Concern Worldwide

Last updated

Concern Worldwide
Founded1968
FounderKay O'Loughlin Kennedy
John O'Loughlin Kennedy
Jack Finucane Aengus Finucane
Registration no.39647
FocusPoverty relief
Location
  • 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2
Origins Dublin, Ireland
Area served
Worldwide
ProductLong-term development and disaster relief
Key people
David Regan (CEO)
Website
Formerly called
Africa Concern

Concern Worldwide (often referred to as Concern) is Ireland's largest aid and humanitarian agency. [1] Since its foundation in 1968 it has worked in 50 countries. According to its latest annual report, Concern helped 28.6 million of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people in 2019, while responding to 82 emergencies in 24 countries. [2] Concern aims to help those living in the world's poorest countries. [3] Concern is engaged in long-term development work, in addition to emergency relief in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. Concern's core work focuses on health, hunger and humanitarian response in emergencies. [4] The charity works in partnership with small community groups as well as governments and large global organisations. Concern is one of fourteen fully certified members of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership. [5] It has no religious or political affiliations.

Contents

Concern Worldwide US is an affiliate of Concern Worldwide. It has offices in New York City and Chicago. Concern Worldwide is a partner of One Campaign.

Concern Worldwide UK is a UK charity that supports the overseas work of Concern Worldwide. It is a registered charity in the UK (number 1092236 England and Wales and SC038107 Scotland). Danny Harvey became executive director of Concern Worldwide UK in late 2019. [6]

History

Concern Worldwide was set up by a small group of people including John and Kay O'Loughlin Kennedy [7] in their home in Dublin in 1968, following an appeal for aid by missionaries for the starving population of war-torn Biafra. Also involved in the creation of Concern were Spiritans Ray Kennedy (John's brother), [7] Aengus Finucane and Jack Finucane. In June 1968, Africa Concern, as it was originally called, launched their famine appeal "Send One Ship". The ship, the Colmcille, landed off the coast of Biafra in September 1968 with supplies of powdered food and medicine. In 1970, the public were asked to respond to a cyclone in East Pakistan and Africa Concern became Concern. [8]

Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea, a Cambodian microfinance organization, was founded by Concern Worldwide in the 1990s [9] [10]

Work

Concern has worked in 50 countries and as of 2019 was employing over 3,500 staff in 26 countries around the world delivering programmes that benefitted 28.6 million people. [11] Concern's work is centered on five main programmes: Education, Emergencies, Health and Nutrition, Gender Equality and Livelihoods. Concern launched an appeal to tackle the drought in East Africa [12] in June 2011. They also responded to the earthquake in Haiti and the floods in Pakistan. [13] [14] The Chief Executive Officer is David Regan. Concern is a member of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership.[ citation needed ]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Concern's focus is on maintaining current lifesaving programmes, where possible, as well as playing their part in raising awareness of the tools that can be used to fight the spread of the infection. [15]

Governance

Concern is controlled and regulated by its members who have responsibility for the Articles of Association, election of the council, appointment of the auditors and approval of accounts. The Council of Concern is elected from membership at each AGM. The maximum number on the council is 24 and one third must step down every year. They meet at least four times per year.[ citation needed ] The council is accountable to the relevant government Minister to ensure that the Companies Act is adhered to. They are also accountable to the general public to ensure that donations are put to an appropriate use. [16] Concern is the first Irish charity to receive certification from the Geneva-based organisation Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), which works to make humanitarian work more accountable and transparent through self-regulation, compliance verification, and quality assurance certification. [17] Concern is a member of the Irish Charities and Tax Research Reform Group. [18] Concern Worldwide's annual report and accounts won the charity and not-for-profit category in the annual Chartered Accountants Leinster Society awards for published accounts for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [19]

Funding

Concern raises money from individuals, communities, sponsored events and companies as well as receiving financial support from the Irish government, the European Union, the United Nations, the British government and other government agencies, private donors, and major trusts. [20] In 2007, the Irish Government announced a five-year strategic funding programme with Concern which would see funding double from €60 million (for the period 2003 to 2006) to €148 million over the 5-year period from 2007 to 2011. [21] Subsequent to the announcement, Irish Aid announced a series of cutbacks to Ireland's official development aid, including the programme under which Concern was funded. [22]

Campaigns and initiatives

Campaigns and initiatives run by the organisation include the Concern Fast, which is a sponsored 24-hour fast and programme of events to raise money to fight child malnutrition. [23] Other initiatives focusing on nutrition have included a "1,000 days" project. [24]

Since 2008 Concern has also run a creative writing competition in a number of age categories. [25] [26]

Concern also runs a number of different physical challenges for additional fundraising opportunities. [27]

In 2020, Concern has launched new campaigns and events such as Go Green For Concern, [28] The Concern Long Jump Challenge [29] and the Step in Their Shoes campaign. [30]

Notable ambassadors

Hollywood actress Toni Collette is an ambassador for the charity, having visited their programmes in Haiti. [31]

Chef and TV personality Donal Skehan visited Concern's programmes in Malawi. [32] He also encouraged people to donate to Concern while to charity responded to Cyclone Idai.

Dublin footballer Michael Darragh Macauley is an ambassador for Concern and has visited their programmes in Kenya and Iraq. In December 2019, he appeared on The Late Late Show to talk about his experience meeting Syrian refugees in camps in Iraq. [33]

Fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski has been a long-time supporter and ambassador for Concern Worldwide. [34] He has visited programmes in Kenya and has hosted Concern's annual Winter Ball in New York.

Leinster and Ireland rugby player Rob Kearney has supported many of Concern's fundraising drives in Ireland. He visited Ethiopia to visit Concern's emergency nutrition programme in Ebinat, a 12-hour drive from Addis Ababa. [35]

Concern is referenced in the 1990 The Saw Doctors song "I Useta Love Her". [36]

Concern's only charity song – which was written by Paul Cleary from The Blades and produced by award-winning composer Bill Whelan – was the brainchild of the late Gerry Ryan and Paul Cleary's then-manager Mark Venner. The Concerned, made up of over 40 Irish stars, had a number one hit in March and April 1985 with the song and music video "Show Some Concern". [37] A short segment from the song's video also features in RTE's hit series Reeling in the Years , when it highlights the top events of 1985.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Food Programme</span> Food-assistance branch of the UN

The World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organization within the United Nations that provides food assistance worldwide. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and the leading provider of school meals. Founded in 1961, WFP is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 87 countries. In 2023 it supported over 152 million people, and it is present in more than 120 countries and territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Rescue Committee</span> Nongovernmental humanitarian organization

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization. Founded in 1933 as the International Relief Association, at the request of Albert Einstein, and changing its name in 1942 after amalgamating with the similar Emergency Rescue Committee, the IRC provides emergency aid and long-term assistance to refugees and those displaced by war, persecution, or natural disaster. The IRC is currently working in about 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities where it resettles refugees and helps them become self-sufficient. It focuses mainly on health, education, economic wellbeing, power, and safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic Relief</span> International aid agency based in Birmingham, UK

Islamic Relief Worldwide describes itself as "a faith-inspired humanitarian and development agency which is working to support and empower the world's most vulnerable people".

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is an umbrella group of UK charities which coordinates and launches collective appeals to raise funds to provide emergency aid and rapid relief to people caught up in disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. Since being formed in 1963, the DEC has had strong relationships with major UK broadcasters in particular the BBC and ITV, who provide airtime to broadcast emergency appeals upon its recommendation. It is a member of the global Emergency Appeals Alliance, which reports that since its first television appeal in 1966, the DEC has raised over £1.4 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs</span> United Nations body managing response to complex emergencies

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a United Nations (UN) body established in December 1991 by the General Assembly to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. It is the successor to the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plan International</span> International development organisation

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation based in the United Kingdom that works in over 75 countries across Africa, the Americas, and Asia, focusing on children’s rights. As of 2021, Plan International reached 26.2 million girls and 24.1 million boys through its programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medair</span> Natural disaster aid organization

Medair is an international non-governmental organisation (INGO) whose purpose is to relieve human suffering in some of the world's most remote and devastated places. Medair aims to assist people affected by natural disasters and conflict to recover with dignity through the delivery of quality humanitarian aid.

Muslim Aid is a UK faith based International Non-Governmental Organization. It acts as an international humanitarian charity with relief and development programmes in countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe. The charity works to support people suffering the effects of poverty, war, and natural disaster through both emergency relief and sustainable programmes designed to provide long-term support and independent futures to the most vulnerable communities around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanity First</span> International non-governmental organization

Humanity First is an international charity that provides disaster relief and long term development assistance to vulnerable communities in 52 countries across 6 continents. The organisation is run by volunteers with diverse skillsets across the world and has access to thousands of extra volunteers worldwide. Volunteer staff in all areas often pay their own expenses to support the international projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Concern</span>

World Concern is a Christian global relief and development organization operating in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Haiti, with its headquarters located in Seattle, Washington, United States. World Concern serves approximately 6 million people worldwide and has a staff of 877, with 846 of those being international and 31 based at headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International</span> International non-profit organisation

Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International, established in 2003, was the humanitarian sector's first international self-regulatory body. A multi-agency initiative working to improve the accountability of humanitarian action to people affected by disasters and other crises, HAP members ranged from organisations with a mandate for emergency relief and development activities to institutional donors. The organisation aimed to strengthen accountability towards those affected by crisis situations and to facilitate improved performance within the humanitarian sector. The ultimate goal of the organisation was to uphold the rights and the dignity of crisis-affected populations across the world.

ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity established in 2000 in Helston, Cornwall, UK, that provides emergency shelter and other aid items to families around the world who have lost their homes to disaster or conflict.

UNICEF, originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The organization is one of the most widely known and visible social welfare entities globally, operating in 192 countries and territories. UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition, improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to disasters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake</span>

The response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake included national governments, charitable and for-profit organizations from around the world which began coordinating humanitarian aid designed to help the Haitian people. Some countries arranged to send relief and rescue workers and humanitarian supplies directly to the earthquake damage zones, while others sought to organize national fund raising to provide monetary support for the nonprofit groups working directly in Haiti. OCHA coordinates and tracks this on a daily basis. The information is disseminated through the UN news and information portal, ReliefWeb. As of September 5, 2013, ReliefWeb have reported a total relief funding of $3.5 billion given.

People In Aid was an international, not-for-profit membership organisation with offices in the UK, Australia and East Africa. People In Aid no longer exists following its merger with HAP International on 9 June 2015 to form the CHS Alliance.

RedR is an international NGO whose stated mission is to “rebuild lives in times of disaster by training, supporting, and providing aid workers to relief programmes across the world.” It was originally an acronym for Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief, although it is no longer used as such.

Plan International UK is the UK branch of the global children's rights non-profit organisation Plan International. Plan UK which works to advance equality for girls all over the world through sustainable development and humanitarian response activities in 50 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. The organisation also helps communities to build resilience prior, during and after emergencies. It is a registered charity in the UK and has no religious affiliations. It focuses on issues that particularly face girls of all ages. Plan International UK works across a range of sectors, including education, health, child protection and participation, economic security and water and sanitation. The organisation's current focus is the promotion of the rights of adolescent girls and disaster response and preparedness. Tanya Barron became Chief Executive of Plan International UK in January 2013 having been International Director at Leonard Cheshire Disability from 2004 to 2012. She holds various trusteeships and is currently a board member of the World Bank's Global Partnership on Disability and Development. In 2003 Barron was given the European Woman of Achievement (Humanitarian) award.

The Emergency Capacity Building Project is a collaborative capacity-building project aimed at improving the speed, effectiveness and delivery of humanitarian response programs. The ECB Project is a partnership between seven non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and implements programs in one region and four countries known as consortia.

Al-Khair Foundation (AKF) is an international Muslim aid NGO based in the United Kingdom and Turkey, and is the third largest Muslim charity in the UK. It was established in 2003, and aims to deliver aid to the poor and vulnerable, as well as education for the Muslim community. It specialises in humanitarian support, international development, emergency aid and disaster relief in some of the world's most deprived areas.

Qasim Rashid Ahmad is the founder and chairman of Al-Khair Foundation (AKF), and also the CEO of IQRA TV. Since 2003, Ahmad has managed AKF from concept to delivery of projects, from fundraising to feedback reports, managing donors, staff and volunteers around the world.

References

  1. ↑ "Irish Aid : Background note for the Minister of State March 2011". www.irishaid.gov.ie.
  2. ↑ "Annual Reports : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net. 8 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "About Concern". www.concern.net.
  4. ↑ "About Our Programmes : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net. 5 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Humanitarian Accountability Partnership". www.hapinternational.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Q&A: Getting to know Danny Harvey, our new Executive Director : Concern Worldwide UK". www.concern.org.uk. 16 September 2019.
  7. 1 2 Fiftieth Anniversary of Concern Worldwide by Seamus Maguire, Glowing Embers, Issue 5, August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Our History : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  9. ↑ Koul, Nisha (28 October 2011). "MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea Company Limited (AMK) of Cambodia Wins Second Giordano Dell'Amore Microfinance Best Practices International Award". MicroCapital.
  10. ↑ "USD 15 M loan to AMK | BIO". USD 15 M loan to AMK | BIO.
  11. ↑ "Annual Report : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net. 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Gartland, Fiona (2 August 2011). "Concern Appeals for more aid for Africa: Irish Times". The Irish Times.
  13. ↑ "YouTube : Tom Arnold of Concern Worldwide thanking the public for their support of the people of Haiti". www.youtube.com.
  14. ↑ "Our work in Pakistan : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  15. ↑ "Concern's Response to COVID-19 : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net. 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "How we are governed : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  17. ↑ "How About us : Humanitarian Accountability Partnership". www.hapinternational.org. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012.
  18. ↑ "ICTR". www.ictr.ie. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  19. ↑ "Chartered Accountants". www.charteredaccountants.ie.
  20. ↑ "How we raise money-Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  21. ↑ "Minister Lenihan to announce new €148 million multi-annual package for Concern". www.irishaid.gov.ie.
  22. ↑ Government cuts support to Irish charities Archived March 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ "Concern Fast". www.concernfast.org.
  24. ↑ "1000-days". Concern Worldwide. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.[ dead link ]
  25. ↑ "Concern Writing Competition". www.concern.net. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  26. ↑ "Concern Writing Competition". The Irish Times. 23 June 2011.
  27. ↑ "Concern Challenges". www.concernchallenge.org. Archived from the original on 20 September 2006.
  28. ↑ "Go Green : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  29. ↑ "Concern Long Jump Challenge : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  30. ↑ "Step in Their Shoes: Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  31. ↑ "Toni Collette relives her experience in Haiti : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net.
  32. ↑ "Donal Skehan gets a taste of Concern's work in Malawi : Concern Worldwide". www.concern.net. 11 July 2016.
  33. ↑ "'I Don't Have A Book, I Don't Have A Podcast, I'm Not Trying To Sell You Anything: Balls.ie". www.balls.ie. 7 December 2019.
  34. ↑ "WIN A PHOTOSHOOT WITH ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI: Concern USA". www.concernusa.org.
  35. ↑ "ROB ON CONCERN TRIP". www.independent.ie. June 2011.
  36. ↑ "I Useta Love Her: How the song that rhymed Mass and ass became an Irish anthem : The Irish Times". www.irishtimes.com.
  37. ↑ "Take a trip down memory lane as Concern say thanks to long-forgotten Irish charity supergroup: The Irish Examiner". www.irishexaminer.com. 2 April 2018.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.