Welthungerhilfe

Welthungerhilfe, formally Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V., is a German non-denominational and politically independent nonprofit organization active in humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. Its central objective is to help end hunger and poverty while enabling people and communities to build sustainable livelihoods. The organization generally follows a help-towards-self-help approach, working with local partner organizations rather than relying solely on short-term external relief. The organization was established in 1962 at the initiative of German Federal President Heinrich Lübke. It originally served as the German section of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, an international initiative associated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The organization adopted its current German name, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V., in 1967. Its patron has traditionally been the respective Federal President of Germany, while operational governance is carried out through the registered association's supervisory and executive structures. Welthungerhilfe combines emergency response with longer-term programs. Its work includes disaster relief, rural development, food security, agricultural and livelihood support, rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, education, health care, social inclusion, and civil-society strengthening. The organization also works on water, sanitation, resilience, and community capacity-building where these activities support food security and poverty reduction. Programs are implemented in cooperation with local organizations and other institutional partners across countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Germany and Europe, Welthungerhilfe operates as an advocacy and public-awareness organization as well as an aid provider. It examines development policy, engages with government and European institutions, contributes to public debate, provides educational materials for schools, and supports participatory fundraising and awareness campaigns. It is a member of VENRO, the umbrella association for German development and humanitarian aid organizations, and participates in the Alliance2015 network of European aid organizations. It also works with terre des hommes on recurring assessments of development assistance. A major international knowledge initiative associated with Welthungerhilfe is the Global Hunger Index. Since 2006, the organization has published the index with the International Food Policy Research Institute, joined from 2007 by Concern Worldwide. The index combines statistical indicators to track hunger levels and supports discussion of food systems, poverty, conflict, climate pressures, and development policy. Welthungerhilfe receives support from private donors and institutional funders, including public agencies and multilateral organizations. Its institutional funding relationships have included the World Food Programme, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the European Commission, and Germany's Federal Foreign Office. The organization holds the German Central Institute for Social Issues seal of approval. A 2014 transparency assessment by Phineo identified Welthungerhilfe and World Vision International as the most transparent organizations among the German aid agencies examined. Welthungerhilfe remains an active international NGO whose public identity combines humanitarian action, sustainable development, hunger research, policy advocacy, and donor accountability.

Welthungerhilfe was founded in 1962 in response to the international Freedom from Hunger Campaign. The initiative had been launched in 1961 under the leadership of Binay Ranjan Sen, then Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In Germany, Federal President Heinrich Lübke promoted the creation of a national organization that could mobilize German public and institutional support for the campaign. Welthungerhilfe therefore began with an explicitly international mission: reducing hunger through coordinated assistance and development-oriented action rather than treating food shortages only as isolated emergencies. During its early years, the organization developed as a non-denominational and politically independent association. In 1967 it adopted the formal name Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. The name Welthungerhilfe became the concise public designation for its work. The organization gradually expanded beyond direct food assistance, recognizing that hunger is closely connected to poverty, weak infrastructure, limited access to education and health services, environmental pressures, conflict, and unequal economic opportunities. Its operating model came to emphasize cooperation with local partner organizations and the principle of helping communities strengthen their own capacity. Programs have included rural development, agricultural livelihoods, food security, disaster response, reconstruction of schools and roads, health-care support, social integration, education, and civil-society development. This combination of immediate relief and longer-term development has remained central to the organization's identity. Welthungerhilfe has worked across countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while also maintaining a domestic and European role focused on public education, fundraising, and development-policy advocacy. Leadership historically rested with a chairperson, with Fritz Dietz serving from 1962 to 1965, followed by Hans-Joachim von Merkatz, Heinrich Kraut, Claus W. Broicher, Helga Henselder-Barzel, and Ingeborg Schäuble. In 2008, the governance structure was reorganized. Bärbel Dieckmann, then mayor of Bonn, became President, and the organization moved toward a distinction between honorary oversight and professional executive management. The registered association is overseen by an honorary Supervisory Board and managed by an executive Board of Directors. Marlehn Thieme became President in 2018, while Mathias Mogge was selected as Secretary General in the same year. Welthungerhilfe's public role expanded through research and policy work. Since 2006, it has participated in publishing the Global Hunger Index with the International Food Policy Research Institute, with Concern Worldwide joining the collaboration from 2007. The index has become a recurring reference point for comparing hunger conditions and examining their relationship to conflict, climate change, poverty, food systems, and public policy. Welthungerhilfe also works with terre des hommes on recurring reporting about the reality of development assistance and participates in VENRO and the Alliance2015 network. The organization has developed a substantial institutional funding base alongside donations from the German public. Its funding relationships have included the World Food Programme, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the European Commission, and the German Federal Foreign Office. It has also maintained a foundation and other income sources. Welthungerhilfe holds the seal of approval of the Deutsches Zentralinstitut für Soziale Fragen, reflecting attention to donor information and organizational accountability. Transparency became a notable part of its reputation in 2014, when Phineo assessed the disclosure practices of 50 aid agencies and identified Welthungerhilfe, together with World Vision International, as the most transparent organizations in Germany in that study. In the 2020s, the organization continued combining emergency assistance, sustainable development projects, public campaigns, political advocacy, volunteer fundraising, and research-based communication. Its 60th anniversary in 2022 underscored the continuity of its mission from the original Freedom from Hunger Campaign to a broader contemporary agenda addressing hunger and poverty.

• 2022

  60th anniversary

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Welthungerhilfe commemorated 60 years of work against hunger and poverty.

• 2018

  New President and Secretary General

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Marlehn Thieme became President and Mathias Mogge was selected as Secretary General.

• 2014

  Transparency recognition

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Phineo's review of German aid organizations named Welthungerhilfe among the organizations with the strongest transparency performance.

• 2008

  Governance structure reorganized

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Welthungerhilfe introduced a new management structure and appointed Bärbel Dieckmann as President.

• 2007

  Concern Worldwide joins Global Hunger Index collaboration

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Concern Worldwide joined Welthungerhilfe and IFPRI in producing the annual index.

• 2006

  Global Hunger Index partnership begins

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Welthungerhilfe began publishing the Global Hunger Index with the International Food Policy Research Institute.

• 1967

  Formal name changed to Deutsche Welthungerhilfe

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted the formal registered name Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V.

• 1962

  Welthungerhilfe founded

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Welthungerhilfe was established in Germany on the initiative of Federal President Heinrich Lübke.

• 1961

  Freedom from Hunger Campaign launched

  [1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  The FAO-associated international campaign that provided the institutional context for the later German organization was launched.

An independent German humanitarian and development organization combining emergency assistance with long-term, locally partnered programs intended to address the structural causes of hunger and poverty.

• Humanitarian aid

  Humanitarian emergency assistance

  Welthungerhilfe provides assistance following disasters and humanitarian crises, including support intended to protect food access, restore essential services, and help affected communities recover. Emergency action is connected where possible to reconstruction and longer-term resilience rather than being treated as a separate activity.

• Development cooperation

  Food security and rural development

  These programs support rural communities with measures designed to improve food production, livelihoods, household resilience, and sustainable access to food. Projects are generally delivered with local partners and are intended to strengthen self-reliance while addressing structural causes of poverty and hunger.

• Community development

  Infrastructure, education, and health projects

  Welthungerhilfe supports the rehabilitation or improvement of basic infrastructure such as schools and roads, as well as education, health care, social integration, and civil-society initiatives. These activities complement food-security work by improving the wider conditions that allow communities to develop sustainably.

• Research and advocacy · 2006

  Global Hunger Index

  The Global Hunger Index is an annual research and communication publication produced by Welthungerhilfe with the International Food Policy Research Institute and Concern Worldwide. It tracks hunger using internationally comparable indicators and presents analysis intended to inform policy, advocacy, and public discussion.

• Public engagement

  Public education and policy advocacy

  In Germany and Europe, Welthungerhilfe publishes information, develops teaching materials, organizes awareness activities, supports participatory campaigns, and engages with public authorities on development policy. These activities connect its overseas programs with donor education and political advocacy.

• 1962Freedom from Hunger Campaign in Germany

  Germany

  Welthungerhilfe was created as Germany's section of the international Freedom from Hunger Campaign, linking public mobilization in Germany to a wider FAO-associated effort against hunger.

  Outcome. The campaign provided the organization's founding framework and shaped its international, development-oriented mission.

  Source
• Global Hunger Index

  Global · Germany · Europe

  Welthungerhilfe uses the annual index as a research, awareness, and advocacy vehicle to describe global and regional hunger conditions.

  Outcome. The index became a recurring international reference for discussion of hunger and food security.

  Source
• Development-policy awareness and fundraising campaigns

  Germany · Europe

  Welthungerhilfe conducts public-awareness activities, school education, volunteer fundraising, and policy engagement concerning hunger, poverty, and development cooperation.

  Outcome. These activities support donations, public understanding, and advocacy for development and humanitarian policy.

  Source

• 2018

  Leadership transitionOther

  Background

  Welthungerhilfe continued its governance model combining an honorary presidency with executive management.

  Action taken

  Marlehn Thieme became President and Mathias Mogge was selected as Secretary General.

  Aftermath

  The leadership transition maintained the organization's existing humanitarian, development, research, and advocacy focus.

  Source

• 2008

  Separation of honorary oversight and executive managementStrategy

  Background

  Welthungerhilfe revised its governance arrangements after decades of operation as a registered association.

  Action taken

  A new structure established an honorary Supervisory Board and a professional executive Board of Directors; Bärbel Dieckmann became President.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued under a clearer distinction between representative oversight and day-to-day executive management.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch of the Global Hunger Index partnershipOther

  Background

  Welthungerhilfe sought to strengthen evidence-based public discussion of hunger and food security.

  Action taken

  It began publishing the Global Hunger Index with IFPRI, later joined by Concern Worldwide.

  Aftermath

  The index became a recurring research and advocacy output associated with the organization.

  Source

• 1967

  Adoption of the Deutsche Welthungerhilfe nameStrategy

  Background

  The organization had operated since 1962 within the international Freedom from Hunger framework.

  Action taken

  It changed its formal name to Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V., while retaining the Welthungerhilfe public identity.

  Aftermath

  The renamed association continued developing as an independent German humanitarian and development organization.

  Source

• 2022

  Welthungerhilfe marks its 60th anniversary[1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organization commemorated six decades of humanitarian and development work in a ceremony referenced by the German Federal President.

• 2018

  Mathias Mogge selected as Secretary General[1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Mathias Mogge was selected to lead the organization's executive management as Secretary General.

• 2014

  Welthungerhilfe recognized among Germany's most transparent aid organizations[1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A Phineo review of transparency among German aid organizations identified Welthungerhilfe and World Vision International as the leading organizations in the study.

• 1967

  Organization adopts the name Deutsche Welthungerhilfe[1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The German organization changed its name to Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V., the formal name associated with the Welthungerhilfe brand.

• 1962

  Welthungerhilfe established as German section of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign[1]Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organization was founded in Germany as part of the international Freedom from Hunger Campaign.

1. 1Welthungerhilfeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Welthungerhilfe official websitewelthungerhilfe.de