The Africa Management Team was established in March 1991, following a restructuring of the Oxford 'Desks' based on geographical areas. Area Co-ordinators for Africa South and North were replaced by a single Africa Director, and seven Desk Officers became Regional Managers, all based in Oxford. The change was designed as a first step towards regionalisation, or decentralisation. In late 1995 the number of Regional Managers was reduced from seven to four. Shortly afterwards, regional offices were established, first in Southern and then West Africa, and management responsibilities were transferred to them from the Desk. The East and Central, and the Horn Desks were then merged into one and a regional office was opened in Nairobi to manage this region.