About oxfam www.oxfam.org
Oxfam is a world-wide development organization that mobilizes the power of people against poverty. One person in three in the world lives in poverty. Oxfam is determined to change that world by mobilizing the power of people against poverty. Around the globe, Oxfam works to find practical, innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive. We save lives and help rebuild livelihoods when crisis strikes. And we campaign so that the voices of the poor influence the local and global decisions that affect them. In all we do Oxfam works with partner organizations and alongside vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty. Organization We are a confederation of 17 Oxfam organizations working together in more than 90 countries. Oxfam has more than 10,000 staff and nearly 50,000 interns/volunteers working across the world. The Oxfam International Secretariat which provides co-ordination and support to the Confederation, is a not-for-profit foundation registered in the Netherlands and based in Oxford, UK. We have campaigning and advocacy offices in the following locations: Addis Ababa, Brussels, Geneva, New York, and Washington. Winnie Byanyima was appointed for a five-year term as Executive Director of Oxfam International in 2013. History The original Oxfam was the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, formed in 1942 in Oxford, UK, to provide relief to Greek people affected by the allied naval blockade in World War II. After the war the organization adopted its Telex name, Oxfam, and joined forces with other organizations around the world in the fight against poverty and injustice. Eight Oxfam organizations created the Oxfam confederation in 1995, coordinated by the Oxfam International Secretariat. The confederation has grown to 17 today, and there are plans to expand further when new Oxfam organizations are formed, especially from the global south. Governance Oxfam International is governed by the Oxfam International Board of Supervisors which normally meets annually. The Board members are chairs of the 17 affiliate boards, and a chair. Their work is prepared by the Meeting of Executive Directors who lead each of the Oxfam affiliates and meet together at least once a year.
Oxfam priorities Oxfam’ s approach is multi-dimensional and interconnected.The Oxfam Strategic Plan sets out the priorities for Oxfam for the six years, 2013-19. It embraces all activities of all Oxfam affiliates, guiding resources and priorities for our campaigns, programs and fundraising, and how we operate as a confederation towards six goals that we believe can do the most to end poverty. ●The right to be heard, voices for choices Poor and marginalized people can gain control over their own lives by exercising their right to political participation, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly and access to justice. That is the foundation of all that Oxfam believes and does. ●Women’s rights Systematic discrimination against women and girls is both a cause and a result of the inequality that drives poverty. Our goal is to build on the significant progress that has been achieved in recent years in securing women’s rights.
Accountability Oxfam is primarily accountable to people living in poverty but we take seriously our accountability to all stakeholders, and we strive continuously to balance the needs of different stakeholders. These include partners and allies, staff and volunteers, donors and supporters, coalitions and alliances, suppliers, governments, the private sector, academic institutions and the wider public. We believe that stakeholder engagement and feedback can inform our work and bolster our efforts towards greater impact and efficiency. Oxfam is a founding member of the International NGO (INGO) Accountability Charter, a self-regulatory response by twenty four of the largest global INGO’s. Income and Expenditure 2012-2013 Oxfam Confederation Income: €955.9 m Institutional Fundraising 43.1% Public Fundraising 35.5% Interest & Investment Revenue 1.1% Trading Revenue 18.7% Other Income 1.6% Oxfam Confederation Expenditure: €990 m Program expenditure: €705 m Livelihoods 29.5% Basic social services 10.6% Life and security 36.9% Right to be heard 12.2% Identity 10.8% Non-program expenditure: €285 m The 2012-2013 Annual Report contains more details of income and expenditure of the Oxfam confederation.
●Save lives, now and in the future In the face of mounting humanitarian need, Oxfam is setting itself a bold challenge to ensure the rights of humanity’s most vulnerable people are respected. This includes their right to protection as civilians under international law. ●Sustainable food Advancing the right of poor people to adequate and sustainable livelihoods has been a cornerstone of Oxfam’s work for many decades. It has inspired and shaped our rural development work, our support for agricultural innovation and our campaigns for international trade justice. ●Fair sharing of natural resources Increasing competition for access to, and control over natural resources is putting pressure on the livelihoods of already vulnerable small-scale producers, agricultural labourers, indigenous people and the urban poor. Oxfam aims to challenge the powerful who are ‘driving’ economic exclusion and environmental crisis. ●Financing for development and universal essential services In a context of global financial austerity and declining aid flows, it is critical to mobilize additional national and international financial flows for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Oxfam is guided by “universal and equitable access to quality education” and “access of all to primary health care” written into the Copenhagen Declaration.
Contact Oxfam International Secretariat Suite 20, 266 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DL, UK +44 1865 339 100 info@oxfaminternational.org www.oxfam.org Affiliates
Oxfam America: www.oxfamamerica.org Oxfam Australia www.oxfam.org.au Oxfam in Belgium: www.oxfamsol.be Oxfam Canada: www.oxfam.ca Oxfam France: www.oxfamfrance.org Oxfam GB: www.oxfam.org.uk Oxfam Germany: www.oxfam.de Oxfam Hong Kong:www.oxfam.org.hk Oxfam India: www.oxfamindia.org Oxfam Intermón: www.oxfamintermon.org Oxfam Ireland: www.oxfamireland.org Oxfam Italy: www.oxfamitalia.org Oxfam Japan: www.oxfam.jp Oxfam Mexico: www.oxfammexico.org Oxfam New Zealand: www.oxfam.org.nz Oxfam Novib: www.oxfamnovib.org Oxfam Québec: www.oxfam.qc.ca