Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is an Irish humanitarian and development organization focused on reducing extreme poverty and supporting people affected by conflict, disasters, hunger, disease, and other crises. Commonly known simply as Concern, it is headquartered in Dublin and operates internationally through a combination of emergency response, long-term development programs, public fundraising, institutional grants, and partnerships with communities, governments, and other international organizations. The organization began in 1968 after a group of people in Dublin responded to appeals for assistance to the starving population of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War. Its earliest public identity was Africa Concern. In June of that year it launched the “Send One Ship” appeal, helping organize the delivery of food and medical supplies to Biafra aboard the Colmcille. The organization expanded its scope after responding to a cyclone in East Pakistan in 1970 and subsequently adopted the shorter name Concern. Concern’s work combines immediate relief with programs intended to address the structural causes and long-term effects of poverty. Its principal areas of activity include education, emergency response, health and nutrition, gender equality, and livelihoods. Programs may involve treating or preventing malnutrition, improving access to healthcare and schooling, supporting household income and food security, strengthening resilience to climate and economic shocks, and assisting displaced or conflict-affected populations. The organization has also supported financial-inclusion initiatives, including the creation of the Cambodian microfinance organization Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea in the 1990s. The charity has worked in approximately 50 countries over its history. In 2019, according to figures cited in its annual reporting, it reached 28.6 million people and responded to 82 emergencies in 24 countries. Its international workforce included more than 3,500 employees working across 26 countries at that time. Concern’s funding comes from individual and community donations, sponsored activities, corporate support, trusts and foundations, and grants from governments and multilateral institutions, including Irish, British, European Union, and United Nations sources. Concern has no religious or political affiliation. Its governance is conducted through its members and an elected council, which oversees organizational affairs, accounts, auditors, and compliance with its constitutional obligations. The organization has emphasized accountability and transparency in humanitarian work and became the first Irish charity to receive certification from the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership. It also operates through affiliated entities, including Concern Worldwide US and Concern Worldwide UK, which support fundraising and overseas programs in their respective markets. In addition to field programs, Concern runs public campaigns and fundraising activities such as the Concern Fast, nutrition initiatives, creative-writing competitions, sponsored physical challenges, and more recent events including Go Green For Concern, the Concern Long Jump Challenge, and Step in Their Shoes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it sought to maintain lifesaving operations where possible while communicating public-health measures intended to reduce transmission. Concern remains an active international aid organization whose public identity is built around practical humanitarian action, community partnership, and work in some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable settings.

Concern Worldwide was established in Dublin in 1968 in response to the humanitarian catastrophe in Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War. John and Kay O'Loughlin Kennedy were among the people who organized the response, alongside Ray Kennedy, Aengus Finucane, and Jack Finucane. The group initially operated under the name Africa Concern. Its first major public initiative was the “Send One Ship” appeal, launched in June 1968 to raise support for starving civilians. The campaign helped send the ship Colmcille to Biafra with powdered food and medical supplies; it arrived in September of that year. The organization broadened its geographic identity after responding to a cyclone in East Pakistan in 1970. Following that expansion beyond Africa, Africa Concern became Concern. The new name reflected a wider humanitarian remit rather than a focus on one continent. Over subsequent decades, Concern developed from an emergency-relief organization into a large international agency combining crisis response with long-term development work. Its programs have generally concentrated on communities experiencing extreme poverty and vulnerability. Core areas have included education, emergencies, health and nutrition, gender equality, and livelihoods. The organization has worked with small community groups as well as national governments and major international institutions. Its interventions have included emergency assistance, nutrition and health services, educational support, income and livelihood activities, and projects intended to strengthen household and community resilience. Concern also founded Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea, a Cambodian microfinance organization, during the 1990s. Concern’s geographic reach eventually extended across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The organization reports that it has worked in approximately 50 countries. In 2019 it stated that its programs had benefited 28.6 million people and that it had responded to 82 emergencies in 24 countries. At that time, more than 3,500 staff were working across 26 countries. The organization’s work has been financed through public donations, community fundraising, sponsored events, corporate and trust support, and grants from governments and multilateral bodies. Concern developed a formal accountability and governance structure as it grew. Its members are responsible for matters including the Articles of Association, election of the council, appointment of auditors, and approval of accounts. The Council of Concern is elected at the annual general meeting, with a maximum membership of 24 and annual rotation requirements. The council meets at least four times a year and is accountable both to public authorities and to the public for the proper use of donations. Concern became the first Irish charity to receive certification from the Geneva-based Humanitarian Accountability Partnership, an initiative focused on accountability, quality assurance, and transparency in humanitarian action. The organization has maintained a non-religious and non-political character. It has created affiliated operations in other countries, including Concern Worldwide US, with offices in New York and Chicago, and Concern Worldwide UK, a registered charity supporting the group’s overseas work. Concern is also a partner of the ONE Campaign and has participated in Irish charitable-sector and development networks. Public engagement has remained an important part of its operating model. The Concern Fast, a sponsored 24-hour fast, has raised funds and awareness around child malnutrition. Other initiatives have included work focused on the first 1,000 days of life, creative-writing competitions, and sponsored physical challenges. In 2020, new or renewed events included Go Green For Concern, the Concern Long Jump Challenge, and Step in Their Shoes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization sought to preserve lifesaving programs while communicating information about measures to limit infection. Concern continues to operate as an active Irish humanitarian and development organization focused on poverty reduction, emergency response, and community-led change.

• 2020

  COVID-19 operational response

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Concern focuses on maintaining lifesaving services while supporting public awareness of measures to control the pandemic.

• 2019

  Concern reports broad program reach

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  The organization reports reaching 28.6 million people, responding to 82 emergencies in 24 countries, and employing more than 3,500 staff across 26 countries.

• 2008

  Creative-writing competition begins

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Concern begins running a creative-writing competition across multiple age categories.

• 1990

  Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea is established

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Concern establishes the Cambodian microfinance organization Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea during the 1990s.

• 1970

  Africa Concern becomes Concern

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Following a response to a cyclone in East Pakistan, the organization adopts the broader name Concern.

• 1968

  Concern is founded in Dublin

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  A group including John and Kay O'Loughlin Kennedy, Ray Kennedy, Aengus Finucane, and Jack Finucane establishes Africa Concern in response to the Biafran famine.

• 1968

  Send One Ship appeal delivers aid to Biafra

  [1]Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  The Colmcille reaches Biafra with powdered food and medical supplies after the organization’s first major public appeal.

A non-religious, non-political humanitarian and development organization combining emergency relief with long-term programs addressing poverty, hunger, health, education, livelihoods, and gender inequality.

• Humanitarian program · 1968

  Emergency response

  Concern provides rapid assistance during conflicts, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, food crises, and displacement emergencies. Its emergency work can include food and nutrition support, health services, shelter-related assistance, protection, water and sanitation activities, and recovery programming. The organization has responded to crises including the Biafran famine, the Haiti earthquake, floods in Pakistan, and drought in East Africa.

• Development and humanitarian program

  Health and nutrition programs

  These programs address malnutrition and barriers to basic healthcare, with particular attention to children and communities facing severe poverty or crisis. Activities may include nutrition screening and treatment, maternal and child health support, health education, and community-based prevention. Concern has also promoted initiatives centered on the first 1,000 days of life and child nutrition.

• Development program

  Education programs

  Concern’s education work supports access to learning for children and other people whose schooling is disrupted by poverty, conflict, displacement, or emergencies. Programs are delivered in partnership with communities and local institutions and form one of the organization’s five principal areas of work.

• Development program

  Livelihoods and food-security programs

  Livelihoods initiatives seek to improve household income, food security, and resilience among people living in poverty. Depending on the setting, this work can involve support for productive activities, community institutions, financial inclusion, and recovery after crises. Concern’s historical involvement in Cambodian microfinance is part of this broader development orientation.

• Development program

  Gender-equality programs

  Concern treats gender equality as a core program area and incorporates it into efforts to reduce poverty and vulnerability. Work in this area is intended to improve participation, access to resources, safety, and opportunities for women and girls in communities affected by poverty and humanitarian crises.

• Fundraising initiative

  Concern Fast

  Concern Fast is a sponsored 24-hour fast and associated program of events designed to raise money and public awareness for efforts addressing child malnutrition. It connects individual and community fundraising with the organization’s nutrition mission.

• 2020Go Green For Concern

  Ireland · International

  A public fundraising and awareness initiative introduced or promoted during 2020.

  Source
• 2020Concern Long Jump Challenge

  Ireland · International

  A physical fundraising challenge launched or promoted as part of Concern’s 2020 events.

  Source
• 2020Step in Their Shoes

  Ireland · International

  A 2020 public engagement and fundraising campaign associated with Concern’s humanitarian mission.

  Source
• 2011East Africa drought appeal

  East Africa

  Concern launched an appeal to support people affected by drought and the resulting food and humanitarian crisis in East Africa.

  Outcome. The appeal supported the organization’s emergency response and fundraising efforts.

  Source
• 1968Send One Ship

  Ireland · Biafra

  Africa Concern’s first major public appeal raised support for starving civilians in Biafra and helped send the Colmcille carrying powdered food and medicine.

  Outcome. The ship reached Biafra in September 1968 and established the organization’s early emergency-relief identity.

  Source
• Concern Fast

  Ireland · United Kingdom · International

  A sponsored 24-hour fast and related events raise money for work addressing child malnutrition.

  Outcome. The initiative became one of Concern’s recurring public fundraising activities.

  Source

• 2020

  Prioritize continuity of lifesaving programs during COVID-19Strategy

  Background

  The pandemic threatened the continuity of humanitarian and development operations and increased health risks in vulnerable communities.

  Action taken

  Concern focused on preserving lifesaving programs where possible and communicating measures intended to slow infection.

  Aftermath

  The organization maintained a combined operational and public-health response during the pandemic.

  Source

• 1990

  Establish a Cambodian microfinance organizationStrategy

  Background

  Concern’s long-term development work expanded beyond direct relief into livelihoods and financial inclusion.

  Action taken

  Concern founded Angkor Mikroheranhvatho Kampuchea in Cambodia during the 1990s.

  Aftermath

  The initiative became an example of Concern’s involvement in development-oriented economic support.

  Source

• 1970

  Adopt the Concern name and broaden the geographic remitStrategy

  Background

  The organization’s response to a cyclone in East Pakistan demonstrated that its work extended beyond Africa.

  Action taken

  Africa Concern changed its name to Concern, reflecting a broader international humanitarian role.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued expanding its emergency and development programs across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.

  Source

1. 1Concern Worldwideen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Concern Worldwide official websiteconcern.net