is Dead at 85.” The New York Times. October 4, 2018. Accessed January 31, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/obituaries/c-payne-lucas-dies-africare.html
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8. Genzlinger, Neil. “C. Payne Lucas, Leader in Aid to Africa, Is Dead at 85.” The New York Times. October 4, 2018. Accessed January 31, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/obituaries/c-payne-lucas-dies-africare.html
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