Oxfam.org is Non profit group in Africa.
Title
Oxfam International : United for a more equitable world
Oxfam international is a confederation of 13 like minded non-governmental organizations working together and with partners and allies around the globe Their aim is to work directly with communities, influencing those in power to improve the lives and livelihood of the poor people and that the poor people have a say in the decisions that affect them.
Source: www.oxfam.org
Description
A group of non-governmental organizations from three continents working worldwide to fight poverty and injustice. Oxfam international was founded in 1995 by a group of independent non-governmental organizations. Their aim was to work together for greater impact on international stage to reduce poverty and injustice.
The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942. The group campaigned for food supplies to be sent through an allied naval blockade to starving women and children in enemy-occupied Greece during the Second World War.
Apart from being a world leader in delivering emergency relief services Oxfam International carries out long term development programs in the vulnerable communities. It is part of a global movement, campaigning with others, for instance, to end unfair trade rules, demand better health and education services for all and to combat climate change.
Today, there are 13 member organizations of the Oxfam International confederation. They are based in: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Quebec, Spain and the United States.
Oxfam International works with 3000 local partner organizations around the globe. They work with people living in poverty, striving to exercise their human rights, assert their dignity as full citizens and take control of their lives.
Oxfam international focuses its efforts in Development,Emergiencies,Campaigns and Advocacy.
Development: Works with partners and communities, around the globe, in more than 100 countries to eradicate poverty and injustice. For example in Pakistan, Oxfam international sent a team of experts to the earthquake zone in Quetta on October, to carry out assessment and deliver an initial $81000 aid package. In Bangladesh, Oxfam international works with the locals to combat the devastating affect of floods due to monsoon rain. Similarly in Zimbabwe Oxfam international is pressing the International donor agencies and the local government to take necessary immediate steps to rebuild the economy of the country. It is emphasizing the need to strengthen the weak state institution, improve the health care facilities and invest in the agriculture sector.
Emergencies:Delivers immediate, life saving assistance to people affected by natural disasters or conflicts and helps to build resilience to future disasters.
Oxfam international is at the forefront of Conflict Resolution in the Democratic Republic of Congo where an estimated 5.4million people have lost their lives in one of the deadliest conflicts after World War In Goma, Oxfam is providing water and sanitation to 65,000 people in four camps , and trucking water to 20,000 people sheltering in the area of Kanyabayonga, far north of Goma. It is currently working to reach an additional 100,000 people in more places to the north and west of Goma . In addition to providing basic water and sanitation, it is working to promote hygiene and construct latrines and showers.
On the international front it is lobbying support for peaceful resolution of the conflict and that people of Congo can return to their homes rebuild their lives.
Campaigns:Oxfam International is running a number of campaigns for a better tomorrow. Currently, it has divided its campaigns into six broad categories, Agriculture,Climate Change,Control Arms,Trade, Health and Education, In my name.
Agriculture: Even though agriculture is the main source of income for people across the world, it has been a neglected area as far as government investment and donor help is concerned. Labor is underpaid and unfair trade practices leave agricultural workers, a vast majority of whom are women, struggling to sustain themselves. Oxfam believes that investing in agriculture can make a real difference in the lives of these workers and help reduce poverty globally.
Climate Change: Climate change is threatening wild life, causing global warming and increasing natural disasters. All of this impacts poor people the most making it difficult for them to survive. Oxfam has been helping countries cope with increasing numbers of floods and droughts. In addition, it is helping poor communities to adapt, such as by building better flood defenses. Oxfam contends that everyone has a part to play in fighting climate change and is calling for support from world leaders.
Control Arms :Today, no international rules exist for the regulation of arms trade. This makes it easy for the wrong people to get hold of weapons resulting in death, injury, disability and trauma to hundreds of thousands of people each year. Oxfam is towards an international, binding Arms Trade Treaty to control this dangerous trade.
Trade:Trade generates immense wealth and connects people all over the globe. However, poor countries are not getting any of the benefits because world trade rules have been developed by the rich and powerful nations keeping in mind their specific commercial interests. Oxfam is committed to changing this by pressing for new and fair trade rules that can help in the battle against global poverty.
Health & Education: Health and education are fundamental rights. According to Oxfam, poor countries need at least 6 million well-trained and well-paid teachers, doctors and nurses. Their campaign asks for the cancellation of debts for poor countries and an increase in foreign aid.
In My Name :In 2000, 189 countries set Millennium Development Goals (MDG) designed to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. However, if things go on as they have been, none of these goals will be met by the deadline. This is why Oxfam is asking for the help of people all over the globe to pressurize their governments to deliver on their promise.
Advocacy: Oxfam International Forces decision makers to reframe policies and practices that reinforce poverty and injustice within developing countries. The Washington advocacy office works with the World Bank and IMF to provide more need specific aid to the poor countries so they are able to reach the internationally agreed Millennium Development goals and overcome poverty. It provides the developing countries with more space to set their own development goals,
The New York office works with the United Nation Headquaters. The office concentrates its efforts on humanitarian issues. For example, it is actively involved in addressing the various humanitarian issues in Afghanistan. The Brussels’ office works to increase Oxfam's influence on European Union policies across a number of areas that are key for development, including aid, humanitarian assistance, protection of civilians, trade, agriculture and climate change.
The Geneva office has led Oxfam's advocacy and campaigning work on the World Trade Organization (WTO). Oxfam work focuses on trade issues key to development such as agriculture, cotton, and access to medicines. Through its WTO work, the Geneva office has established contacts with key governments, especially developing country missions, with other NGOs working on trade issues, with other key institutions such as UNCTAD, the WHO, the ILO, as well as with the private sector.
Source: www.oxfam.org
