At Touch, we believe that our mission to build the health systems of the future for sub-Saharan Africa can only be achieved and sustained by ensuring that our commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are central to our strategy, policies, and practices.
We are committed to diversifying the composition of our Board of Directors with the aim of integrating the expertise and perspectives of African business and social sector leaders, medical professionals, and area experts in global health.
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff who represent the countries and communities where Touch implements health programming and to partnering with ethical, effective, and values-aligned peer organization and funders.
We are committed to building and growing an organizational culture that nurtures talent, prioritizes communication and transparency, and integrates values-centered and people-centered program design, operations management, and external affairs.
In May 2022, Touch Foundation Board of Directors endorsed the following goals over the next 3 years to enhance and extend Touch’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the execution of our mission:
Achieve more diverse and representative Board composition by recruiting 6 new Directors from African business and social sectors
Launch Advisory Council to integrate expertise and diverse perspectives into Touch programs
Develop a DEI statement of commitment and framework to enshrine a focus on DEI at the governance and management levels of the organization
Prioritize diversity in recruiting and retaining staff roles at all levels
Evolve staffing structure to create new roles which elevate local leadership
Ensure that internal HR practices and external partnership agreements enshrine Touch’s commitment to representation, equitable practices, and inclusive values
Create a participatory process and framework to identify and enshrine organizational values
Achieve shared understanding of DEI vision and goals among all staff and Board
Create communication mechanisms within workflows to build community, inclusion, and connection throughout the organization