Leadership Mentorship

"Confidential, peer-level support for leaders navigating change, growth, and increasing responsibility in uncertain times"

 

Across the non-profit and international development sector, leaders are being asked to do more than ever before, often outside their core expertise, with limited time, support, or space to think strategically.

 

AfID’s Leadership Mentorship Programme has been created to provide experienced, practical, and importantly confidential support for leaders navigating these challenges.

 

The programme connects finance and operational leaders working within charities, INGOs, and social enterprises with highly experienced CFOs, Finance Directors, COOs, CEOs, and senior executives who have personally navigated many of the same leadership pressures and transitions themselves.

 

This is not consultancy.
It is not training.

 

It is a trusted, peer-to-peer mentoring relationship designed to provide perspective, clarity, most importantly professional reassurance, and practical guidance over time.

 

What Support Can Mentors Provide?

Through the programme, our experienced mentors are supporting leaders across areas such as:

  • Strategic leadership and decision-making
  • Navigating organisational change and transformation
  • Governance and board-level engagement
  • Managing broader operational responsibilities beyond finance
  • Leadership growth and progression toward executive roles
  • Building confidence and clarity in complex roles
  • Managing organisational growth, restructuring, or uncertainty
  • Strengthening systems, reporting, and organisational effectiveness
  • Acting as a confidential sounding board for difficult decisions and leadership challenges

Many mentees also value the psychological support and reassurance that comes from being able to openly discuss challenges, uncertainty, leadership pressures, and career decisions with someone independent who has personally experienced similar situations themselves.

 

Who the programme is for?

The programme is designed for leaders working across charities, INGOs, foundations, and social enterprises, including:

  • Finance Managers and Heads of Finance
  • Finance Directors and CFOs
  • COOs and operational leaders
  • CEOs and founders
  • Senior managers taking on wider leadership responsibilities
  • Leaders navigating organisational change or career progression

Many mentees join the programme when:

  • stepping into a significantly broader role,
  • managing teams or functions outside their original expertise,
  • navigating change or growth,
  • considering future career progression,
  • or simply seeking a trusted and experienced external sounding board.

How The Mentorship Works

The programme is intentionally flexible and relationship-led.

 

Typical mentorships run over a 12-month period, involving up to approximately 25 hours of support, usually through video calls arranged around the mentor and mentee’s schedules.

 

Some relationships involve lighter-touch monthly conversations, while others may become more regular during periods of organisational pressure, transition, or major decision-making.

 

The mentee typically shapes the agenda and priorities of discussions, while AfID provides oversight, support, and matching throughout the process.

 

If a mentorship relationship is not the right fit for any reason, AfID will work closely with both parties to identify an alternative mentor.

 

 

Why Organisations Value The Programme

 

Organisations are increasingly viewing mentorship as a highly positive investment in:

  • leadership development,
  • staff wellbeing,
  • retention,
  • resilience,
  • and succession planning.

Feedback from organisations and mentees consistently highlights the value of:

  • having access to an experienced, impartial sounding board,
  • gaining perspective during periods of uncertainty,
  • and feeling supported while managing increasingly demanding leadership roles.

For many organisations, the programme also sends a strong message to senior staff that their growth, wellbeing, and long-term development genuinely matter.

 

 

About AfID

 

Accounting for International Development (AfID) has supported the international development sector for more than 17 years, connecting charities and INGOs with experienced finance professionals through pro-bono technical assistance, specialist finance & accounting recruitment, Honorary Treasurer recruitment and leadership support initiatives.

 

Our broad mentorship network includes highly-experienced international finance and operational leaders with backgrounds across:

  • international NGOs,
  • global corporates,
  • donor-funded programmes,
  • humanitarian organisations,
  • healthcare,
  • governance,
  • and organisational transformation.

 

Interested In Learning More?

 

If you would like to discuss the programme for yourself or another member of your leadership team, we would be very happy to arrange an informal introductory conversation. 

Request Support or contact us at partners@afid.org.uk.