Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is Concern?
Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries.
How long has Concern been in operation?
The famine in Biafra in 1968 was the catalyst that gave rise to Concern.
What is Concern's vision?
Concern's vision is a world where no one lives in poverty, fear or oppression; where all have access to a decent standard of living and the opportunities and choice essential to a long, healthy and creative life; a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
What is Concern's mission?
Concern's mission is to help people who are living in extreme poverty achieve major improvements in their lives, improvements that last and spread without ongoing support from us. To achieve this mission, Concern engages in long term development work, responds to emergency situations, and seeks to address the root cause of poverty through our Development Education and Advocacy work.
What is the difference between Concern and other similar organisations?
The main difference that sets Concern apart from similar organisations is that Concern focuses on alleviating poverty in the world's poorest communities. As defined by the United Nations, there are 40 poor countries in the world, and Concern presently works in 28 of those. Wherever possible, Concern tries to work through local partner organisations in order to make projects self-sustainable as well as maximising the use of local and cultural knowledge. Concern has recently been praised for its consultative approach to development projects in Africa, working closely with the people it is helping in order to create long-lasting solutions to poverty.
Is Concern a religious organisation?
Concern is non-denominational.
Is Concern a political organisation?
No.
What are Concern's administration costs?
According to the last annual report, in Ireland and United Kingdom: one per cent of costs went on management and administration costs; 85% went to emergency relief and development work; three per cent went on development education and 11% went on fundraising, promotion and trading.
What is long-term development work?
The difference between development work and emergency work is the difference between giving someone a job and giving them welfare. Relief is necessary in emergencies, but human dignity requires that people should earn their own income. Concern spends about half of its resources on work that helps people to earn more, so that they can obtain the resources to assert their human right to food, shelter, health and education services. Concern's objective, in each of the areas it is working in long-term, is to help local organisations to grow. This will help people acquire the confidence and skills needed to lift themselves out of poverty.
What is meant by "emergency situations"?
This is when Concern responds to crises such as natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, droughts, cyclones) and man made disasters (usually civil war). The most visible part of the work Concern does is through emergency response. Approximately half of Concern's resources are devoted to emergency work. In an emergency situation, Concern operates as part of the Disasters and Emergency Committee (DEC). Concern will most often be responsible for feeding people. The way in which Concern manages malnutrition in the developing world is considered revolutionary due to the pioneering of Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC).
The concept is simple: rather than treating people for malnourishment as in-patients in traditional feeding centres (TFC), where risk of infection is high due to the amount of people sharing a small space, people can be treated in their own homes or at distribution points as out-patients. Here, the treatment is in the form of what is called Plumpy'nut. Plumpy'nut is an oil-based food that doesn't need to be mixed with water (therefore eliminating the risk of contracting a water-borne illness). It is made up of milk powder, oil, peanuts, sugar, vitamins and minerals and comes ready to use in a hygienically sealed foil bag that has a shelf life of 24 months.
Why should I donate to Concern rather than another organisation?
Concern is established, trusted, popular, well known, community-based and well managed. Concern has won many awards for financial accounts from the Leinster Institute of Chartered Accountants. Concern also has a reputation of being emergency specialists - it responds very quickly when emergencies occur. Concern is Ireland's largest overseas development agency.
Where does Concern work?
Concern's policy in the main is to work in the poorest countries as laid down by the Human Development Index (HDI) governed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Concern currently works in 28 countries. These include Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Kenya, North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic), Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, East Timor, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
What areas of work does Concern focus on?
Concern focuses on five core organisational programmes: livelihoods, health, basic education, HIV and AIDS programming, emergency response and preparedness.
What is Concern's registered charity number?
In Ireland, Concern's registered charity number is CHY5745.
Concern Worldwide (UK) is a Company Limited By Guarantee And Not Having A Share Capital (Registered in England and Wales with registered number 04323646) which has been granted Charitable Status by The Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Number 1092236) and The Office of The Scottish Charity Regulator (Registered Number SCO38107). The Registered Offices of Concern Worldwide (UK) are 13/14 Calico House, Plantation Wharf, London, SW11 3TN.
