CAFOD

Coordinates: 51°29′54″N 0°06′29″W / 51.49833319098888°N 0.10803375803238197°W / 51.49833319098888; -0.10803375803238197
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CAFOD
Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
AbbreviationCAFOD
TypeNonprofit
Registration no.1160384
Legal statusCompany limited by guarantee
Purposedevelopment aid, humanitarian aid
HeadquartersRomero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road
Location
Coordinates51°29′54″N 0°06′29″W / 51.49833319098888°N 0.10803375803238197°W / 51.49833319098888; -0.10803375803238197
Region served
worldwide
Director
Christine Allen
PublicationSide by Side
AffiliationsCaritas Internationalis, Caritas Europa, Disasters Emergency Committee, CHS Alliance
Revenue (2022/2023)
£67,916,000[1]
Staff (2023)
391[1]
Volunteers (2023)
3,344[1]
Websitecafod.org.uk

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, commonly known as CAFOD, is an international development and relief charity. It is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

CAFOD is part of the global Caritas Internationalis confederation and of Caritas Europa, as well as a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). Its work is based on Gospel values and Catholic social teaching.[2]

History[edit]

CAFOD's origins can be traced back to the launch of a Family Fast Day organised by a group of Catholic women in 1960, who used the money saved through fasting to support a project in Dominica. The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales registered the charity in 1962.[3] Its current governing document dates from 2015.[4]

In 2015, CAFOD joined the CHS Alliance.[5] One year later, it was certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability with the current certification being valid until 2027.[6]

CAFOD's Director Christine Allen was appointed in March 2019.

In 2020, CAFOD launched a new strategy, Our Common Home, based on Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', which calls for a new definition of progress rooted in integral ecology, recognising that everything is connected and hearing both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, calling on all people to dialogue in society about how best to tackle the global issue.[7][8]

Work[edit]

The stated aim of CAFOD is to tackle poverty globally. Through local Catholic Church and secular partners, its aims to help people directly in their own communities and campaigns for global justice

International Programmes[edit]

In 2023, CAFOD implemented programmes in 42 countries located in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America & Caribbean. CAFOD is not a direct implementer but works according to the localisation principle, i.e. through local partner organisations. That same year, CAFOD supported local partners organisations with 594 grants and programme payments worth £41.8 million, reaching one million vulnerable and excluded people directly.[1]

Campaigns[edit]

CAFOD has had many campaigns over the years and participated in joint campaigns with other charities. These campaigns tackled a series of topics, for example the impact of debt crises in the poorest nations ("Jubilee 2000", "Cancel the Debt", "Stop Cowboy Lenders", "The New Debt Crisis")[9], or the right of small-scale farmer around the world to use their seeds and the negative impact of powerful agribusiness companies ("Fix the Food System"). Other campaigns demanded climate action ("The Time is Now"; "One Climate, One World")[10], renewable energy for the world's poorest people ("Power to Be"), or raised awareness against the UK Illegal Migration Act 2023 ("Build Bridges not Walls").

CAFOD supports and administers the process whereby Catholic communities (churches, schools, religious orders and chaplaincies) can apply for the Livesimply award, through which communities can record, celebrate and develop their approach to living simply, in solidarity with people in poverty and sustainably with creation.[11][12][13] Participation in CAFOD's LiveSimply programme has been commended by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales.[14]

Structure and funding[edit]

In 2023, CAFOD employed 391 staff and in addition worked with more than 3,000 volunteers carrying out a range of roles such as campaigning, fundraising, media, office support and youth work.[1]

CAFOD is funded by the Catholic community in England and Wales, the British government (through UK aid), private and institutional donors, and the general public.

In 2019/20 CAFOD's income was £45million. A few years later, in 2022/2023, the total revenue had increased to £67,916,000, £37 million of which were raised by 1,856 parishes in England and over 78,000 individuals, 1,043 schools and over 1,000 organisations. In addition, the organisation received over £11 million from legacies, raised around £5.5 million to respond to humanitarian emergencies in East Africa, Ukraine, Pakistan, Turkey and Syria, and obtained £16 million from the Disasters Emergency Committee.[1]

In order to raise awareness and funds, CAFOD has been working with "celebraty embassadors", including tv presenter Julie Etchingham, actor David Harewood, actress Jo Joyner, tv and radio presenter Dermot O'Leary, actor and director Ben Price, actress Emma Rigby, cook and television presenter Delia Smith, and composer Benson Taylor.[15][16][17]

CAFOD's magazine, Side by Side, is published quarterly.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023". cafod.org.uk. 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  2. ^ "CAFOD and Catholicism | CAFOD". cafod.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  3. ^ "CAFOD celebrates its female founders on its 60th Anniversary". Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  4. ^ Charities Commission for England and Wales, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development: Governing Document, accessed 30 May 2022
  5. ^ "Our members: CAFOD". chsalliance.org. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ "CAFOD". HQAI. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Our Common Home: CAFOD's vision of progress". cafod.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  8. ^ Lydia O'Kane (11 September 2020). "CAFOD: Change of heart needed to renew Our Common Home". Vatican News. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  9. ^ Maria Elena Arana (2020). "CAFOD's debt campaigning over the years". cafod.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Join CAFOD's 'Fix the Food System' campaign". Diocese of Brentwood. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  11. ^ "One hundred schools achieve LiveSimply Award". 27 February 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  12. ^ Your Guide to the Livesimply award
  13. ^ "St John Henry Newman Parish is a LiveSimply Parish". Archdiocese of Birmingham. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Plenary Resolutions: Environment, St Winefride, Eucharistic Congress and Conflict in Gaza". Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  15. ^ John Plummer (20 March 2017). "Celebrities: Emma Rigby becomes ambassador for Cafod". looktothestars.org. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Our celebrity ambassadors". cafod.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  17. ^ David Harewood (15 June 2012). "A celebrity's support for a charity has to be more than just lending their name". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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